Portland Trail Blazers: Predicting 2017-18 player ratings in NBA 2K18

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Small Forwards

Maurice Harkless: 75 (+1)

Al-Farouq Aminu: 73 (+1)

Jake Layman: 69 (0)

2016-17 was Maurice Harkless’ best season. He averaged a 10.0 points (career-high), 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Harkless also generated a 13.1 PER and 4.2 win shares. That improvement and his 35.1 percent 3-point shooting led Visual Concepts to raise his rating.

With five natural power forwards on the roster and Crabbe gone, there is a sizable chance that Al-Farouq Aminu will return to playing more small forward. After having a career year in 2015-16, he took a step back in 2016-17 as he became a full-time power forward.

2K seems to prefer Aminu at small forward, too. In the game’s final roster update, he is listed in-game at that position and sports a 72 rating. But if you make power forward his primary position, that rating drops to 69. His return to small forward and an adjustment to improve his standing among the team could lead to a bump in rating despite his rough season.

Based off of the released ratings, it seems 2K wants to maintain a floor of 70 for NBA-calliber players. Layman falls below that floor. His lack of playing time and 4.9 PER at the NBA level places him there. Layman ended 2K17 with a 69 rating, and it will likely stay the same for 2K18.

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