What an offseason. As if the most loaded draft class in recent memory wasn't enough, we also saw the game's best player "come back home" which shocked everyone [including the Heat] and this, of course, sparked a series of events: The Heat shocked us again by bringing back Chris Bosh on a max deal. The Rockets had been under the impression that Chris Bosh would sign with them if LeBron James were to leave the Heat, so the opted not to match the Mavericks' offer sheet to Chandler Parsons. Now faced with a gaping hole at small forwards, the Rockets overpaid for Washington's Trevor Ariza which led them to sign Paul Pierce. King James' decision to "come home" also led to Carmelo Anthony's decision to stay with the Knicks, which led to the Bulls amnestying Carlos Boozer and signing Pau Gasol, and that led to the Lakers picking up Boozer. Last but not least, the most important move influenced by James was the Kevin Love to Cleveland trade. Sensing the constant? LeBron James affects EVERYTHING.
With all of that being said, I chose one player from each team that I believe will greatly impact their team's success this season in a somewhat low-key manner.
Disclaimer: Obviously, LeBron, Anthony, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Durant will determine how far their teams will go. That's not what these rankings are about.
Atlanta Hawks: Demarre Carroll
Carroll had a career year last season by every measure. He posted career highs, by a mile in points per game [11.1], rebounds per game [5.5], steals per game [1.8], and field-goal percentage [.470]. His previous career highs in those categories were 6 - 2.8 - .9 - .460. He did all of this while establishing himself as one of the best on-ball defenders in the entire NBA. Last year's breakout surprised just about everyone as he proved to be the perfect compliment to deadeye shooter Kyle Korver. There is some serious doubt as to whether or not Carroll can maintain this level of productivity. If he can, the Hawks may take the East by surprise and do some serious damage.
Boston Celtics: Evan Turner
Evan Turner's career is headed downhill. After failing to come close to the expectations placed on him coming out of Ohio State, Turner had the ball in his court last season [horrible pun unintended], he was the best player on a horrid 76ers team and was given the opportunity to show Sam Hinkie that he belonged, he didn't. Turner turned out to be an efficiency monstrosity, hitting less than 29% of his
threes while taking 2.4 per game. They traded him to Indiana for salary room. He flamed out there, struggling to play meaningful minutes on a team that actually mattered. If he can re-establish himself as a versatile 6th man, Turner's career may see new light, if he doesn't make the most of his opportunity however, he may see his career turn into a series of non-guaranteed contracts and DNP-CD's.
Brooklyn Nets: Deron Williams
There's no denying D-Will's fall from grace. There was a slightly noticeable decline during the 2012-13 season, then last season he suddenly aged 10 years. Excluding his rookie season, Williams
averaged career lows in points per game [14.3], assists per game [6.1], and minutes per game [32.2]. He was a shell of his former self last year. He was too passive, as he dealt with nagging injuries all season long. If he doesn't return to shape soon, we may be looking at a potential amnesty candidate next offseason.
Charlotte Hornets: Cody Zeller
Zeller had a mildly impressive rookie season when you consider the fact that he played 17 minutes per game. Post all-star break, Zeller began to show what he's capable of, putting up 7.7 points per game and 5 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field in less than 19 minutes per
game over the course of 29 games. With Josh McRoberts now in Miami, Zeller will have to take on a much larger role, as he will be starting over the raw, unpolished Noah Vonleh. If Zeller adds some range to his jump shot and makes better use of his size-athleticism blend, the Hornets can be dangerous.
Chicago Bulls: Tony Snell
Snell was a combine riser last June. Hardly on anyone's radar prior to the 2013 NBA Combine in Chicago, Snell stunned executives with his ability to shoot the long ball, defend, and finish at the rim.
He didn't get many minutes last year as a rookie [16 per game], not uncommon under Tom Thibodeau, but performed decently when given the opportunity. In 12 games as a starter last season, Snell averaged 9.3 points per game while shooting a hair below 40% from behind-the-arc. As a sophomore, Snell will see an uptick in minutes similar to that of Jimmy Butler during the 2012-13 season. He needs to give the bench a scoring boost if the Bulls hope to compete for the title.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao
Varejao had a nice season last year. He played 65 games, which is 10 more than what he played the previous two seasons combined. He averaged 8.4 points per game and pulled down nearly 10 boards
per game in less than 30 minutes per game. This was the first season in the past 4 that his season did not end with an injury. If Cleveland wants to win the title [and they do], he needs to stay healthy.
Dallas Mavericks: Brendan Wright
Brendan Wright amazes me. In less than 20 minutes per game, he averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block per game. Those numbers barely seem impressive, until you consider that he was the Magic's best interior defender and was 10th in the entire league in PER. Now that he's backing up the extra-frail Tyson Chandler, he will see starting minutes from time to time. If he gets enough minutes, he
can transform the offensive-mined Mavs into defensive specialists.
Denver Nuggets: JaVale McGee
The "Shaqtin' a Fool" MVP is more novelty than player at this point. That needs to change if the Nuggets look to make any noise this season. Before a season ending injury early on in the yearl: Javale was averaging 7 points, 3.5 boards, and a block and a half per game. McGee will be starting at
center until J.J. Hickson returns from a torn ACL, and judging by Denver's cautious medical staff, that may not be until 2015. In the event that McGee becomes the full-time starter this season,
JaVale needs to finally rake his job seriously and show up.
Detroit Pistons: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The rookie disappointment looks to have finally come around. After a terrible rookie season, Caldwell-Pope has been dominating the preseason. His 3 point shot seems to have finally carried over
and his on-ball defense looks spectacular. He will be starting this season and his 3 point game better be on point, because otherwise, he may find himself falling out of favor in Stan Van-Gundy's three-heavy offense.
Golden State Warriors: Shaun Livingston
Livingston thrived in Brooklyn's small-ball attack last season in what was by far his best year since *gulps* the injury. Livingston put up 8-3-3 in the regular season and 10-3-3 on 51% shooting in 12 games [10 starts], showing that he's not afraid of the moment. If he can carry his momentum over to Golden State and back up Stephen Curry effectively, the Warriors' offense will be a force to be reckon with.
Houston Rockets: Trevor Ariza
As I mentioned in the introduction, Ariza went to the Rockets in a series of bizarre events that followed LeBron James' decision. The man he'll be replacing is Chandler Parsons. On paper, there doesn't seem to be a drop off at all, one may even make the argument that Ariza is the better player.
But Parsons was said to be the glue that held the locker room together. Parsons was supposedly the only mutual friend between James Harden and Dwight Howard. It will be interesting to see if he can fill the void left by Parsons both on the court and in the locker room.
Indiana Pacers: Rodney Stuckey
Due to the departure of Lance Stephenson and the...uh... injury to Paul George, the Pacers are somewhat offensively challenged. This is why I thought that signing Stuckey on the veteran's
minimum deal. There's one thing Rodney Stuckey can do, and that's score. He may not be good for much else, but he can put the ball in the basket. If he has an efficient year, the Pacers may not fall off the face of the Earth.
Los Angeles Clippers: Ekpe Udoh
For years, the Clippers have lacked that 3rd big man that can spell DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin without compromising too much interior defense. Although Udoh has been a disappointment throughout his short career, he may be just that. His defense will be key in Jordan and Griffin's
stamina throughout the season and their playoff push.
Los Angeles Lakers: Jordan Clarkson
Plagued by inconsistency and lack of "natural point-guard skills" throughout his collegiate career, Clarkson fell way too low to Washington at no. 46, he was immediately traded to the Lakers. With
Steve Nash officially out for the season [he had been unofficially out since last season], Clarkson finds himself as the primary backup point man in LA. He's a true scorer and an excellent penetrator, if he can improve the nuances of his game, he may be a special player for LA.
Memphis Grizzlies: Quincy Pondexter
Before suffering a torn ACL early on last season, Pondexter was establishing himself as the Grizzlies'
6th man. He had played lockdown defense and was an occasional 3-point threat [39%] and played a crucial role in their playoff series win against the Clippers. If he picks up where he left off in 2013, he may bring some life to a dreadful Memphis bench.
Miami Heat: Luol Deng
This is one of the only times where I will be using a team's top 2-3 player but Deng warrants it. If I were Deng, I would have this chip on my shoulder the size of Mt. Everest. He spent the last 9 seasons working his tail off for The Bulls [one time playing through a flu so bad, he lost 16 pounds when transmittted to the hospital]. The Bulls then traded him for nothing [Andrew Bynum, who was cut
immediately after the trade] to the Cavs, who made absolutely no effort to retain the swingman. The Heat then swooped him up for 75 cents on the dollar. Deng will be grinding harder than ever this season [picture that, it's almost impossible to believe that Deng can hustle more than he already has]. I actually believe that the Heat have sleeper potential this season and can shock the world.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
This was an easy one. The Greek Freak is finally unleashed and I couldn't be happier. Not only will he be starting across from Jabari Parker, but Jason Kidd has been running sets with him at point
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMpnefps_tM
guard. Point guard. Wow. The man is 6"10 and still growing and the Bucks are going to put him in point guard sets. I'm hyped. If you're not hyped then click this link: I promise you'll be hyped.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Shabazz Muhammad
Aside from having the best name in the NBA, there's a lot to like about Shabazz Muhammad. He's coming off of extremely disappointing rookie [yet thrived in the D-League] but he's now on a Kevin Love-less rebuilding team. Rebuilding teams tend to play their young players vey often. Muhammad needs to make the most of this season if he looks have a successful career, because he won't get a better opportunity to prove himself than this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Ryan Anderson
If only Ryan Anderson stayed healthy last season. He was picking up right where he left off from 2011-2013 despite missing the beginning of last season due to injury. He was rolling, averaging 19.8
points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 three-pointers per game at a 40% clip [he also had an otherworldly FT% of .952]. before suffering a scary season-ending neck injury. He will be coming off the bench this season along with Tyreke Evans. If he stays healthy, he will thrive as the team's best shooter and 6th man playing starter's minutes.
New York Knicks: Iman Shumpert
It appears as though Iman Shumpert has never fully recovered from his torn ACL
ice bucket challenge he suffered in the postseason of his rookie year. The injury was an unfortunate end to his ultra-promising rookie season. He averaged nearly 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and nearly 2 steals per game during his first year. The torn ACL cost him a little less than half of his sophomore season,
after returning, it seemed as though he progressed as a 3-point shooter [40%, up from 30% his rookie year], but regressed everyone else [slash line of 6.8 - 3 - 1.7 - 1]. His stat line from last year was nearly identical to that of his sophomore season, except he regressed as a shooter [33%]. Shumpert needs to figure things out because he's their best option to start at shooting guard. Tim Hardaway Jr. still has ways to go as a defender and creator while J.R. Smith is a natural 6th man.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Jeremy Lamb
If you ask me, Reggie Jackson shouldn't be starting next to Russell Westbrook. Jackson is essentially a poor man's Westbrook, they're far too similar. But if Jeremy Lamb wants this job, he needs to put in some serious. Ever since his sophomore season at UConn, Lamb has always left something to be desired. Nonetheless, in a weak draft class, Lamb was selected in the lottery. Before playing a minute
for the Rockets, they made him the centerpiece of the James Harden trade [for those of you who think it was Kevin Martin, he was on an expiring deal and the Thunder knew thy weren't resigning him]. His rookie year was disappointing by every measure, as he only appeared in 23 games and averaged 3 points per outing. Last season he showed flashes of his immense potential, but for every "flash", there was a game where he was held scoreless. He wound up averaging 8 points per game in 20 minutes per game. This is his best shot to show he belongs in the league.
Orlando Magic: Evan Fournier
I'm a big fan of Fournier's game. I think he can become a faster, more pest-like version of J.J. Redick. He was shipped to the Magic for Aron Afflalo this offseason. With news that Victor Oladipo is out "indefinitely" with a facial fracture, Fournier will begin the season as the starting shooting guard. He's not Oladipo in an athletic sense, but Fournier is arguably Orlando's quickest player. If he makes the most of his opportunity, he can establish himself as a key cog in Orlando's future.
Philadelphia 76ers: Tony Wroten Jr.
After a lackluster rookie year with the Grizzlies in which Wroten never cracked the rotation and spent most of the year in the D-League, Wroten was traded to Philly for virtually nothing in return. He quietly turned himself into a really nice bench scorer, averaging 13 points in 25 minutes per contest.
He'll likely get even more minutes this season if/when Jason Richardson gets hurt. He could stand to improve his horrendous three-point shot [21% on 2.6 attempts per game], and his ball-handling [2.8 turnovers per game] as well as his defense [only one steal per game] and his free throw shooting [64%]. If he improves in any of these areas, he'll be a bright spot in a Sixers season that won't have many of them.
Phoenix Suns: Alex Len
The Suns are going to run and score a ton this season. They're stacked at the point guard position and on the wings. The lone question mark is the center position. Miles Plumlee had an alright season, but no one thinks he's the long term answer. He doesn't have enough upside. Len is packed with upside, otherwise, he wouldn't have been drafted no. 5 overall last year. He never amounted to much his first
season. He started the season late because of foot surgery and never got into any sort of rhythm. In fact he averaged more fouls + turnovers a game [2.2], than he did points per game [2.0]. He's shaping up as a major bust and needs to prove himself this season.
Portland Trail Blazers: C.J. McCollum
Portland has no bench. It's a fact. No team relied more on their starting five last season than the Blazers. C.J. McCollum is on a mission to fix that. He had offseason surgery going into last season and played limited minutes as a rookie. He has serious scoring talent, and if given the minutes, can be
extremely helpful for the Blazers because he gives them exactly what they need. He needs to hone in on his scoring instincts this season to inject some energy into a lifeless Portland bench.
Sacramento Kings: Ben McLemore
If I'm Ben McLemore, I'm nervous. He was literally drafted last year and barely had an opportunity to showcase what he can do. And the Kings already drafted his replacement, Nik Stauskas. McLemore probably feels a bit slighted and has a big chip on his shoulder. He'll be playing with a purpose this
season to show why he was drafted with the 7th pick in last year's [incredibly weak] draft class. He needs to prove his doubters wrong this season or else he might find himself regulated to the bench or in a trade.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
I'm sorry. But who else should I have put here? The Spurs are too boring to predict, you know they're going to finish first or second in the west. And unless someone goes down with an injury, you know what everyone's stat line will look like. The only reason I chose Leonard is because he's a restricted
free agent after this offseason, he wants a max deal, and the Spurs really don't want to give him one. Reportedly, talks between the two parties have stalled and will likely not be resumed in the near future. It will be interesting to see how he plays with this contract situation completely unresolved.
Toronto Raptors: Lucas "BeBe" Nogueira
Remember the guy who got drafted by Boston last year and was immediately traded to Atlanta in the Kelly Olynyk deal? No? Maybe his gigantic afro will jog your memory:
If that didn't help, rest assured, I'm sure you're not the only one. Anyways, spent this past season plying in Brazil and was traded to the Raptors for basically nothing. He's in a prime position to
succeed, he'll be backing up, and occasionally playing alongside Jonas Valenciunas. The two compliment each other perfectly. Jonas is a polished, slow, offensive-minded bruiser. While BeBe is a shot blocking, athletic, raw, thin big man. His offense may have ways to go, but if the Raptors play them together, they can be an under-the-radar dynamic duo.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
I like to look at Gobert as the big-man equivalent of the Greek Freak. He's raw, foreign, extremely long [longest standing reach in NBA history, 9"7, he can basically dunk a tennis ball on his tippy-
toes], and is one of the most athletic players in the game. It also doesn't hurt that he broke out for France in this year's FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was an extremely key cog in a team that won bronze. He doesn't have much polish, but either Enes Kanter or Derrick Favors is going to have to move over, because there's no denying how he can impact a game.
Washington Wizards: Otto Porter Jr.
One of my favorite prospects in last year's draft, Porter had a terrible rookie year. He broke his hand, got an extremely late start to the season, and wound up suiting up in only 36 games as a rookie. 36 horrid games. He averaged 2 points per game, 1.5 rebounds per game, and shot 36% from the field. He's made major strides this offseason, tearing up the Vegas Summer League and the preseason. It
looks like he will be Paul Pierce's primary backup this season, which will give him an opportunity to show his athletic limitations don't get in the way of him having a nice NBA career.
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it, please comment below and follow by email!
-J.B.
.jpg)
