As a new season approaches we all have a few players on our radar that we expect to take a leap to the next level. I have picked 10 players who I expect to take the next step and start to get in the mix for various awards. I have selected no rookies for obvious reasons and no 2nd year players as they're overall production should increase, I have also omitted players like Derrick Rose as we have seen him perform at a high level in the past. Admittedly I cant see anyone having an Oladipo type season but I'm sure someone will.
*1-10 is not a ranking of who will perform the best*
1. Taurean Prince is going into his 3rd season with the Atlanta Hawks and I can see him having a solid campaign. Coming off a season where he averaged 14.1/4.7/2.6 up from 5.7/2.7/0.9 he has shown he can step up his stats in accordance with his minutes increase. In his last 16 games of the regular season he has games where he scored 38 points twice on 61% and 50% shooting and a 33 point night on 71%. We all know the Hawks are about as far away from a chip as you could imagine but Prince will step up this season and could push for 20ppg, along with Young and Collins, these 3 players could be solid building blocks for the future.
Predicted statline: 17.5ppg/7rpg/3.5apg
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2. TJ Warren; for someone who averaged almost 20 last season he still remains relativiely unknown, most likely because he plays beside Devin Booker. Going into his 5th season, firstly health has to be with him, he has played 66,65,47 and 40 games in his career so far. A nice career arc in terms of a constant increase in ppg sets him up nicely to continue this next season and finally average over 20ppg. The Suns will no doubt improve and with Booker, Jackson and Ayton alongside him, there is a good chance he remains the second option in a young, exciting team. Multiple 30 point games along with a 40 point game on 73% shooting against a good Wizards team shows that he can score very efficiently.
Predicted statline: 20.8ppg/6rpg/2.5apg
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3. Josh Richardson is a player who is probably known more for his defence rather than his offence but dont sleep he will be close to joining the 50/40/90 club if his game continues to ascend as it has in previous years. An All defensive team will definitely has his name on it and with his 4th year about to begin I can see him taking a bigger offensive load. I can see Miami sneaking into the playoffs and this will get people talking about him.
Predicted statline: 15ppg/5pg/4apg *All Def team* *Top 5 MIP*
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4. Kris Dunn was a key piece in the Jimmy Butler trade and it seems like the Bulls have a built a pretty decent team with the players gained from the trade. Dunn has shown he can be the primary playmaker while being a very good defender. If his shot improves there is no reason why he cant be a John Wall type player. Coming off a season where he averaged 13/6/4 I am positive he will improve on all of these while remaining a top class defender (2spg last season). With a great young supporting cast around him, the Bulls are too young to make noise but they will be a competitive team and good on both sides of the ball.
Predicted statline: 15.5ppg/6rpg/7/7apg
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5. Jamal Murray is half of one of the most exciting back-courts we have. I was always going to pick one of the Nuggets for a place on this list and I felt Jokic was too good and known, Harris has had a few more years than Murray and of course MPJ is too young. With Jokic playing point center it limits Murray's assist numbers but I'm sure this will improve. Denver are on of the most exciting teams and coming off back to back seasons finishing 9th Murrays improvements could be the difference in them making a playoff spot. With solid averages of 16/3/3 there is room for improvement and with Isiah Thomas as back up it will push him to perform better.
Predicted statline: 18ppg/5rpg/5apg
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6. Aaron Gordon had a pretty good season last year but I feel that he can still get better. A good big man can average around 20-10 and this is where I feel he can land this season. After dropping 41 on 78% shooting with 5/5 from 3 alongside a 40 point performance on 57% with 6 3's and a 39 point game on 64% he has shown he can score when given the chance. With all of his stats continuously improving year on year he can continue this trend and become a legit 20-10 as I previously mentioned. The 17/8 he averaged last year were pretty good stats on a bad team and Orlando haven't improved much but now he is a legit 3 point threat at 34% and this will open up the floor for him meaning he will either get better outside shots or be able to create space inside to score easier.
Predicted statline: 20ppg/10rpg/3.5apg
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7. Thon Maker, by now 2 season into his career I thought he would have made a bigger impact than he has. He has unicorn potential and his summer league stats were pretty good (14ppg/10rpg) so I'm sure the Bucks were hoping they got another Giannis. Maker definitely can be valuable especially if and when the Bucks want to go ultra-long. With averages of 4.8ppg and 3rpg in 16 minutes and his defensive potential not being highlighted this is a big year for him. In the Bucks first round 7 game series loss against the Celtics he showed glimpses of his potential recording 5 blocks twice and a 14 point game and in the games he played well, they won. For me, he needs to put all of this together and go on a good run but with Brook Lopez likely starting his minutes may be limited. Regardless of this I'm am going to bet on Thon and Coach Bud.
Predicted statline: 10ppg/7rpg/1apg
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8. D'Angelo Russell was my pick for MIP last season (if I remember rightly) and honestly this guy is a baller. The Lakers love for Lonzo led to Russell being traded to a bad situation but Brooklyn are finally free from the Celtics trade (I think) and are looking to be competitive. Spencer Dinwiddie had his own breakout year lasr year but I feel like D'Lo is still the starting PG for this team. D'Lo has had his fair share of drama from playing behind Kobe in his final season, snitching on his teammate, having the constant threat of Lonzo eventually taking his place to an injury hit first season with the Nets. With solid averages of 15/5/4 lase season in only 25mpg I can see his stats improving alongside his minutes.
Predicted statline: 19ppg/7apg/5rpg
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9. Elfrid Payton will have a chance to start next to Jrue Holiday and AD next season and this will undoubtedly be the best duo he has played with. Going into his 5th season he really needs make the next step up because so far he hasn't improved much since his rookie season. He has always averaged at least 6 assists per game and about 4 rebounds with double digit scoring numbers in all but his rookie season. Playing in a team with good defenders should help him improve and ideally he should start. Lets not forget the man has finally had a haircut so his shooting % will defo improve (if you know you know). With a chance of making the playoffs for the first time in his career he will be exposed to a new audience and if he can turn into some sort of Rondo-lite, the Pelicans can look to go a run.
Predicted statline: 14ppg/6rpg/8apg
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10. Buddy Hield hasn't lived up to expectations yet, or maybe he was overrated coming into the draft, regardless he got traded early in his career for that ring-chaser in GS, no not Kevin Durant. The Kings SG spot is pretty jam packed but I feel that Hield is good enough to start or at least be 6th man. His 43% 3 point percentage for the Kings is legit and he is pretty close to the 50/40/90 club and with some good young players the Kings are most likely tanking to try and add some more prospects. Hield has averaged 14/4/2 for the Kings which is decent for a second year player but after receiving a nod for All Rookie 1st team ahead of the likes of Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray he hasnt improved like his competitors. I can see his shots falling this season and becoming a real threat for the Kings.
Predicted statline: 17.5ppg/5rpg/4apg
