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We take a look at five NBA players who will be pivotal pieces to the fortunes of their franchises and good fantasy targets. The focus here is young NBA players with experience who can help the fortunes of NBA teams looking for a playoff push or to get to the next step in a trajectory, whether that be avoiding the cellar or going deeper in the post-season.
This exercise is NOT for players like Victor Wembanyama, who should be a first time all-star, or for players who put up numbers on teams that are not headed anywhere and have high hopes of landing a top three pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. No rookies, either, weāll take a deeper look at them soon. But for now, watch out for these five players to have a breakout 2024-25 campaign.
(Listed Alphabetically)
The Final Word: The Bulls do have plenty of players that can handle the ball, but Giddey will be their best play-maker in 2024-25. In his second season in OKC, he was a 16.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 6.2 apg guy and that is not easy to come across.
Heās one of the best rebounding guards in the league and once he finds his footing with Coby White on the floor at the same time, watch out, because heāll put up some numbers.
If that doesnāt happen (and thereās a good chance it wonāt), Giddey will lead the charge of a franchise playing a bunch of young developmental players and protecting its 2025 first round NBA Draft pick that could go to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Final Word: We cheated a bit because Jones, who helped Duke win the 2015 NCAA title, is a veteran. He shot over 41 percent from three and dished a career-high 7.3 apg as a starter on a hapless Wizards team.
Imagine what heāll do with the offensive weapons the Suns have?
Even if the Suns want to start Grayson Allen for better defense, no problem, Jones has received some Sixth Man of the Year votes while with Memphis.
The Final Word: In a small ball setting with Draymond Green playing center, Kuminga is a matchup problem as a power forward, even though he is more of a natural 3-man. He only shot .321 from 3-point range last, so if he can improve in that area the Warriors will be in the thick of the playoff race.
Kumingaās per-36 minute averages are actually pretty damn good (21.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg). With Klay Thompson gone and with that added push that heās a vital cog, we like Kumingaās chances to make some noise for a team that has been past the second round once since Kevin Durant bolted after the 2018-19 season. Also track Warriors' second-year guard Brandin Podziemski.
The Final Word: The 2021 No. 5 overall pick finally was able to show what he could do and by not re-signing Markelle Fultz, his production should go up as his minutes do. When he got healthy after two frustrating seasons, Suggsā shooting got better and heās now knocking down the 3-pointer at an almost 40 percent clip (39.7).
We project Orlando to grab a top six seed in the east (at 48-34) and if their season is projecting towards 50 wins, itās a good bet it will be in part because Suggs is putting up numbers that are on par with last year, along with all-defensive team accolades.
The Final Word: This Duke product only played in 19 games last year, but was playing very well before the injury. His per-36 numbers project out well and even with marginal improvement in his third season, Williams will be a consistent double-double man on a team with some unproven postseason weapons.
Charlotte got a good look at Nick Richards in Williamsā absence last season and letās just say they hope their third-year big man stays healthy. We project the Hornets out of the playoffs (25-57), so they really have nothing to lose by letting their young horses loose this season. The key will be the health of Melo Ball at the point.
If Ball and Brandon Miller are producing, look for Williams to put up some solid numbers and look confident as long as his own back injuries are behind him.
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