NBA teams rarely finish a season with the exact same roster they began with. A trade or a signing is always made. Contending teams like the Lakers usually leave a roster spot open so they can sign a guy mid-season.
The Milwaukee Bucks did that this season, and on Sunday they picked up former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins from free agency. Personally, I like the pickup, as Boogie will relieve some of the physical pressure that comes with playing center from Giannis and Bobby Portis.
Cousins isn’t the only free agent who’s capable of making an impact for an NBA team. Today, I’ll give you a list of 7 current free agents who I think deserve another opportunity in the NBA.
James Ennis III
In a league where 3&D wings are abundant, I was honestly surprised when nobody picked up Ennis in the offseason. In the 2021 season, he shot 43% from deep in 41 games with the Magic. He’s never been a negative on defense either. I would bet money that a team signs Ennis before the season ends. Potential destinations for him include the Lakers, the Bulls, and the Nuggets.
Langston Galloway
In the 2019-20 season, Langston Galloway averaged 10 PPG and shot 40% from three on 5 attempts per game. In the 2021 season, he shot a career-high 42% from three for a contending Suns team. Galloway can flat-out shoot the ball, and I think there’s a roster spot for him somewhere. Potential destinations for him include the Mavericks, the Celtics, and the Wizards (all teams who have struggled with three-point shooting).
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Although RHJ’s offense is below average, he should be in the league because of his defense. He’s been playing high-level versatile defense for years (his defenseive RAPTOR was +2.8 in the 2018-19 season, and +2.3 in the 2019-20 season). Even if his scoring limitations prevent him from seeing major playing time, many teams could use Rondae as a situational defensive guy. Potential teams for RHJ include the Hornets and the Mavericks.
Dwayne Bacon
Although he wasn’t the most efficient (40% from the field on 10 shots a game), Dwayne Bacon averaged 10 PPG while playing in all 72 games for the Orlando Magic (50 starts) in the 2021 season. He’s shown he has three-level scoring ability, and I think he deserves another chance in the league. He’s a low-risk, high-reward type of pickup in my eyes. Potential landing spots for the Baconator include the Cavaliers and the Kings.
Khyri Thomas
Although it was in just 5 games, Khyri Thomas posted averages of 16 PPG, 5 APG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.2 BPG for the Houston Rockets last season. I was disappointed when he was waived prior to the season. He can make an impact on both ends of the floor, and I would like to see him back in the league soon. He could be a really solid depth guy for a playoff team. Potential destinations for Khyri include the Heat, the Hawks, and the Clippers.
Tremont Waters
Tremont Waters is a smart two-way point guard, and he’s been balling in the G-League this season. He’s a passer (6 APG for the Herd) and a defender (2.7 SPG), and he can score the ball too. I was rooting for him to end up on the Bucks regular-season roster, and I hope he’ll find a team at some point this season. Potential homes for Tremont include the Clippers, the Timberwolves, and the Pelicans.
Quinn Cook
A 2-time NBA champ, Quinn Cook has winning experience. He’s a knockdown shooter (41% from three for his career) and can provide solid minutes off the bench for a contender (he even started 28 games for the Warriors across two seasons). He’s just 28 years old, and he still has a lot to contribute to an NBA team. Potential teams for Quinn include the Jazz and the Wizards.
There are many other free agents that can still contribute in the league. There’s veterans like Jeff Teague, Wesley Matthews, and Isaiah Thomas. There’s young guys like Mamadi Diakite, Sekou Doumbouya, and Omari Spellman. There’s undrafted rookies like Mac McLung and MaCio Teague. The NBA is chock-full of talent, and the guys who aren’t on a team prove that.
Which free agent would you want to see on your team? Which guy do you want to return to the league the most? Let me know! Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
After almost a year, the “I become the GM of” series is returning. Today, I am stepping in as the GM of the Indiana Pacers.
If you haven’t read one before, I use NBA2K’s MyNBA mode for these articles. I make all the trades, free-agent signings, and staff hirings I think the Pacers should do, and I simulate the games. 2K isn’t hyper-realistic, but I do everything I can to make it as realistic as possible. I use my own player ratings because I don’t like 2K’s.
So, what’s my plan for the Pacers? I want to retool the roster and start a bit of a youth movement. The Pacers have been mediocre for the last few seasons, and I think it’s time they blow things up a little.
Without further ado, let’s start my tenure as the GM of the Indiana Pacers!
(By the way, I’m turning off injuries. They’re obviously a big part of what happens in the NBA, but in order to see the full results of the moves I make, I don’t want players getting hurt.)
November 21st, 2021
As of today, Indiana’s real-life record is 7-11. That’s not great considering the talent they have on their roster.
Bench: Chris Duarte, T.J. McConnell, Jeremy Lamb, Oshae Brissett, Isaiah Jackson
The Pacers starting lineup is very talented. I don’t understand how they don’t win more games. I’m giving veterans McConnell and Lamb minutes off the bench, but the rest of my backup unit is young guys. Let’s start simulating!
January 1st, 2022
Since the beginning of my GM tenure, we have a record of 8-10. Not awesome. I want to be worse because I need to draft a franchise-altering guy.
T.J. Warren is a very solid player. He’s a consistent scoring option, which the Mavericks need next to Luka in order to make a playoff push (they have a 16-19 record). I don’t need him anymore since I want to miss the playoffs.
I don’t really want Dwight Powell, but he was included for salary purposes. Josh Green and the first-round pick are the main assets.
Bench: Chris Duarte, T.J. McConnell, Torrey Craig, Kelan Martin, Isaiah Jackson
Considering I just traded my starting SF for him, I’m throwing Josh Green into the fire right away. Craig and Martin are getting Lamb and Brissett’s minutes so I can decide who I want to keep on the team.
February 1st, 2022
In the month of January, we went 7-9. In Josh Green’s first 16 games as a starter, he put up 7 PPG, 3 RPG, and 1 SPG. He’s shooting just 24% from deep, but that should improve.
Trade Deadline
Domantas Sabonis was selected as an All-Star, averaging 19.5 PPG, 12 RPG, and 9 APG. Those are awesome numbers. He’s just 25 years old, and I think I can build a winning team around him, so he’s safe. Almost everyone else is not.
Time for some trades.
Trade #2: Torrey to Chicago
Bulls get: Torrey Craig
Pacers get: Troy Brown Jr.
Torrey Craig is a solid role player, but as I said at the beginning I want more young guys. Troy Brown Jr. was picked 15th overall a few years ago and still has some potential.
Waiving: Dwight Powell
Like I said after I acquired him, I don’t want Dwight Powell on the team. He’s not a bad player, but he wasn’t going to get any minutes and his contract was $10 million a year. Thank you for your time in Indiana, Dwight.
Myles Turner is awesome. He’s arguably the best shot-blocker in the league, and he can stretch the floor too. Unfortunately, the Sabonis-Turner duo hasn’t worked out so far. Myles is a valuable trade asset, so I’m taking advantage of that and getting a young piece in P.J. Washington. P.J. will slide in as a starter for me and be a great fit.
In real life, Marvin Bagley has been benched. He’s completely disinterested in being in Sacramento, and the team feels the same way about having him. I’m taking advantage of his value being low and trading for him. He’ll come off the bench to start, but I hope to unlock the potential that he still has.
After a very active deadline, here’s the new rotation:
Bench: Chris Duarte, Marvin Bagley, T.J. McConnell, Mason Plumlee, Troy Brown Jr.
April 1st, 2022
One month after the trade deadline, we’re 11th in the conference. I want to be a little worse, so I’m sitting T.J. McConnell and Mason Plumlee. Jahmi’us Ramsey, Brad Wanamaker, Isaiah Jackson, and Goga Bitadze will all play a few games to end the season.
End of 2021-22 Regular Season
The Indiana Pacers finished with a record of 39-43, good enough for the 10th seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. Shoot. I didn’t want that. Domantas Sabonis made All-NBA second team as a center, and Chris Duarte made All-Rookie second team. Here are everybody’s stats from the 2021-22 season:
M. Brogdon: 18 PPG/3 RPG/6 APG
C. LeVert: 15/3/4, 1 SPG
J. Green: 7/3/1, 1 SPG (He brought his 3P% up to 34%)
P.J. Washington: 12/6/3, 1 SPG, 2 BPG (as a Pacer)
D. Sabonis: 19/12/8
C. Duarte: 10/3/1, 44% from three
M. Bagley: 12/7/1 (as a Pacer)
T.J. McConnell: 7/3/5, 1.6 SPG
M. Plumlee: 8/5/3 (as a Pacer)
I. Jackson: 3/3/1
T. Brown: 5/2/1 (as a Pacer)
K. Martin: 7/2/1
G. Bitadze: 3/3/1 (in just 3 GP)
B. Wanamaker: 11/1/2, 2 SPG, 91% FG, 100% 3P (in just 2 GP. Brad went crazy)
J. Ramsey: 10/3/1 (in just 5 GP)
I’m proud of my new young core. The guys were all great. It stinks that we made the play-in, but even a late lottery pick will boost this new group I’ve put together.
2022 Playoffs
Welp, we won the play-in tournament behind excellent performances from Sabonis, Brogdon, and LeVert. We’ll now face the Bucks in the first round.
We got swept, but Brogdon and LeVert both averaged 20 on high efficiency. I haven’t decided if both of them will be on the team next year.
2022 Offseason
Because we made the playoffs, we ended up with the 15th pick. Rather than trading up, I’ll just pick a guy at 15. I’m targeting a point guard.
Draft Pick: TyTy Washington
(Note: I downloaded a 2022 draft class that someone made. It seems to be pretty realistic, but maybe not. I don’t know too much about college basketball, so just roll with who I take.)
With the 15th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers select TyTy Washington from the University of Kentucky! I got a PG like I wanted. Welcome to the team, TyTy.
Draft Pick: Buddy Boeheim
With the 52nd pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Indiana Pacers select Buddy Boeheim from the University of Syracuse. I watched Boeheim in March Madness last March. I know he’s a shooter. I’m bringing him on to the roster.
Team Options
I’m bringing back P.J. Washington, Josh Green, and Kelan Martin. I’m letting Mason Plumlee and Goga Bitadze leave.
Resigning: Marving Bagley III
I’m bringing back Marvin on a 3-year, $36 million deal. He was pretty good for us last season, and I’m hoping he’ll build off that.
Resigning: Troy Brown Jr.
Troy Brown is also coming back. I gave him a 2-year, $7 million deal.
Trade #5: T.J. to LA
Lakers get: T.J. McConnell
Pacers get: DeAndre Jordan, 2026 1st Round Pick
T.J. is a good backup PG, but I’m trading him to open up minutes for my younger guards.
Waiving: DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre’s washed, and there’s no way I’m paying him $10 million to sit on the bench.
Resigning: Brad Wanamaker
Brad went crazy in the two games he played last year. He likely won’t play much, but I’ll give him another contract. 1-year, minimum deal for Brad.
Signing: Nathan Knight
Nathan Knight can throw down some sweet dunks and rebound, so I’m bringing him in to be the third-string PF on a 2 year, $3.6 million deal.
Signing: Neemias Queta
Neemias Queta blocks shots and rebounds. He was on a two-way contract with Sacramento, but he didn’t play at all in simulation. I’m bringing him in on a 2-year, $3 million contract.
Beginning of the 2022-23 season
So that’s the end of part one of my time as the GM of the Indiana Pacers! Here’s a look at the current roster:
I love the group I’ve put together. I think they’ve got a bright future ahead of them. Part 2 will be a no-pressure growth season. I’ll probably trade one of Brogdon and LeVert, or maybe both. Thanks for reading this article, I hope you enjoyed it. I’ll see you next time!
We’re only a few weeks into the 2021-22 NBA season, but it’s been a year’s worth of fun. So far we’ve seen a bunch of players perform below their expectations, but we’ve also seen guys perform above them. Today, I’m playing a game of buy or sell with six of those overachievers. I’ll tell you if I think the player can keep up their play, or if they’re just on a hot streak. Let’s get started!
Harrison Barnes- Sell
Harrison Barnes has been on fire to start the year. He’s averaging 21 points per game and shooting like his teammate Buddy Hield, hitting 42% of his 6 attempts from deep per game. He’s been a consistent offensive option for a while, but he’s never been this good. Can he keep it up? I don’t think so. The Kings have too many offensive options for Harrison to keep his scoring numbers up. He’s just been the hot hand while De’Aaron has been struggling, and will soon return to his usual self (usual Harrison is really solid though).
Tyler Herro- Sell now, buy later
Tyler Herro is bringing the heat so far (get it? I know, not funny). He’s averaging 20 PPG and shooting career-highs from the field (47%) and from three (42%), and that production is making the Heat really scary. Can he keep it up and win 6MOY? I’m selling on that. I think the way Montrezl Harrell has been playing puts him far ahead of Tyler in the 6MOY race. The only way Tyler wins is if he averages 20 across the entire season, but that’s hard to do and very rare for a bench player. However, I am buying that this is the real Tyler Herro. He’s shown that he is a very confident and capable shot creator, and when he’s starting in the near future he will be this guy full time.
Cole Anthony- Buythe entire stock
On a Magic team with no clear best player, Cole Anthony has taken the mantle of number one option and ran away with it. He’s put up 19 points per game across Orlando’s first 12 games. He’s shooting 44% from the field and 39% from three, which is much improved from his rookie season. He’s come up big in the clutch multiple times, including a 14 point, 4 threes fourth quarter that buried Minnesota. He’s only in his second year, but his offensive confidence is off the charts. I’m buying in on Cole Anthony.
Carmelo Anthony- Sell
Melo has been electric this season, and it’s been a ton of fun. He’s averaging 17 PPG, which is his highest average since his last All-Star year. He’s also shooting 50% from three on 7 attempts per game. Just like the other C. Anthony in the league, Melo has been a huge performer in crunch time this season. As much as I’ve loved watching it happen, I’m not buying in on this level of play from Melo. That’s not to say he won’t be a crucial part of any Lakers’ success, but I don’t think he’ll be able to keep up this 6MOY production.
Ricky Rubio- Sell
Since his rookie season, Ricky has been one of the league’s top passers. He was drafted fifth overall in 2009 (before Steph Curry), which meant he had huge expectations. For his career, he has an average of 7.6 assists per game. That’s top 20 all-time. Despite that playmaking talent, scoring has held him back from reaching his full potential. This season, however, he’s been an offensive weapon. He’s averaging a career-high 14 points per game and shooting 41% from three on 5 attempts per game (far and away career highs). He’s been a big contributor to Cleveland’s competitive play, but I don’t think he’s really that guy. He’s hot right now, but the past decade suggests he’s not a consistent scorer like he’s been this season.
Will Barton- Buy
Jamal Murray is out indefinitely. Michael Porter Jr. has been awful. How are the Nuggets still winning games when Jokic’s two best teammates aren’t contributing? Will “Thrill” Barton is having a huge season so far. He’s putting up career highs in scoring (17 PPG), assists (4.4 APG), steals (1.4 SPG), and 3P% (43% on 6 attempts per game). Even when Jokic was suspended, Barton led the Nuggets to a W by putting up 30 points and 6 threes (he also had help from Zeke Nnaji, who won Bench Mob Player of the Day for his performance that game). I see no reason why Will can’t keep this up. I’m buying in on him.
So, that’s my verdict on some early overperformers. Do you agree or disagree? Who are some other guys you’re buying in on? Let me know! An article like this for underperformers is coming soon. Thanks for reading, see you next time!
In the 2018-19 season, Richaun Holmes was nothing more than a solid backup big for the Suns. In 70 games (4 starts), he put up 8 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 61% from the field.
However, in NBA2K19, he played like prime Shaq or something. He grabbed every rebound and dunked every putback. It was annoying to play against because he wasn’t actually that good at the time.
Nowadays, although he obviously isn’t prime Shaq, Richaun Holmes has quietly become a guy who should be in the top 10 center conversation.
Notice how I said should be and not is? Despite how well he’s been playing over the last couple of seasons (especially this year), Richaun doesn’t get the attention he deserves (likely because he plays in Sacramento).
Today, I’m going to wake some people up and show them how Richaun Holmes is push-shotting his way into the top 10 center list.
If you’ve watched a Kings game before, you’ve probably seen Richaun take (and make) a shot like this:
He’s good for a few of those per game. One-hand pushing the ball into the hoop from 10-15 feet away takes a lot of touch, and most big guys in the league don’t have that.
That shot is super efficient for Richaun. In the 2020-21 season, he took a fourth of his shots from 10-16 feet and made 62% of them. His numbers from that range so far this season are almost identical.
Just because Richaun loves that push shot, doesn’t mean he shys away from contact. He gets buckets using brute force.
Although his offensive game is very traditional for a center, he’s extremely effective. He was second in the league in FG% in 2021, shooting 64%. So far this season, he’s shooting 69%.
Richaun’s offensive impact isn’t limited to push shots. He’s averaging 5.6 screen assists, which is 6th in the league. He’s also excellent at the free-throw line for a big, shooting around 80% over the last three seasons.
Richaun also protects the paint. Over his three seasons with the Kings, he’s averaging 1.4 blocks per game.
Here he stops Jordan Clarkson’s drive and then swats Rudy Gobert’s layup attempt.
At the end of the 2021 season, I ranked Richaun as the 88th best player in the league and the 16th best center. If he keeps playing like he has, he’ll be much higher on both lists at the end of the year.
He’s averaging 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 block across his first 9 games, and he’s top 5 in the league in FG%. He put up dominant numbers in a blowout win against the Hornets, posting 23 points and 20 rebounds. You can’t ask for much more from your starting center.
I understand if you don’t want to watch a Kings game. They usually aren’t doing anything crazy, especially with De’Aaron Fox struggling so far. However, you should keep an eye on Richaun Holmes because he’s coming for a spot in the top 10 center list. Don’t sleep.
When you’re thinking of the best rookies so far this season, you probably think about Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Scottie Barnes, Chris Duarte, or Josh Giddey. Those are valid choices.
There’s another guy who I think deserves to be in that conversation. He’s played at an All-Rookie level, and a lot of fans probably don’t even know his name.
That guy is the 35th overall pick, Herb Jones.
Herb is a combo forward for the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s been starting while Zion is sidelined.
Herb’s claim to fame is defense. He’s already the best defender on his team, and he’s just 8 games into his rookie season. His on-off defensive RAPTOR is +5.4, meaning the Pelicans are significantly better on D when he is in the game.
He’s 6’8″, and he uses his 7’0″ wingspan to be a menace in the passing lanes. He’s snagged 9 steals across his first 8 games, and he had 2+ in 3 of those games.
Here he gets beat, but stays active and erases Ant’s pass.
Don’t let that clip fool you, though. Herb’s not just a ball hawk. He clamps guys up, and is already guarding some of the best players in the league. His teammate Trey Murphy calls him “Straitjacket” for a reason.
Here’s a list of players who’ve been locked up by Herb “Straitjacket” Jones:
Devin Booker: 20% FG (1-5)
Julius Randle: 33% FG (1-3), 1 TOV
Anthony Edwards: 20% FG (2-10), 3 TOV (across two games)
That’s a solid list, and it will only get bigger as the season continues.
Herb is a beast on defense, but his offense has been somewhat lackluster. He’s no Andre Roberson, but the in order for Herb to become a consistent starter in the league he’ll need to progress as a scorer.
The big key for Herb on offense is confidence. He’s efficient around the rim (67% from 0-3 feet so far this year. A little over half of his shots have come from that range), so I think taking more shots is all it will take for him to become a two-way threat.
His jumpshot is a work in progress (He’s just 1-5 from three to start his career, and he shot 29% from deep over his four season at Alabama), but nothing in his shot suggests he can’t become at least a league-average shooter one day.
Overall, Herb has come out of the gate as a very solid NBA player. His defensive impact has been huge, and he’s earned his starting role. He’s got a shot at making an All-Defensive team one day, and I’m putting you on now so you’re not surprised when it happens.
The 2020-21 NBA season was my first with League Pass. I spent countless hours in my basement watching all 30 teams play. I loved watching every team (because I love watching basketball), but I definitely had favorites. Besides the Bucks and the Spurs, I found myself watching a ton of Hornets basketball. They weren’t super competitive (they had a record of 33-39, and lost to Indiana in the play-in), but they always played in an exciting fashion. Whenever I tuned in to a Hornets game, I was guaranteed an incredible poster from Miles Bridges, a ridiculous pass from LaMelo Ball, or a clutch bucket from Terry Rozier (all to the tune of Eric Collins’s immaculate commentating).
So far this season, the flashy play I’ve fallen in love with has translated to winning basketball.
The Hornets have started off 4-2. They’ve beaten the Pacers in overtime, the Cavaliers, and the Magic, but their biggest win was against the Nets.
Against Brooklyn, the Hornets were up by one heading into the fourth quarter. It looked like the game would go down to the wire, but it didn’t. Charlotte ran KD and company out of the gym, out-scoring them 32 to 17 in the fourth. The most impressive part of that quarter? LaMelo Ball didn’t touch the floor. Instead, it was veteran point guard Ish Smith who took over and led Charlotte to the victory, scoring 11 points and dishing out 4 assists in the fourth quarter alone. Gritty wing Cody Martin also stepped up big late, drawing back-to-back charges that forced James Harden to the bench and scoring 8 points.
Bench players stepping up has been a big story for Charlotte so far. Cody Martin, Ish Smith, and Jalen McDaniels have all contributed to their early success.
Alright. Now that I’ve given some love to the bench mob guys, let’s talk about the man who’s been absolutely BALLING, Miles Emmanuel Bridges.
Across the first six games, Miles is putting up 26 PPG, 8 RPG, and 1.8 SPG while shooting 53% from the field (18 FGA per game) and 39% from three (8 3PA per game). Those are All-Star (maybe even All-Star starter) numbers.
(Not to flex, but I told you guys he was good. I have a whole article where I dive into his game and explain why I think he’s so good. If you haven’t read it, you’re a goofball.)
As good as Miles is, I don’t expect him to play like this all season. Terry Rozier has only played one game so far, and when he returns he’ll take some shots away from Miles.
Regardless of what Miles’s stats look like at the end of the year, he’s showing everybody what I saw while watching him last season. I don’t know what Charlotte’s front office was thinking when they offered him an extension worth just $60 million. He’s smart for declining it because he’s gonna get a lot more this summer.
Overall, the Charlotte Hornets are must-see TV. I think they’re the most exciting team in the league. They only have a few more nationally broadcasted games this season, and you should watch every single one of them. To be honest, it might be worth paying for League Pass just to watch the Hornets.
Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch, but my point is you should be as excited about the Hornets as I am. They’re a blast to watch play, and they’ll only get more fun as their young core develops.
The reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks are one of the deeper teams in the NBA. They don’t have a ton of big names like the Lakers or the Nets, but the chemistry and energy their bench guys bring makes their bench mob one of the best.
The bench is highlighted by fan-favorite Bobby Portis Jr., veteran point guard George Hill, and 3&D wing Pat Connaughton. Those guys are good, but what really makes the Bucks so deep are their talented second-round draft picks.
Jordan Nwora was the 45th pick in the 2020 draft. He showed flashes in his rookie season, averaging 6 points and shooting 45% from three across 30 games.
I liked him as a player then, but after his 2021 preseason performance, I’m really high on him. He’s super confident on the offensive end, so he scores effortlessly. His bag consists of smooth step-back and pull-up threes, which he’ll make even when he’s guarded.
When you can score like Jordan can, you’re gonna get rotational minutes. In Milwaukee’s opening night game against Brooklyn, we saw that he can make an impact on winning a game. He put up 15 points and made 3 threes in a blowout win.
Although he’ll need to improve on defense and be a better passer to become an All-Star one day, Jordan’s scoring should make him a solid starter for a long time. Snagging him late in the second round makes him a true draft steal, and arguably the biggest of his draft class.
Rookie big Sandro Mamukelashvili was picked 54th overall. I have no clue how a player with such a unique game and high ceiling fell that far in the draft.
Mamu is a guard in a center’s body. He’ll never play point guard, but he can definitely be a high post playmaker in the league (Think Domantas Sabonis). He can shoot the three, drive to the hoop with surprising speed, and make good passes. I have never seen a player who plays like Mamu does.
He will need time to develop those skills and become a consistent rotational guy, but it will happen.
If you want to watch Jordan and Mamu play, check out this mixtape I put together of their preseason highlights. You’ll be able to see the skill I’m talking about.
I have no idea how a perennial contender was able to get these two guys in the draft. It’s a huge deal, because even after they won a championship Milwaukee still isn’t a super attractive team for free agents. Drafting well is how you win games for a long time (the Spurs and the Warriors are two teams that have done this). Kudos to Jon Horst and Milwaukee’s scouting department.
Jordan Nwora and Sandro Mamukelashvili will soon take the league by storm, and I’m putting you on notice now. These guys are seriously special.
(And no, I’m not just saying that because I’m a Bucks fan. I mean it.)
(Also, shoutout to 2020 60th overall pick and former Buck Sam Merrill, who is a knockdown shooter. I’m excited to see what he’ll do with Memphis this season.)
A few weeks ago, I put out my top 100 players of 2021 list. Now, I’m putting out my prediction list. I made one last year (wow. I’ve had this blog for an entire season. That’s crazy), and it wasn’t great. I did ok. I think I’m going to do better this time around.
The fun part about making a prediction list is predicting what young guys will make jumps and how big those jumps will be. There are multiple young guys on this list who didn’t make my 2021 list.
So, what was my method for making this list? I just thought about how much better (or worse) a player will be at the end of next season compared to how they are now. There’s no true criteria for this. It’s just like “I think this guy is gonna have a really good season” or “this guy might take a step back”. In some cases, there are guys who won’t improve or regress at all, but they fall down the list due to other guys getting better.
Alright. Without further ado, here’s my prediction for the top 100 (110) players of the 2022 NBA season.
(The stats you’ll see next to the players are predictions for what the players will average. They are organized like this: PPG/RPG/APG, SPG and/or BPG, FG%/3PT%/FT%.)
Honorable Mentions (110-101):
110: Bojan Bogdanovic (16/5/1, 0.5 SPG, 42/40/88)
109: Miles Bridges (15/6/3, 1/1, 51/40/89)
108: Saddiq Bey (14/4/1, 44/42/85)
107: Wendell Carter Jr. (15/10/2, 1 BPG, 52/30/75)
106: Tim Hardaway Jr. (17/3/1, 43/41/82)
105: Brook Lopez (10/6/1, 1.5 BPG, 52/35/86)
104: Keldon Johnson (16/7/2, 1/1, 45/36/77)
103: Rui Hachimura (17/5/2, 1 SPG, 47/36/77)
102: Gary Trent Jr. (15/3/3, 1 SPG, 42/40/80)
101: Lonzo Ball (12/6/8, 2 SPG, 41/38/79)
My “honorable mentions” list contains lots of young guys making their first appearances on a top 100. Miles Bridges has enough pure talent to be higher, but I don’t think his role will be big enough to do so. Saddiq Bey is primed for a huge shooting season with Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes passing him the ball. I hate that I have Brook Lopez all the way down here, but there are so many talented players that I had to. Rui Hachimura will be Washington’s third-best player. I’m still not as high on Lonzo as most people are, and I think he won’t be more than a high-end role player for the Bulls.
Here’s the actual top 100.
100: Seth Curry (16/3/2, 45/42/90)
Seth is an elite shooter. That won’t change in 2022. He’s shown that he’s capable of scoring on high volume with high efficiency (he’s never averaged more than 13 PPG in the regular season, but he averaged 19 in the 2021 playoffs), and that’s exactly what he’ll do this season with a bigger role in the Sixers offense.
99: Tyrese Haliburton (15/3/5, 1 SPG, 46/42/87)
Despite his unorthodox shot form, Tyrese is an efficient shooter and a capable playmaker. De’Aaron Fox’s partner for the future will take his first step to becoming the second-best player on the Kings in 2022.
98: Chris Boucher (13/7/1, 2 BPG, 48/36/78)
Coming off a MIP level season, Chris Boucher has proven that he is a starting-caliber center. However, now that he’s sharing minutes with Khem Birch, Boucher’s room to improve further is limited. That’s why he’ll stay around the same spot in 2022 as he landed in 2021.
97: Victor Oladipo (14/4/5, 1 SPG, 44/37/77)
Barring a return to All-Star form (which I doubt will happen), Oladipo will come off the bench in most of his games played in 2022 (Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson will be the Heat’s starting backcourt). This will lead to him becoming a high-end role player. I think he’ll be good enough to make the bottom of my list, but there’s a chance he falls off completely.
96: Markelle Fultz (14/4/7, 1 SPG, 46/34/70)
Coming off a season where he played just 8 games, Markelle will be looking to stay fully healthy for the second season in his career. Last time he was healthy, he proved himself as a starting-caliber point guard who can pass and attack the rim. Assuming health, he will find that success again in 2022.
95: Reggie Jackson (18/4/4, 1 SPG, 45/39/82)
Reggie had an electric 2021 playoffs while Kawhi was injured. I expect that to carry over into the 2022 regular season, where he’ll average 18+ PPG while helping the Clippers stay in the playoffs until Kawhi returns
94: Luguentz Dort (16/5/2, 1 SPG, 42/37/75)
Lu Dort is already great on defense. The next step is to improve his offense. He showed flashes in 2021, such as a 42 point game, but his consistency needs to improve. I think that will happen in 2022, and Dort will remain in the top 100.
93: De’Andre Hunter (13/4/1, 1 SPG, 48/40/85)
Last season, De’Andre cemented himself as a member of Atlanta’s young core. He’s already a high-level 3&D player, and should make a jump to become even more this season. De’Andre Hunter will have a big impact on any Hawks success in 2022.
92: Richaun Holmes (14/9/1, 1.5 BPG, 66/25/79)
On a roster with a loaded frontcourt, Richaun has established himself as the anchor. His paint presence on both ends will land him a spot in the top 100 for seasons to come. The only reason he falls lower than where he was in 2021 is that the excess amount of bigs on Sacramento’s roster will result in fewer minutes for Richaun.
91: John Wall (14/4/6, 1 SPG, 42/35/75)
Wall and the Rockets came to an agreement that Wall will be off the Rockets in the near future. That’s great for both sides, but as of now, I have no idea where Wall will end up and when he will play. That makes ranking him hard. I’m going the safe route and putting him low rather than high. We’ll see where he ends up at the end of the year.
90: Derrick Rose (13/3/6, 1 SPG, 47/38/85)
I don’t think D-Rose will regress too much from his 2021 season, I think guys below him will get better. Derrick is coming off his best season since his injury. His stats may drop in 2022 (due to more players on the Knicks needing shots than last year), but his impact won’t.
89: Malik Beasley (18/3/2, 45/40/84)
Malik had an excellent scoring season in 2021, averaging an efficient 20 PPG. He will likely come off the bench in 2022, but that won’t stop him from scoring effectively. Malik’s bucket getting will be a big part of a Minnesota offense that could be top 10 in the league.
88: Buddy Hield (17/3/3, 43/40/85)
Buddy will continue to be one of the best three-point specialists in the league in 2022. That will land him on this list. To be higher, he must develop another skill (defense, slashing, playmaking).
87: Jalen Green (17/5/2, 43/36/82)
The first of two rookies on this list, Jalen Green is a smooth bucket getter. He’s capable of averaging 20 right off the bat, but sharing shots with Kevin Porter Jr. and Christian Wood will likely lead to around 17 PPG from Jalen. He’s very talented, so while he’ll land in the mid-eighties in his rookie year, it won’t be long before he’s knocking on the door of the top 50.
86: Derrick White (17/5/5, 1.5/1, 45/38/84)
One of the most underrated guys in the league, Derrick is due for a big season. Playing for the rebuilding Spurs, he will be free to show his full talent. I expect 17 PPG, 5 APG, and more great defense from Derrick White in 2022.
85: T.J. Warren (16/4/2, 48/38/80)
After a foot injury caused him to play just four games in 2021, bubble god T.J. Warren is back and ready to go. How good will he be? We’ll see. If he plays like he did in the 2019-20 season, he’ll land higher on the list. I don’t think he will, though, because he’ll be sharing shots with four other top 100 guys.
84: Kevin Porter Jr. (17/4/7, 44/37/75)
Kevin Porter Jr. balled out with Houston last season, and would have made my top 100 if he played more games. In 2022, he’s gonna be great. KPJ is a bucket and a floor general. I love that his goal for this season is to average 9 assists. I’m excited to watch him go crazy.
83: Evan Fournier (17/3/1, 49/42/80)
Evan Fournier is a consistent 18+ PPG, high efficiency guy. He’s a great addition to the Knicks roster that struggled to score in the 2021 playoffs.
82: Jordan Clarkson (19/3/2, 43/35/88)
Jordan Clarkson fills up the scoring column, and that’s why he won Sixth Man of the Year in 2021. He’s my pick to win the award again in 2022. He would be higher if he was more efficienct.
81: Jarrett Allen (14/10/1, 1.5 BPG, 65/25/70)
Jarrett Allen is a very traditional center, but he’s very good at what he does. His high-level rim protection and rebounding will land him in the top 100 for years to come.
80: Marcus Smart (10/4/6, 2 SPG, 40/36/80)
Marcus Smart is up there with the grittiest, hardest-working guys in the league. He is so valuable to the Celtics. Pure hustle earns Marcus his spot in the top 100.
79: Myles Turner (12/7/1, 3 BPG, 48/35/77)
Myles is one of the best (if not the best) shot blockers in the league. He averaged a ridiculous 3.4 BPG in 2021, and nothing suggests that he can’t do it again. I could see the Pacers running a Utah Jazz-esque defense where they force the opposition to drive into Myles.
78: Bogdan Bogdanovic (16/3/3, 1 SPG, 45/42/88)
Bogey showed in 2021 that he’s one of the best high volume, high efficiency 3PT specialists in the league. He also played the best defense of his career. Those trends should continue in 2022.
77: Andrew Wiggins (18/5/2, 1/1, 46/39/73)
Wiggins has bought into winning basketball, which will make him a big asset for a Warriors roster that is returning to contention. His numbers should be down with Klay Thompson coming back and Jordan Poole ready for a bigger role, but Wiggins’s play on both ends of the floor have earned him a perennial spot in the top 100.
76: Cade Cunningham (16/5/6, 1 SPG, 44/37/83)
Cade has received the keys to the Detroit Pistons. He’s their franchise guy for the future. He’s ready to come in right away and have an impact, making him my pick for Rookie of the Year.
75: Jusuf Nurkic (14/12/3, 1/1.5, 52/34/70)
2021 was a fall from grace for Nurkic after his awesome 2020 season. He’s got a lot to prove now on a Trail Blazers roster that needs him to produce. Nurk has the talent, he just needs to use it.
74: Spencer Dinwiddie (17/5/6, 1 SPG, 45/36/78)
Coming off a season that he missed most of due to injury, it’s hard to tell how good Dinwiddie will be. He’ll be playing for a Washington team that needs him to play a big role and play it well. I think he’s capable of doing it.
73: Jonas Valanciunas (14/12/2, 1.5 BPG, 56/34/76)
Jonas Valanciunas is underrated. He’s one of the best rebounders in the league, and an elite screen setter. Unfortunately, I don’t think his fit in New Orleans is great. They’ll be relying on his ability to shoot too much because Zion clogs the paint. That’s why he will fall far from where he ranked in 2021.
72: Jonathan Isaac (15/6/1, 1.5/1.5, 46/37/78)
Another player who was injured during the 2021 season, Isaac hasn’t played a game since the bubble. Isaac is best known for his defense, but will improve his offense this season. I think he’ll be in the MIP conversation.
71: Jaren Jackson Jr. (17/7/2, 1.5 BPG, 47/38/78)
In his first two seasons, Jaren showed that he has a bright future. An injury in 2021 slowed that down, but he will have a big 2022 season. His defense, shooting, ball handling, and finishing make him a very unique player.
70: Dillon Brooks (18/4/2, 1.5 SPG, 46/38/82)
Dillon broke out in the 2021 playoffs, and now will look to bring that play into the regular season. I think he’s capable of doing it. 18 PPG along with gritty defense will put Dillon into the top ten shooting guard conversation.
69: Norman Powell (18/4/2, 1 SPG, 46/40/86)
Stormin’ Norman had an awesome 2021 season, breaking out as a near 20 PPG scorer. I question his fit in Portland (his numbers falling off a little after the trade backs my feeling), and I don’t think he’ll be able to play as well as he can in 2022.
68: R.J. Barrett (17/5/2, 45/40/74)
R.J. had a breakout season in 2021. I was confident in his ability to improve further this season, but the additions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier leave the Knicks with a ton of guys who score. That will stunt R.J.’s growth a little, and he’ll play similarly to how he did in 2021.
67: Mikal Bridges (16/5/2, 1.5 SPG, 49/41/84)
Mikal was a key 3&D role player for the Suns during their Finals run. He is capable of being more, and I think he’ll show that in 2022. His shot creating ability should improve this year, making him even more of a weapon on offense.
66: Darius Garland (17/3/7, 1 SPG, 45/39/85)
Although I think Collin Sexton will have a better season than him, Darius Garland is Cleveland’s guard of the future. He’s a three-level scorer, and a playmaker. I like Garland’s game a lot, and the sky’s the limit for him.
65: Anthony Edwards (20/5/3, 1.5 SPG, 45/36/79)
Ant’s performance in 2021 showed why he was the number one pick in the 2020 draft, but he still has lots of room to grow. I think he’ll improve a lot this season, starting with his efficiency. Shooting more effectively will make his scoring more impactful, which the Wolves will need to compete this season.
64: Kristaps Porzingis (20/8/2, 2 BPG, 45/38/83)
Injuries have affected Kristaps’s career since his All-Star season, but he still needs to step up. He’s become a stationary shooter at the five position, when he could be much more. Maybe Rick Carlisle wasn’t using him correctly, and Jason Kidd can unlock the old Porzingis. We’ll see.
63: Caris LeVert (19/4/5, 1.5 SPG, 46/36/80)
LeVert has become a consistent secondary ball handler/shot creator. Recovering from a mass in his kidney had him playing a little below par last season, but this year he’ll return to form. It will be interesting to see how much he has the ball in his hands with Brogdon, Sabonis, and T.J. Warren also needing the ball in Indiana.
62: Mike Conley (16/3/7, 1 SPG, 45/42/85)
Whether it was a pity selection or not, Mike Conley made his first All-Star game in his 14 year career last season. Although it’s high ly unlikely he’ll make it again in 2022, he will play just as well.
61: Kemba Walker (18/4/7, 1 SPG, 42/36/88)
Even though Kemba is definitely a shoot-first guy, he’s unselfish too. With the most offensive weapons he’s ever had around him, he should have a great passing year. He’ll score too, of course (although hopefully more efficiently than last year). Kemba’s performance will be the decider of how good the Knicks are this season.
60: OG Anunoby (18/6/2, 1/1, 51/40/76)
I thought 2021 would be OG’s huge breakout year, but it wasn’t. That means this year will be. He’s improved a ton on offense since he got drafted, and he’s always been an awesome defender. In 2022, OG will show everybody that he’ll be in All-Star conversations for years to come.
59: Gordon Hayward (18/6/4, 48/40/84)
Hayward is a guy who can give you an efficient 20 points on any given night. His consistent scoring will be a significant part of Charlotte’s play-in run (unless he gets traded, which is possible).
58: Terry Rozier III (20/5/4, 1 SPG, 45/40/85)
Terry Rozier had the best season of his career in 2021. He proved that he can be relied on for 20+ points every night. That won’t change in 2022.
57: Kyle Lowry (16/4/8, 2 SPG, 45/39/86)
The greatest Raptor of all-time is on a new team for the first time since 2012. He’s a great fit in Miami. He won’t be relied on to score a ton, but he’ll run the offense. He’ll be near the top of the league in assists per game. Kyle is almost 36, but he’s still a very valuable player.
56: Collin Sexton (22/3/4, 46/37/82)
Sexton is the definition of a score-first guy, which is why many believe he’d be best off in a sixth-man role (think Jordan Clarkson). But, as long as he’s starting in Cleveland, it will be hard to count out his high scoring numbers.
55: LaMelo Ball (18/7/7, 1.5 SPG, 45/37/77)
LaMelo is one of the best passers in the NBA, and he’s just 20 years old. The 2021 rookie of the year will score more this season, which will land him just outside of the top 50.
54: Clint Capela (14/14/1, 2 BPG, 65/0/60)
Capela is the best rebounder in the NBA. He’s also an excellent rim protector and lob threat. He’s the anchor of the young Hawks roster that will win a lot of games this season.
53: John Collins (18/7/1, 1 BPG, 58/40/82)
John Collins started his career as a lob threat, but he’s now much more than that. He’s an efficient stretch four and mid-range shot creator. He’s the perfect running mate for Trae Young. He’s due to break out as an All-Star very soon, but the Hawks are so stacked that I don’t think it will happen this season.
52: Jerami Grant (20/6/3, 1 BPG, 45/37/85)
Even though he just broke out and became a star, Jerami will be the leader on the extremely young Pistons roster in 2022. He certainly plays like a leader. His efficiency will improve from last season as he’ll have the ball in his hands a little less.
51: Michael Porter Jr. (21/8/1, 1 BPG, 52/42/80)
With Jamal Murray injured to start the season, MPJ will become Denver’s second option and Jokic’s number one receiver. He will score a lot because of it. His ridiculous efficiency will decrease slightly due to volume, but overall MPJ will climb up the rankings from where he was last season.
50: D’Angelo Russell (22/3/7, 1 SPG, 44/39/78)
D’Lo has become underappreciated since his days in Brooklyn. He can score with the best of them. His efficiency is great for his volume and shot difficulty. He is a top 50 player in the NBA.
49: Dejounte Murray (19/7/8, 2 SPG, 47/35/80)
Dejounte Murray is my big breakout candidate for 2022. He’s a very talented player, but he hasn’t had the freedom to show that yet in his young career. With the Spurs in rebuild mode, this is his year to go crazy. I am so excited to watch Dejounte play this year. You should be too.
48: Christian Wood (22/10/1, 1.5 BPG, 53/38/65)
Although the young duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green may be more exciting, Christian Wood is still the best player in Houston. He grinded to get his opportunity in the league, and once he got his shot he ran away with it.
47: Draymond Green (7/8/10, 2/1, 45/30/80)
With the Warriors back in contention, Draymond will be extra motivated this season. He’s definitely gonna lead the league in techinals, but he might lead the league in assists as well. Draymond is the best glue guy of all time, and he’s still a top 50 player.
46: Pascal Siakam (21/7/4, 1 SPG, 46/33/83)
I am expecting (and hoping, for Pascal’s sake) a partial return to form for Pascal Siakam in 2022. He won’t be an All-Star, but he will play at a borderline level. He needs to prove that last season was just a fluke.
45: C.J. McCollum (23/4/5, 46/39/82)
Just like his teammate Jusuf Nurkic, C.J. McCollum has something to prove in 2022. He needs to show that he’s capable of being the number two guy on a contender, or he should (and probably will) get traded.
44: Malcolm Brogdon (20/5/6, 1 SPG, 47/40/87)
Malcolm Brogdon has established himself as a top 50 player since his time in Milwaukee. He’s a scorer, playmaker, and defender. With lots of mouths to feed in Indiana’s starting lineup, Brogdon should return to his near 50/40/90 self with the ball in his hands less.
43: Tobias Harris (22/7/5, 1 SPG, 49/38/88)
With Ben Simmons likely headed out the door, that leaves Tobias Harris as the clear-cut second option in Philadelphia. That should lead to an increase in his scoring (and a slight decrease in his efficiency). I could see Tobi averaging near 25 until Simmons gets traded and a new player who needs shots arrives.
42: Deandre Ayton (18/12/1, 1 BPG, 60/25/79)
Even after an excellent playoff performance, the Suns did not give Deandre Ayton a max extension. To prove he deserves a bag, Ayton will need to play like he did in the playoffs for the whole season. I think he can do it. Pay Ayton!
41: Fred VanVleet (22/4/6, 2 SPG, 42/37/88)
The best player on the Raptors (until OG takes that mantle in the near future), Freddy VanVleet is effective on both ends of the floor. I don’t expect significant improvement or regression from him in 2022, so he’ll land around where he did in 2021.
40: Jrue Holiday (18/4/7, 2 SPG, 48/38/77)
The best guard defender in the NBA, Jrue Holiday is a top 40 player. I think his scoring will be a little down this season, but his assist numbers should go up (he averaged 9 per game in the Bucks’ championship run).
39: DeMar DeRozan (20/5/8, 50/30/86)
DeMar is going from the best player on his team to the third best, but his numbers won’t decline much. He averaged 7 assists per game in San Antonio, so with players like LaVine and Vucevic to pass to his assist numbers will increase. His efficiency should also increase as his volume decreases a little. DeMar is still very disrespected. He’s going to have a great season for a Bulls team looking to compete.
38: Ben Simmons (15/8/9, 2 SPG, 54/30/60)
Wherever Ben Simmons plays this season, he will still be a top 40 player (as long as he is willing to shoot the ball at the hoop). He is a top five defender in the league, and an elite passer. It will be interesting to see how long Ben stays in Philadelphia before he is traded.
37: Jamal Murray (23/4/5, 1 SPG, 46/40/88)
Jamal is out for an indefinite amount of time to start the season, but he makes my list because he will return. When he comes back, he will be the same high-level scorer he was in 2021. To outperform this prediction, he’ll need to help the Nuggets make a deep playoff run.
36: Russell Westbrook (19/9/9, 1 SPG, 45/34/68)
Now that he’s teammates with LeBron and AD, Russ won’t average his usual triple double. And if I’m being 100% honest, his historic stuffing of the stat sheet is most of the reason I had him in the top 25 for the 2021 season. Now, in an insanely talented league, Russ will fall to the lowest ranking he’s had in a long time.
35: Rudy Gobert (15/13/1, 2.5 BPG, 65/15/63)
The three DPOY awards Gobert has won speak for themselves. He’s an all-time great rim protector. He’s also one of the best rebounders in the league. However, with all the talent in the league, it’s gotten to the point where he’s going to need to do more on offense if he wants to stay in the top 30.
34: Nikola Vucevic (24/11/4, 50/41/83)
Vucevic’s offensive game is great for the current NBA where shooting is everything. The Bulls aren’t very deep at the center position, so he’s going to get a lot of minutes this year. He has a good shot at making his third All-Star game if the Bulls perform up to expectations.
33: Klay Thompson (20/4/3, 50/41/80)
After over 24 months, Klay Thompson is finally back and playing basketball again. I’m excited about it, because I’ve missed his impeccable shooting form. It’s a lot of fun to watch. Even if the injuries hurt Klay’s defense a little, it can’t hurt his shooting. When he returns in December, the Warriors are going to look very scary.
32: Brandon Ingram (26/5/4, 47/39/88)
I typically don’t like to use the word underrated when talking about All-Stars, but I think I have to in order to describe Ingram. I’m all over NBA social media, and I rarely see anybody talking about him. He’s a bonafide bucket getter. With Zion out to start the season, Ingram will get hot and never look back.
31: Julius Randle (22/9/6, 46/40/79)
After his breakout season, fans are now questioning if Julius can do it again. I don’t think his 2021 performance was a fluke, I think people are focusing too much on the real fluke (his playoff performance against Atlanta). While he probably won’t make an All-NBA team, Julius will likely make another All-Star game in 2022.
30: Ja Morant (21/4/7, 1 SPG, 46/35/75)
Although a 2022 All-Star appearance is unlikely for Ja, this will be his first season of true stardom. He’s shown he can lead a team to winning in his first two seasons. This season, Ja Morant will jump out of the gym and into the top 30.
29: Khris Middleton (22/5/6, 1 SPG, 52/42/90)
Kash Money Middleton has nothing left to prove to anybody who’s hated on him in the past. The only thing I’d love to see from him is a little more consistency. I think this is the year he does that, and he’ll join the exclusive 50/40/90 club. After all, his teammate is the most dominant force in basketball. Giannis will draw multiple defenders every play, and that will create lots of efficienct looks for Khris.
28: Domantas Sabonis (20/13/7, 1 SPG, 55/34/73)
Sabonis has cemented himself as an All-Star level player. It’s crazy to me that he’s only 25, because that means he still has lots of time to grow. He’s already a high-level post scorer, passer, and rebounder, and if he adds a consistent three ball Sabonis could become a top 25 player.
27: Bam Adebayo (18/10/4, 1/1.5, 58/30/79)
Bam was the last Giannis stopper until Giannis walked over him in the first round of the playoffs. That doesn’t take away from Bam’s overall defensive ability. He has a shot at winning DPOY this season. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll win it in the near future. The word I would use to describe Bam’s overall game is versatile. His defensive, post scoring, and passing abilities keep him hovering around the top 25.
26: De’Aaron Fox (27/4/6, 1.5 SPG, 49/35/73)
2021 was a huge season for De’Aaron, and 2022 will be a massive one. He’s so talented. I wish the Kings were better so De’Aaron could get more attention. He deserves it.
Just like Fox, Shai is a young guard who performed very well in 2021 and will build off that in 2022. Shai led a roster of Lu Dort, Darius Bazley, and a rag-tag collection of young guys to a 24-26 record before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. That’s wild, and it shows how talented he is. Shai will become a top 25 player for the first time in his career this season, and it won’t be long before he’s top 15.
24: Zach LaVine (27/5/5, 51/43/86)
When you google bucket, you are shown pictures of buckets. If you squint hard enough, though, you’ll see Zach LaVine. The shooting splits Zach puts up despite his volume and shot difficulty is just ridiculous (42% from three on 8 attempts per game in 2021. Just half of those were assisted). People called Zach an empty stat guy for a while. With the Bulls poised to make the playoffs, he’ll prove those casuals wrong.
23: Jaylen Brown (27/6/4, 1 SPG, 47/39/77)
With Kemba Walker gone, Jaylen is now the unquestioned number two guy in Boston. He’s gonna have a huge scoring year, and he’ll be locking up the best wings in the league. This will likely be the last season where he falls outside of the top 20 for the next 5+ years.
22: Zion Williamson (26/7/4, 60/30/70)
It’s no secret that Zion is a dominant force in the paint. It can be questioned if Zion can stay healthy. I don’t think so. I hope that’s not his narrative for his whole career, because that would take away from the special talent he is.
21: Chris Paul (16/4/10, 1.5 SPG, 50/38/90)
CP3’s longevity is almost as impressive as LeBron’s. Both are 36 years old, but unlike LeBron, CP3 is not an athletic freak. He’s a man who’s only an inch taller than me when he’s wearing shoes. The crazy part is that he drops tough buckets over any player in his way, regardless of their height. He’ll take more of a playmaking role in 2022, though, and lead the Suns to the top seed in the West.
20: Bradley Beal (32/5/5, 1 SPG, 44/34/87)
Bradley Beal has shown nothing but loyalty to the Wizards. In return, the Wizards have done nothing besides give him money. They haven’t been a legitimate competitive team since before John Wall got injured. Although he’ll receive some help from Dinwiddie, Hachimura, and Kuzma, Beal will be carrying a massive load next season. Free Bradley Beal.
19: Karl-Anthony Towns (26/11/5, 1 BPG, 51/40/87)
I’m tired of people sleeping on KAT. He is the third best center in the NBA, and there is zero debate about it. I say this every time I talk about him, but KAT is the best big-man shooter ever. As long as he’s healthy, KAT will have the best season of his career in 2022.
18: Trae Young (24/3/9, 45/36/90)
Only 24 PPG for Trae? What? Well, last season, he scored 8 points a game off free throws. To get those free throws, he did a “bit” of the flopping the league is cutting down on this year. He can make those points back up, but with so many offensive weapons around him he won’t be able to average more than 24.
17: Jimmy Butler (17/6/9, 2 SPG, 50/28/85)
Jimmy is one of the best leaders in the NBA, and he’ll prove that in 2022. Jimmy will be very content passing to Lowry, Bam, Duncan, and Tyler in Miami, which will result in his scoring numbers dropping a little. He’s still a top 20 guy in the league, even if his stats don’t suggest it.
(Alright. For the most part, I’m keeping the blurbs short from now on. I shouldn’t have to explain much about my placements.)
16: Devin Booker (27/4/5, 49/35/89)
Fueled by the feeling of defeat, Booker will take off and have the best season of his career. He still won’t be better than Donovan Mitchell.
15: Kyrie Irving (28/5/6, 1.5 SPG, 49/40/91)
Although I have no clue what he’s doing at the moment, I do know that Kyrie will play somewhere at some point this season (or at least I hope so. It would be a fiasco if there was Kyrie chatter all season). When he plays, he’ll keep his spot in the top 15.
14: Donovan Mitchell (27/4/5, 44/39/85)
Donovan Mitchell is a winning player, and a top three shooting guard. That’s why he’s a top 15 player in the league.
13: Paul George (26/6/6, 1.5 SPG, 45/39/87)
My dark horse pick for MVP, Paul George is going to have a magnificent season. He’s gonna put the Pandemic P memes to bed forever (actually, that’s probably not possible).
12: Kawhi Leonard (24/5/5, 1 SPG, 49/37/88)
Because of the chance Kawhi will return at some point late in the regular season, I had to put him on this list somewhere. I couldn’t put him top 10, but if he comes back and leads the Clippers to the Finals or something then he will be. We’ll just see what happens, I guess.
11: Joel Embiid (29/12/4, 1/1.5, 52/37/85)
Until the Ben Simmons situation is wrapped up, Joel Embiid will put Philly on his back. This will be a crazy statistical season for the 2021 MVP runner-up.
10: Anthony Davis (27/9/2, 1/1.5, 50/30/78)
Assuming health, this will be a bounce-back season in a big way for AD. He’ll have two of the league’s best playmakers dumping him the ball in the paint, where he can dominate anybody if he feels like it. He’s also my pick for DPOY.
9: Jayson Tatum (30/7/5, 1 SPG, 45/37/85)
2021 is the year where Tatum will blossom into a true superstar. It’s wild to say I think he’ll be better than Anthony Davis, but it was bound to happen at some point. Jayson Tatum is really that dude.
8: Nikola Jokic (27/11/11, 54/38/87)
The reigning MVP is going to have an absurd statistical season with Jamal Murray injured. Averaging a triple-double is very likely for the Joker.
7: Damian Lillard (31/4/8, 44/40/92)
Dame pours his heart and soul into the Blazers every season. 2022 will be no different. He’s incredible on the offensive end, and averaging an efficient 30 will obviously give him a top 10 spot.
6: Luka Doncic (29/9/10, 46/35/74)
Luka is special. It’s too bad he doesn’t have a better team around him, because he should be competing for a championship this season.
5: James Harden (27/9/11, 45/34/88)
Harden is up there with the best scorers ever, and showcased his playmaking in 2021. He’ll be top 5 in 2022 with Kawhi injured.
4: Stephen Curry (29/4/7, 50/41/93)
Steph just had arguably the best season of his career, and he’s the only guy to ever win a unanimous MVP. I think he’s gonna be better this year, and he’ll be firmly in the MVP race.
3: LeBron James (25/7/10, 49/39/68)
LeBron James is a top 2 player to ever pick up a basketball. It’s unbelievable that he’s almost 37 years old and still a top 3 player. Appreciate LeBron before he retires, please.
2: Kevin Durant (29/7/6, 55/40/89)
To put it simply, Kevin Wayne Durant is very hard to guard.
That’s right. In 2022, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the best basketball player in the world. I couldn’t live with myself if I predicted anything else after I gave KD the number one spot on my 2021 list.
A couple of days ago, I came out with my award predictions. This is my second preseason prediction article (out of three). Today, I’ll be giving my team power rankings for the 2021-22 season. These power rankings are based on how good the team will be in both the regular season and the playoffs (my prediction for their regular season seed will be listed). They take into account roster talent, roster chemistry, and past success (or lack of it).
Let’s get into it!
1: Milwaukee Bucks (1 Seed in East)
Key Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Bobby Portis Jr.
The reigning champs, my Milwaukee Bucks, are looking very capable of a repeat. The Nets and Lakers talent does scare me, but nobody scares my pick for 2022 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s just entering his prime, and he’s already won 2 MVPs, a DPOY, and a FMVP. This could be the best season of his career, and he’s ready to lead the Bucks back to the Finals with the help of Khris, Jrue, and a deep bench (headlined by Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, and George Hill). The Bucks are my number one team headed into the 2022 season.
2: Brooklyn Nets (2 Seed in East)
Key Players: Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving
The Nets are no doubt the most talented team in the league. Beyond their big 3, they have the deepest team in the league (Their role players include LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Blake Griffin, Bruce Brown, and Paul Millsap). They would be my number one team if it wasn’t for the question marks with their top guys. The big one is Kyrie Irving. For some reason, he won’t get vaccinated. GM Sean Marks announced that Kyrie will not be able to practice or play with the team at all until he gets the vaccine. That’s a huge problem for the Nets. Also, can Kevin Durant and James Harden stay healthy? KD played just 48% of games last season, and Harden played 61%. Ultimately, for a team that’s so good on paper, there are too many question marks for me to have the Nets at one.
3: Los Angeles Lakers (2 Seed in West)
Key Players: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook
Led by three of the biggest names in the NBA, a rag-tag group of veterans (who are almost all former Lakers) will be the best team in the 2022 Western Conference. Any team that has LeBron is automatically a Finals contender. If Anthony Davis stays healthy this season, he’ll have the best year of his career. Russell Westbrook puts up the stats, but he needs to prove that he can mesh with superstars and be effective without the ball. I couldn’t leave the Lakers out of the conversation for the best team in the league, but they’re not untouchable. Other top teams in the West can and will knock the Lakers off if they aren’t playing up to par.
4: Phoenix Suns (1 Seed in West)
Key Players: Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges
Coming off a tough end to a great run, the Suns will be looking to return to the Finals in 2022. With all their core guys back, they are geared to do so. CP3 and Devin Booker form one of the best backcourts in the league. Deandre Ayton played excellent in the playoffs, and if he can carry that over into the regular season he could be an All-Star. Mikal Bridges plays his 3&D role perfectly, and if he improves as a shot creator the Suns offense will be near unstoppable. Combine those guys with a strong group of role players (headlined by Jae Crowder, Cameron Payne, and Cameron Johnson), and the Suns are the biggest threat to the Lakers in the West.
5: Utah Jazz (3 Seed in West)
Key Players: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson
The top seed in the West in 2021, the Utah Jazz have proved they are a great regular season team. Led by top shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and three-time DPOY Rudy Gobert, they have made the playoffs every season since 2017. Despite the regular season success, they haven’t made it past the second round in the Donovan era. Part of that is due to a lack of depth beyond the 9th or 10th guy. The additions of Rudy Gay, Eric Paschall, and NBA-ready rookie Jared Butler will help fix that problem. The Jazz will finish near the top of the conference again in 2022, but they will need to get it done in the playoffs.
6: Philadelphia 76ers (3 Seed in East)
Key Players: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, Seth Curry
After their best regular season in the Embiid and Simmons era, the 76ers are now in a tough situation. Will Ben Simmons return to Philly in 2022? At this point, with just a few days until the regular season tips off, Ben will likely be on the team to start the year. If Philly convinces him to stay, they could be better than the Jazz. If he’s traded, they could be worse than Atlanta and Miami (because Ben’s value has tanked so much since the playoffs). Embiid is in his prime, Tobias Harris is a consistent third option, and the desperately needed floor-spacing role players are there (Seth Curry, Danny Green, and Furkan Korkmaz lead that group). Just like last season, everything comes down to Ben Simmons for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The best part of the Hawks’ surprise 2021 Conference Finals run is that they have no pressure heading into 2022. Trae and his talented young supporting cast are still growing to their full potential, and they are not riding on this season at all. With the help of a deep group of role players headlined by Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, and Lou Williams, Atlanta is geared to make another playoff run as an underdog.
8: Miami Heat (5 Seed in East)
Key Players: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Victor Oladipo
With the acquisitions of Kyle Lowry and Victor Oladipo (as well as P.J. Tucker), Miami has bolstered their collection of gritty players who get it done on defense. They will be up there with the best defenses in the league. Their offense struggled in the playoffs against Milwaukee, but Kyle Lowry will help open things up as a playmaker and a shooter. Miami’s X-factor for this season is Tyler Herro. After a lackluster sophomore season, I no longer believe that Tyler will become the player that he was in the 2020 playoffs. It seems he doesn’t have the drive to get better. If Miami can get him to buy into the hardworking Heat culture, he would make the Heat’s roster much scarier.
9: Golden State Warriors (4 Seed in West)
Key Players: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole
After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, the Warriors will make their return to contention in 2022. With Klay Thompson set to play in December, the gang’s all back together. Steph is as good as he’ll ever be. Draymond is still one of the premier glue guys in the league. Andre Iguodala came back for one last hurrah. Kevon Looney is still around. The healthy Warriors are a scary team, and they have a shot at winning the title.
10: Denver Nuggets (5 Seed in West)
Key Players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.
The Nuggets have established themselves as a top ten team in the league. Nikola Jokic’s elite passing ability makes the Nuggets offense one of the best. Of course, Jokic needs players to pass to. That’s what guys like MPJ, Will Barton, and Aaron Gordon are there for. That roster will keep the Nuggets in a top 5 seed, but the deciding factor for just how good they will be is when Jamal Murray will return. If he comes back and plays like himself, the Nuggets will be ready to make a deep playoff run.
11: Los Angeles Clippers (6 Seed in West)
Key Players: Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Reggie Jackson, Terance Mann
The Clippers made a great run in the 2021 playoffs, making it all the way to the Conference Finals even after Kawhi Leonard got injured in the second round. That leads me to believe that they can stay afloat in 2022 until Kawhi returns. Led by my dark horse MVP Paul George and 2021 playoff standouts Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann, the Clippers will be a threatening lower seed in the West this season.
12: Chicago Bulls (6 Seed in East)
Key Players: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Coby White
After almost half a decade of mediocracy, things are looking up for the Chicago Bulls and their fans. Trading for Nikola Vucevic at the 2021 trade deadline was just the start. The acquisitions of four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, former number two pick Lonzo Ball, and championship role player Alex Caruso put the Bulls in position to make the playoffs for the first time since Jimmy Butler was on their roster. With Zach LaVine at the helm, Chicago will be a team nobody wants to face in the first round in 2022.
13: Boston Celtics (7 Seed in East)
Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart
2022 will be a big season for the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (and subsequently the Celtics). Iso-heavy guard Kemba Walker hurt the Celtics’ offense by taking shots away from Jayson and Jaylen. Now, the young wings will be able to take over on offense. This will allow them to develop to their full potential. The Celtics defense should also be good, with Jaylen, Marcus Smart, and Al Horford leading the effort. I expect a sneaky good year from the guys in TD Garden.
After a breakout regular season for the New York Knicks, they fell short in the playoffs against Atlanta. Now, they’ve improved. Newcomers include Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, adding much needed scoring. Their roster is deep and talented, but in the competitive Eastern Conference it will be hard to make another run at the 5th seed.
15: Trail Blazers (7 Seed in West)
Key Players: Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Norman Powell
The Blazers have a lot to prove to Damian Lillard in 2022. Dame’s shown to be very loyal, but if Portland can’t win, there is a chance that he leaves. Everything depends on how his supporting cast plays. C.J. is a consistent second option on offense, but can he be the second guy on a championship level team? Can Jusuf Nurkic return to his bubble form? Is Norman Powell even a good fit in Portland at all? Glue guys like Robert Covington and Larry Nance Jr. are exactly what the Blazers need. If the Blazers are struggling at the trade deadline, I think they should try to acquire a do-it-all forward (Tobias Harris, Jerami Grant, and Gordon Hayward are some names that come to mind). Overall, the Blazers are talented enough to make the playoffs, but it won’t be an easy road in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.
16: Dallas Mavericks (8 Seed in West)
Key Players: Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Boban Marjanovic
After their second first-round exit in two years, it became clear that Luka’s supporting cast needed to improve. Unfortunately, I don’t think that happened. Reggie Bullock and Moses Brown are solid role players who had good 2021 seasons, but they won’t move the needle. It’s going to take a return to All-Star form from Kristaps Porzingis for the Mavs to be any sort of contender.
On paper, the Pacers starting lineup looks like they should be near the top of the conference. Although they have no superstar, Domantas Sabonis is a top 30 player. Malcolm Brogdon is an All-Star level guy. Caris LeVert can get you 20 points and 5 assists every night. Myles Turner is a monster shot blocker. Combined with their role players (T.J. McConnell, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb), the Pacers roster is very solid. Unfortunately, their play doesn’t match their roster. The Pacers will be in the play-in tournament for the second straight season.
18: Minnesota Timberwolves (9 Seed in West)
Key Players: Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards, Malik Beasley
Karl-Anthony Towns is ready to compete, and the Timberwolves are now talented enough to do it. D’Angelo Russell, who is statistically one of the best clutch guys in the league, has become underappreciated since his Brooklyn days. Anthony Edwards will build off his already productive rookie season. Malik Beasley will make a run at 6MOY. Jaden McDaniels is an intriguing young guy with potential on both ends. Jarred Vanderbilt plays good defense. Led by the best stretch big ever and the man with ice in his veins, the Timberwolves will make a play-in run in 2022.
19: Charlotte Hornets (10 Seed in East)
Key Players: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges
The Hornets were my third favorite team to watch in 2021. I had a ton of fun watching Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, LaMelo Ball, and the rest of the guys hoop to the tune of Eric Collins’s legendary play-by-play. Now, the collection of young stars is ready to play their first real competitive basketball. The playoffs may not be in the cards for Charlotte, but they certainly will win some games this year and do so in exciting fashion.
20: Memphis Grizzlies (10 Seed in West)
Key Players: Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr.
Memphis’s success in 2022 will be based on who gets better and how much better they get. Can Ja Morant become an All-Star? Can Dillon Brooks translate his 2021 playoff performance to the regular season? Will Jaren Jackson be the breakout player GMs expect him to be? Even if they don’t make the playoffs, the Grizzlies will be an exciting team to watch this season.
21: Toronto Raptors (11 Seed in East)
Key Players: OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes
The Raptors are rebuilding for the first season in a while, and they’ve got a good young core to start off with. OG Anunoby is in for a big year. He has the potential to be better than VanVleet and Siakam. Gary Trent Jr. is a three-point sniper, and will look to become an all-around scorer. Top 5 pick Scottie Barnes impressed me and many others during preseason. The big win for the Raptors is that they have returned to their home in Toronto.
Bradley Beal needs help. He’s an elite scorer, but he can’t do it all on his own. The Russell Westbrook trade left him without a star teammate. Instead, he has a collection of decent role players (Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Davis Bertans, Rual Neto). Washington needs big seasons from young players Rui Hachimura, Kyle Kuzma, and Daniel Gafford to make any noise in the East.
23: New Orleans Pelicans (11 Seed in West)
Key Players: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Nickiel Alexander-Walker
2022 will be another disappointing season for the Pelicans. Zion and Brandon Ingram are ready to win, but the team is not. Beyond Jonas Valanciunas and Devonte’ Graham, the Pelicans depth is made up of young players who aren’t quite ready to compete in the playoffs. It seems as if Zion is unhappy already, which is too bad because it puts unnecessary pressure on a team that should be focusing on development.
The Kings are a mess. Their roster is ridiculously big-heavy. The player they picked over Luka Doncic and Trae Young, Marvin Bagley, is injury-prone and hasn’t looked great when he’s played. They have lots of money going to Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes, two players who don’t fit the rebuilding timeline. The only sure thing on the roster is De’Aaron Fox (Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell too, I guess). Sacramento needs to get their act together, or they will be stuck in mediocrity for seasons to come.
25: Detroit Pistons (13 Seed in East)
Key Players: Cade Cunningham, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart
I’m a fan of the Pistons’s young core. Cade Cunningham looks like he’ll be very special in this league, and he’ll have great running mates as long as he’s in Detroit. Saddiq Bey can really shoot the ball, which will keep him in the league for a long time. Isaiah Stewart is a gritty center who defends the rim. Killian Hayes is still kind of a question mark, but he’s just 20 years old. With 2021 breakout guy Jerami Grant leading the team, I think the Pistons will surprise some people in 2022.
26: Cleveland Cavaliers (14 Seed in East)
Key Players: Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen
The Cavaliers have the young talent to eventually compete, but they also have decisions to make. The big one is deciding which guard to build around. Personally, I’m choosing Darius Garland. He’s a playmaker as well as a scorer, and has a higher ceiling than Sexton. But does that mean Sexton should get traded? I don’t know. Also, with Lauri Markkanen now on the squad, who starts in the frontcourt? Evan Mobley has a ton of talent, and deserves to start. He’s a natural center though, so can he start alongside Jarrett Allen without spacing becoming a problem? The Cavs are in a weird place right now. I’m curious to see how it works out.
The Spurs are rebuilding for the first time in decades, and this is the most excited I’ve ever been about them. I love their young core and the upside they have. Dejounte Murray will blossom in 2022 and win MIP while becoming a top 50 player. Keldon Johnson could be an All-Star one day. 2020 lottery pick Devin Vassell has shown huge growth in the Summer League and preseason, and I’m excited to see what he does this year. I’m a huge fan of 2021 lottery pick Josh Primo, and at 18 years old he has tons of time to develop. The fact that these guys are learning from the greatest coach of all time, Gregg Popovich, has me even more gassed to see what these guys can become. So while they probably won’t be very competitive, I urge you to tune in to Spurs games if you get the chance. They’ll be a lot of fun this year.
28: Houston Rockets (14 Seed in West)
Key Players: Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Christian Wood, Kenyon Martin Jr.
The James Harden era is officially over for Houston, and 2022 will be their first full rebuilding season in a while. They have two players that should be built around for the long term: Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green. Both will have big seasons, and have bright futures. I don’t think the Rockets will be very competitive this year, but the young trio of KPJ, Jalen, and Christian Wood should make Rockets games enjoyable.
29: Oklahoma City Thunder (15 Seed in West)
Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey, Darius Bazley
OKC’s main priority this season is to let their plethora of young talent develop. Shai is already an All-Star level guy, and he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, and Darius Bazley will all have big seasons. The youngest team in the NBA will not win many games in 2022, but they aren’t supposed to.
30: Orlando Magic (15 Seed in the East)
Key Players: Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr., Cole Anthony
The least talented team in the league will be the worst team in the league in 2022. Orlando will use this season to decide which of their young players are the cornerstones for their future. My key players should be bright spots in a very dull season for the Magic.
The offseason is over. The preseason is underway. It is now time for my preseason prediction articles. My prediction top 100 is in the works and a 30 team power ranking/standings prediction is coming soon. This article is my award predictions/power rankings.
For each major award, I’ll give my top 5 candidates for each award (as well as the winner, of course). My top 5 candidates will be in no particular order. Let’s get going!
Sixth Man of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Chris Boucher, Montrezl Harrell, Kevin Huerter, Bobby Portis Jr.
Jordan Clarkson
The reigning 6MOY is a favorite to win the award again in 2022. Jordan is one of those microwave scorers that can get hot any second. His scoring will be a big asset to the Jazz once again.
Derrick Rose
Coming off arguably his best season since his injury, Derrick Rose has cemented himself as a 6MOY candidate. He’s the experienced veteran point guard every team wants on their bench and more. The only thing that may hold Derrick back is the Knicks’ depth at the guard position.
Larry Nance Jr.
Larry should fit in with the Blazers very well as a Swiss Army Knife guy. He was one of the best steal guys in the league in 2021. He’s a lob threat and a floor spacer. He’s a rebounder. Coming off the bench behind Robert Covington, Larry will have a 6MOY level season in 2022.
Victor Oladipo
After spending time with Indiana and Houston during an injury ridden season, Victor Oladipo finally ended up where he wanted to be: Miami. In his first full season in South Beach, he will likely come off the bench behind Duncan Robinson. Oladipo’s two-way ability should put him in the 6MOY race.
Coby White
The signings of Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan will force Coby White to the bench in 2022. His sophomore season was a big improvement from his rookie year, and I expect another jump in his third year. Coby’s scoring (and improving passing) will be crucial to Chicago’s bench mob (he’s the only scorer in their second unit), and he will make a run at 6MOY.
2022 6MOY: Jordan Clarkson
Most Improved Player
Honorable Mentions: Coby White, Darius Garland, Jonathan Isaac, Nickiel Alexander-Walker, Terance Mann, Jordan Poole
Kevin Porter Jr.
In the 26 games he played in 2021, KPJ showed his All-Star potential. Now, in his first full season with Houston, he’ll have all the freedom he needs to go crazy. A 20 PPG, 7 APG season is very doable for Kevin and performing like that would put him firmly in the MIP conversation.
Anthony Edwards
The 2021 first overall pick Anthony Edwards had a successful rookie season. Averaging 19 PPG as a rookie doesn’t just happen. However, Ant still has room to grow. He struggled with efficiency, shot selection, and defense. I expect him to improve in all of those areas this season, and I think he’ll end up in the MIP race.
OG Anunoby
The 2022 season is OG’s chance to make a huge jump and become an All-Star level guy. Now that the Raptors have (kinda) entered a rebuild mode, OG will be able to blossom into the player he’s shown he can be. He’s one of the best wing defenders in the league, and he became an offensive threat in 2021. This season he has the opportunity to average 20 and play that high-level defense, and he will have a serious case for MIP.
Rui Hachimura
With Westbrook and Wall gone, there is no longer a clear-cut second guy on the Wizards (as of now it’s Dinwiddie, but that can definitely change). Rui Hachimura is ready to swoop in and claim that role. He has shown he’s able to create shots for himself (he has a nice mid-range game), and I think he’ll be the second leading scorer for Washington in 2022. Averaging around 18 PPG for a Wizards team that could make a playoff push will earn Rui a spot in the MIP conversation.
Dejounte Murray
I expect huge things from Dejounte this year. Watching him play in 2021, I could tell he’s really that guy. He has legit top 5 point guard potential. He’s one of the best defenders at the point guard position. His passing and rebounding skills make him a triple-double threat. He’s an efficient mid-range shot creator, but the last step for Dejounte is to improve his overall offensive game. He will have all the freedom in the world to do so with the Spurs this season, and he is my pick for 2022 MIP.
I don’t have to explain this too much. Number one pick Cade Cunningham will be handed the keys to Detroit’s franchise this season. As the starting point guard, Cade will be scoring and throwing dimes at a high level. He’s the favorite for ROTY for a good reason.
Jalen Green
Jalen Green is a pure bucket. His time with the G-League Ignite prepared him to play in the league. He’ll have the freedom to take any shot he pleases in Houston, and he’ll fill up the scoreboard. It will be a close race for ROTY between Cade and Jalen.
Scottie Barnes
Scottie Barnes is a forward who plays like a point guard. Watching him in preseason, he showed great pass vision. He’s a pretty unique player (he’s been compared to Draymond, but I think Scottie’s a better ball handler and will become a better shooter), and I’m excited to watch his career play out and see just how good he can become.
Josh Giddey
Another tall point guard (Cade, Scottie, and Josh are all tall guards picked in the lottery. Crazy), Josh Giddey should be in the ROTY race. Theo Maledon was decent as a rookie for OKC, but Giddey will take his starting spot. He had a strong showing in his first preseason game that makes me believe he can be productive as a rookie. (P.S: Check out his TikTok. It’s pretty funny.)
Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley is a special talent. He’ll need a little time to grow, but his shot blocking ability and inside scoring should show up right away. He also has shown flashes of outside shooting and passing. I’m curious to see if he will play power forward and start alongside Jarrett Allen, or if he’ll come off the bench and play center. Mobley should be in the ROTY conversation this season, but I’m not sure if he’ll be a finalist.
2022 ROTY: Cade Cunningham
Defensive Player of the Year
Honorable Mentions: Draymond Green, Bam Adebayo, Joel Embiid, Marcus Smart, Matisse Thybulle, Jonathan Isaac
Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert will always be in the conversation for DPOY. He’s the best rim protector in the NBA, and the Jazz’s entire defense is structured around him. The advanced numbers love him. In the 2021 playoffs, the Clippers proved that it is possible to attack Gobert and win. If that happens in the regular season, Gobert will not win the award. I don’t think he’ll win it anyways.
Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday is the best guard defender in the NBA. He proved time and time again how good he is throughout the Bucks’ championship run. He’ll be in the 2022 DPOY race as one of the premier lockdown guys in the league.
Ben Simmons
Ben’s versatility on defense is second to none. He uses his elite speed to keep up with some of the best guards in the league. Assuming Ben’s current situation gets worked out and he plays games this season, my pick for the 2021 DPOY will be in the race for the award again in 2022.
Anthony Davis
Because he didn’t perform up to his usual standards offensively in 2021, people have forgotten how good AD is on defense. He’s an elite interior defender, and he has the ability to switch on to a guard and be effective. The Brow has been one of the best defensive players in the league for the last few seasons.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
I don’t have to explain myself on why Giannis is here. Just go on YouTube and find some of the ridiculous blocks he had in the playoffs. Giannis is a monster on the defensive end, and he’ll be in the running to win his second DPOY.
2022 DPOY: Anthony Davis
Most Valuable Player
Honorable Mentions: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, Luka Doncic
Paul George
Paul George is my dark horse candidate for 2022 MVP. With Kawhi Leonard injured, PG will be the guy for the Clippers. He proved he can lead this Clippers team to winning in the 2021 playoffs, where he took them to the Conference Finals. I think PG will be able to keep the Clippers in a top 5 seed without Kawhi, and that will lead to him having a strong case for MVP.
Anthony Davis
AD was my second choice for MVP prior to the 2021 season. Injuries held him back from playing at that level. This season, assuming health, he will return to the MVP race.
Kevin Durant
The current best player in the world, KD will have a serious shot at winning his second MVP in 2022.
Stephen Curry
Steph’s 2021 season was so good that it might have been the best of his career (over his unanimous MVP season). Nothing points to him slowing down in 2022, so he should be in the race for the award once again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis is the most dominant player in basketball. Nobody can stop him on offense, and he can stop anybody on defense. I have no idea how he can improve off the season he just had, but he improves every year. I have Giannis winning his third MVP in 2022.
2022 MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Here’s my All-League team predictions:
All-NBA First Team: Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic
All-NBA Second Team: Damian Lillard, James Harden, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid
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The Bench Mob Blog 