Honorable Mentions
Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks have officially plunged into tank mode with the offseason departures of Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard, leaving this as Schroder’s team. Expect his numbers to see a spike, especially in the scoring department, but his efficiency is likely to fall off the map.
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Schroder doesn’t strike me as a player that is ready for the responsibility that will be thrust upon him this season, but some people may buy into his fool’s gold totals come season’s end.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: Murray received some Rookie of the Year hype before the 2016-17 campaign began, but the hype died down quickly when the Kentucky product averaged just six points per game on 35 percent shooting in January.
On the season, Murray would average less than 22 minutes per game, a number that should increase dramatically this season. However, a backcourt crowded with other young players could limit his ceiling.
D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets: Russell was traded from the Lakers to the Nets in the offseason, and he suddenly finds himself as the most talented player on his team. That should mean all the opportunity the former Buckeye could ever ask for this season, as well as a sky-high usage rate.
The Nets need Russell to succeed, so expect him to get a rather long leash. This could result in some impressive numbers on the surface, but his shot selection will likely lead him down a path of inefficiency for at least one more year.