NBA: One breakout candidate for every team heading into 2018-19

NBA Dallas Mavericks Dennis Smith Jr. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
NBA Dallas Mavericks Dennis Smith Jr. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 05: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass guarded by Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of the NBA preseason game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 5, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 05: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass guarded by Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of the NBA preseason game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on October 5, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton 

Through the first week of NBA pre-season, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better rookie out there than Deandre Ayton, who has absolutely wrecked havoc in the three exhibition games he’s taken part in for the Phoenix Suns.

So far in pre-season, Ayton is averaging 21 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks per game on 60 percent shooting from the field. If Ayton carries this type of production into the regular season, he’s going to run away with the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

It should be noted that we should cool on Ayton, considering that he’s doing all this in exhibition games and not real ones…yet. However, it’s pretty clear that he’s the biggest breakout candidate for the Suns this season.