NBA: Ranking the 10 best projected bench units heading into 2019-20
By Dan Knitzer
Ranking the top 10 best-projected bench units in the NBA heading into the 2019-20 season
In today’s NBA, the two biggest factors that impact winning are depth and star power. Star power can make up for a lack of depth, and vice versa. Many teams last season with weak benches (such as the Thunder and the Bucks) compensated by staggering their stars.
Having a deep bench can be an indication of good or bad roster building, as some deep benches can actually have a bevy of above-average starters.
In ranking the 10 best-projected benches for the coming season, I didn’t waste time with teams whose starters project as well below average – after all, sacrificing quality starters for average bench players is usually not a winning formula.
Lou Williams wouldn’t have come off the bench if the Los Angeles Clippers didn’t already have a 20 point scorer in Danilo Gallinari (and Tobias Harris, before the trade deadline), and Manu Ginobili would’ve started if the Spurs didn’t have two Hall of Famers providing scoring from the opening tip.
With that in mind, ruling out the Memphis Grizzlies and nearly half of the Eastern Conference, here are the 10 best-projected bench teams for the 2019-20 NBA season.