NBA: 3 players who could make their all-star team debuts in the East

Taking a closer look at three players that could be in line to make their NBA All-Star debuts during the 2019-20 season

After taking a recent look at three candidates who potentially make their first All-Star Game representing the Western Conference, now our attention turns to three players who could match the same feat representing the Eastern Conference.

With the season just a couple of weeks underway, these players are poised to have breakout seasons which would warrant them earning an All-Star spot as either a fan-voted starter or a reserve selected by the conference’s coaches.

Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers

Back in February, the Sixers acquired Harris via trade with the LA Clippers. It was his fifth team in nine NBA seasons. Five teams in nine seasons?!?! This must be some journeyman player who is the eighth or ninth man in the rotation, right? Well, this same Harris averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, and three assists last season.

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The same Harris who is carrying the lion’s share of the offensive load for the Sixers averaging 20 points to open the season

In July, the Sixers re-signed Harris to a five-year, $180 million contract It is the fifth-largest contract in the history of the league. That’s a lot of change for a player who has never been to an All-Star Game. Perhaps Philadelphia is betting that this is the season that Harris will show out and it’s a bet I’m willing to double down on as well.

With Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Miami Heat during the summer, out of the picture, Harris slides in as the No. 2 scoring option for the Sixers behind Joel Embiid.

Philadelphia appears to be the odds on favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference, a notion expressed by Harris himself. In a recent interview with New York-based sports network SNY, he said:

"[via SNY TV]“I feel like we got some really good guys and professionals. Our goal is to be at the top.”…“If you ask me where do you think we rank and I told you at the bottom that would be (shakes his head). Our goal is to be at the top. That’s where we want to be. That’s what I’m going to say and that’s what I believe.”"

Those sound like the words of an All-Star

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Having just completed his third season in which he attained personal highs in virtually every offensive category, the accolades started marching in for Siakim.

After winning his first NBA championship in mid-June, later in the month, at the 2019 NBA Awards, Siakam was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2018-19 season.

Then, just before the start of the new season, he got paid!. Siakam agreed to a four-year, $130 million extension with Toronto.

Now the man who goes by the nickname “Spicy P” may be more than just a flavor of the month. He may be ready to add All-Star to his resume.

To start this season, Siakam has averaged 26 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, maybe it’s time to also begin considering him as an early candidate for league Most Valuable Player.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Young was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA draft but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks along with a protected future first-round pick in exchange for the rights to the 3rd overall pick Luka Doncic.

While Doncic was selected unanimously to the All-Rookie First Team and received the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, Young was having a fine first season for the Hawks.

He averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 42 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from 3-point range.

Those are impressive numbers for a first-year player, but Young wants to show what he can do for an encore. To open the season, Young had been off to a lightning-fast start, averaging 34 points and nine assists and boosted his 3-point percentage from 32.4 percent to 41.3 percent. in the first three games of the year before suffering an ankle injury back on October 29.

His blistering start is his way of proving he should have been chosen as the league’s top rookie last year. Or he is opening the eyes of fans and coaches illustrating why he could be an All-Star next February.

When watching Young play, he is reminiscent of two other undersized but explosive point guards, Steve Nash and Stephen Curry. His shooting ability has been compared to Curry’s college years and his passing ability has been strongly influenced by Nash.

Next. NBA in Threes: 5 starters combined for 266 points; Injuries for the Raptors. dark

With Young quickly developing into a superstar, the Hawks may contend for a playoff spot this season. But he deserves serious All-Star consideration.

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