NBA BREAKOUT PLAYER DRAFT For 2025 26 Season
is Locked on NBA Game Night podcast. Who are the breakout players for this upcoming season and who should you be buying stock on? When that final buzzer rings, you know it’s time for Locked On NBA Game Night. All the postgame reactions to every game across the league every single night with insights only the hosts at Locked On can provide. It’s the true NBA fans one stop for all the action. every game, every night. It’s locked on NBA Game Night tipping off now. Let’s get it going on the Lockdown NBA game night podcast. We’re talking about the upcoming NBA season on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. And we’re here with Gavin Shaw, host of Lockdown Next. I’m Ronin Styles, host of Lockdown Thunder, your Saturday duo. and Gavin had the idea to draft upcoming breakout players in the NBA. And I think that this is going to be a lot of fun, Gavin. I I I really think that we’re just around the bend from getting into season preview time and getting into uh the routine of an actual season. But another fun offseason content idea is to draft breakout players because we have left this a surprise to ourselves and the audience of everybody can have a different version of what breakout means for them. Uh can you see a breakout from a year one to a year two? Can you see a breakout from a player who is already a really really really talented NBA player or can breakouts only happen from guys who you have a lot of questions about? I think it’ll be a lot of fun to go through this list, Gavin, and uh draft our breakout players. Yeah, I’m really excited and I’m I’m glad because we we didn’t we didn’t talk about it too much before. I’m glad you approached this the same way because I had I had some different categories of guys that are already maybe borderline considered stars, really young players, like mid-career guys who I think have another level in them. So, I’m I’m I’m interested to debate with you like what what exactly merits a breakout. Gavin, it’s your idea. I will give you the first pick of the breakout player draft. Who do you got? So, I I figured I’ I’d throw the biggest names at the front. I wanted to open up with with Fran Vagner, which which I think is an interesting choice in in the sense that he kind of already broke out last year, right? Made a five-point leap from the previous season, 24 points a game, six rebounds a game, five assists per game, was up to 25 points per game in in that series against the Celtics in the playoffs. Had that mid-season stretch when Paulo Bankro was out where he looked maybe not even like an all-star, but more like a second team allNBA type guy. It was capped by that that game-winning, if I’m remembering correctly, step back three against the Los Angeles Lakers and and it still sticks in my head because I went and I listened to the postgame. It was a great episode. Our buddy Philip Rosman Reich, host of Locked on Magic, just did this whole episode saying, “Hey, this was Fran Vagner’s star moment.” And then like so many guys in the Magic, right? He deals with an injury. They’re reinccorporating Paulo. The single biggest limiting factor for him really these last two years has been that three-point shot, right? First two years of his career over 35% from three. He’s a career 86% free throw shooter. So, I don’t think his touch is in question in any meaningful way. Seems like he always shoots the ball well when he’s playing for the German national team. And yet, it is just fallen off a cliff these last two seasons, right? 29% one year, 28% the other year in the playoffs. Just atrocious. He was 19% and that was not like on six shots, right? That was on high volume against the Boston Celtics. And yet if he if he can just figure out that hitch in his shot and at times it looks almost better for him off the dribble when he’s time to think about it. It kind of crops up. I think a lot of it’s mental. I I think work with the shooting coach over the offseason. I’m sure he’s put the time in it. It could all potentially click for him. The Magic are consistently substantially better like doubledigit net rating flips when he’s on the floor versus when he’s off. You cannot say the same about Paulo Benero. I think the bet is that he becomes a legitimate superstar coming out of next season recognized as a as a cross the board top 15 to 20 guy in the NBA. Makes his first all-star team, makes his first AllNBA team and has a playoff moment that maybe gets the Orlando Magic back to the conference finals for the first time since the Dwight Howard era. I mean, the Magic are certainly in line and they need a big season and for them to accomplish that, it would take a step forward from Fran Wagner. I do think that obviously health is a big deal. They they both were not healthy a year ago, him and Paulo. Uh but Paulo did kind of take a step forward in my opinion last year. I mean getting up to 25 points per game. I think that there is still a a step for Paulo. But I agree with you. I think that Fron is a breakout guy like like Paulo to me can take a step forward because to me he can get to the free throw line more next season. You saw that incrementally jump for him each year. And that’s what we know that that’s unlocks your points per game totals. Like if you get to the free throw line 10 times a game and you’re the score of the caliber Apollo, you’re now averaging 30 points a night and that’s huge and that that puts you in a new tier of NBA player. Uh but I think that that will naturally come with his frame, with his skill set. And I think that that’s just a step forward with Fran becoming a legitimate top 10, top 15 guy in this league. That is a breakout to me. And I think that that that is achievable not only because of his individual skill set, individual uh progression, but I just think that this team in Orlando makes a lot more sense this season than it did last season. Like last season, especially offensively to highlight this stuff. Uh it was not there. And now playing over next to Desmond Bang Carro, you hopefully that those two that two duo will be fully healthy the whole season. And then the what they’ve done on the peripheries with the roster, I like what they’ve done. So, I agree with that one. And I’m gonna start with my biggest name as well. I’m gonna go Victor Wimyama, which is gonna one that I want to bring to the council to debate because we were doing our top 100 list for lockdown NBA. We’re going to release that closer to the season. First time we’ve had a top 100 list. I cannot wait to see the list. And where to put Victor to me is so fascinating heading into this season. just if you only are looking at the body of work that he’s had in the NBA. I think that at the end of this season, he’ll be a top five player in the league. Like he’ll be a top five player that no one even debates, nobody questions, no nobody even argues with it. They just say, “Yeah, he’s top five.” Does that constitute a breakout season if Victor takes that next step to being a solidified top five player in the league? I I think absolutely. Like there there’s no argument against it. He he clearly made a very big jump from year one to year two, particularly like his three-point volume and his accuracy, his ability to get to that shot off the dribble. Chris Paul was was huge for his game. He doesn’t have that to lean on though. De’Arren Fox will certainly open up different things for Victor Webmanyama. His the single biggest flip factor for me with him is his rim volume, right? It is astonishingly low for a guy who’s the tallest player in the NBA, who has great hands, who has a great handle, who who’s a who’s a highle athlete. I mean, just an insanely high level athlete for someone that size. If he can up that room volume, if him and De’Arren Fox can become a legitimately dynamic pick and roll duo, right? Playing with the fastest point guard in basketball, a guy who’s going to draw a whole lot of attention going downhill. If that generates higher volume, easy lob dunks for him around the basket. He’s someone who should just be completely unstoppable around the room between the touch, between the length. if he can put that together along with arguably maybe with the guy that I’m going to draft who you’re very familiar with, um the best defensive player in basketball, uh I I don’t see any reason that he can’t be like I think the absolute ceiling there is probably the second best player in the NBA. Like if he goes out and all of a sudden he’s putting up 32 14 couple of assists per game, I I don’t see a way where like just his savviness gets him ahead of Nicole Joic. I think everyone else is is is a climbable mountain for him. Yeah. And I think that with with Victor, obviously he’s he’s led the league in his time playing uh in blocks per game, what 3.6 as a rookie, 3.8 last year. Him being surrounded by better defenders this season. Like I look at Carter Bryant and what he can do on the perimeter to funnel guys into Victor, I think it will accentuate uh Victor’s defensive ability. And then offensively, you mentioned the pairing with Darren Fox. Now they got four games together. I still believe that that’s going to end up being really good for him and help him ease into just easier points at the rim. And then from three, he he went from he went from uh his rookie season 32% to last season 35% from three. I think that there’s another step forward in that category. So if you get to 38% from three this season, you go from a 24 point per game score, you know, because he was shot 35% on eight threes a game. If you can get to 38% uh you can continue to climb the points points per game. He’s always going to have the rebounds. He’s always going to have the blocks. The steals are going to be big for him as for his position. And then like you mentioned the assists. I mean now you’re dishing it out if you do get a dump down pass in the mid-range or something from uh Fox. You can kick it out now to guys like Dylan Harper and guys who can score the basketball to up your assist total. And then just simply playing more like 46 games last year. Uh he was having a great season. it was just not enough to qualify for any of the awards or qualify for anything later in the season where I think that the Spurs will be uh in front of the audience more. I think they’re going to be a postseason team in some capacity and I think that he’s going to have a step forward to where then he will be considered a top five player in this league. So that’s why I have him on this list. I’m glad that he still qualifies for a breakout player and I’ll give you the floor for your next pick. Yeah, it’s it’s I think the guy who’s going to go down as as his greatest rival throughout his career. And again, I I’ll let you speak on it because you know better than I do. Uh Chad Homegrren I I think along with Webby establishes himself as the best defender in basketball. Crafted NBA incredible sight for NBA statistics. Had him as the league’s best rim protector by a substantial margin. like he even compared to Wembi is is almost in a category of his own in an ability to alter shots to just ensure shots that would normally be taken are never even attempted and guys are doing right like you always see it with webby right where like someone dribbling to the rim full speed like like a dog going after a ball and then WBY or Cet just steps in and it’s it’s a 180 right it’s like nope nope I’m not challenging that I think he’s ready for more of those moments we saw his ability to switch during the finals like a couple of times where he he won that battle and genuinely spooked Tyresese Hallebertton. Um, moments throughout the playoffs and certainly the second half of the year I got to see him in Phoenix in a game without Shay where he got to the free throw line a ton where he looked more confident offensively. That’s still my biggest question for him, right? Some of the self-creation stuff, high hips, you usually not a great physical characteristic for someone looking to turn the corner off the dribble. And yet, I think if the three-point shot continues to improve and the volume continues to improve, he’ll be able to attack closeouts and just like exactly what we saw in the finals where he’s able to use his length and like creativity and footwork to just generate really clean looks around the basket, even if he doesn’t necessarily have like the bag you look for in a traditional superstar. I think he makes a run at third team all. I think he I think he wins his first defensive player of the year this season and is maybe like the co-defining player along with Shay on what I expect to be another 65 plus win season for the Thunder. So I I love this pick. I really do. I I think that when you look at Chad, what you saw him do defensively in the finals is almost underappreciated nationally because you kind of forget in the midst of this season how much that that he and the Thunder had to deal with injury-wise because they still won 68 games. they still won the championship and Chad played for the from February 7th all the way through the end of the season. Uh but Chad Homegrren broke his hip on November 10th and he was bedridden for most of this season. Then he comes back uh and and he’s able to play still and he he returned quicker to the floor than even the Thunder expected on their own individual internal timeline. And yet in the finals after being bedridden for some of the season, he was being able to switch and lock down guys defensively. So, I I do think that this season he will show you he’s he’s a top three defender in the NBA and arguably the best defender in the NBA because of uh you know positional value of just being that rim protector that deters shots uh from even going up that swat shots at the rim. Uh and then of course can go out on an island at times that whenever you need him to. Uh so that’s going to be a big deal. The defense is there for me. Offensively, what happened in those nine games before he broke his hip? In the 10th game, uh, 5 minutes in, he was averaging 18 points per game, nine rebounds, two assists, a steal, and 2.9 blocks per game while he was shooting 40% from three, 52% from the floor, and he got to the free throw line five times a game. Now, getting back to that point, and that was a very small sample size, that was nine games. But getting back to that point, uh, will probably be tough for him uh, for a a consistent season. But you look at what his offensive role will be for this Thunder team. A young team that’s still going to take the regular season seriously and young enough to still play all their guys and not have a ton of maintenance days and not have a ton of uh days off for their for their core roster. You’re going to see his offensive skill set be highlighted by SGA, by guys like Jay Dub because he can either hit that trailing three, uh he can hit a catch and shoot three. We we we’ve seen him be able to attack off the catch at times, especially in that nineame stretch. That’s how he got to uh the free throw line a ton. And then any sort of pick and roll, pick and pop that can help his game with the with the gravity uh scoring gravity that Shay and Jub have is going to be good for him as well. So, I I do think that with Chad Homegrren, this is a really good pick because right now there’s there’s uh a point here where he’s played 82 games his his rookie season, but his his true rookie season, he was of course out for the whole year with a frank fracture and then last year he missed a lot of games with with the hip fracture. So, he’s had two catastrophic injuries in the NBA that were just freak accidents and you don’t really know where to place him. I think that his role in this league and his positioning in this league will be defined this season. Uh, and so I think that that’s why he does uh really constitute and merit a spot on the breakout player list. I I really really expect Chad Homegrren to take a step forward. Yeah, I’m I’m I’m I’m with you and um I I his offense at times just looks easy and I I want to see like how he can continue to add on the margins. I do think this is a guy at his peak, I don’t know if he’ll ever be needed in Oklahoma City, but he could average like an efficient 24 points per game. And I wonder I wonder how close he gets to that next year. So I’m gonna bring another controversial to the council of of uh Anthony Shenon uh out Albr Jing. And when you look at him with Houston, everyone understands he’s a really good player and and everyone understands um that that he’s really really talented. So this is more so uh like counting stats and um ability to impact the game uh more so than elevating his status in the league. I don’t think that there’s anyone that’s still at the track of Shenon that doesn’t think that he’s going to that he’s a really good player. So, I just think that when you’re looking at him and the leap he can make, can he make his first, you know, all NBA team? Can he make his first uh, you know, kind of burst onto the scene in that capacity? I think he can because he’s never played next to a guy like Kevin Durant. and just watching those two guys operate both to highlight his playmaking ability but also his scoring ability uh to take some of the pressure off of him and kind of the the ability for defenses to swarm him because he is such a talented passer playing next to Kevin Durant. I think that he’ll have a big leap when it comes to the counting stats and that could uh elevate his status but I don’t know if you’d call that a breakout. I think that I think that this is kind of a a big name that can go either way for me. Yeah, some of the efficiency numbers I mean none of it none of it was really bad for him last year, but like second year in the league he was 55% from the field, third year in the league 54%. Last season all the way down to 49.6. Like we we we talked about it so often last season that was just such an unhealthy offensive ecosystem last season. Like just the attention that Kevin Durant’s going to draw. I I think more minutes for Reed Shepard as someone who can legitimately space out to 28 feet will open up a little bit more room for him. And I think the game is just going to become a whole lot easier for him and easier for him than it’s ever been throughout his career. I think that that those assist numbers that stagnated a little bit last year maybe tick up more to Damont Sapon’s territory where instead of five a game, he’s closer to six or seven a game. I’m with you. I think I think he’s a great candidate. Yeah. Yeah. I I think that I think that we’ve already seen him be extremely talented and we and we’ve already appreciated his skill set, especially like within Houston, but nationally even. He’s gotten some of that attention. I just think that as a one-time all-star, you know, last year, he’s going to get back to that all-star game. I think that this is his all NBA season to take a step forward because the numbers being down I I think was more indicative like you mentioned of the offensive product around him versus his skill set where now playing with Fred Ve and Kevin Durant Durant Durant at the same time and not playing with Jaylen Green is a big deal. You look at his numbers without Jaylen Green on the court. He was really good like those two guys were good individually of each other um or better each of them were better to any extent without each other. I think that that opened some things up for him too. Coming up, let’s continue on drafting breakout players with Gavin’s next pick and we’re going to get into some into the weeds a little bit. Who are we going to take a long shot bet on in this breakout player draft? 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No, Tyresese Hallebertton. And we’ve seen the way he can elevate his game in big moments. Like I I immediately go to his three-point shoot numbers. Back-to-back year, second and third season in the NBA in the regular season. Uh, right around two and a half attempts per game. His second year in the NBA shot 36% from three. Last season, he was all the way down to 29% from three. And you’re looking at that and you’re saying, “All right, that that 23 24 playoffs, right, where he shot one more three and his percentage dropped by 13%. And he was 48% from three in the playoffs in 23-24. You’re like, “All right, that was a fluke.” And then what does he do again? He takes one more three a game. Exactly. One more three a game. And he shoots 46 and a half% up from 29% in the regular season. Maybe he’s just cursed in the regular season. I do think there’s something about him getting a little bit more time on the ball. A little bit more time to find a rhythm. I expect the three-point volume to go up. I expect the accuracy maybe to not hit those just like unbelievable playoff numbers, but to be a little bit better. For my money, he’s already one of the like five or so best guard defenders in the NBA. The work he did on Jaylen Brunson in game six. I have never seen a likes-sized player in a big game guard Jaylen Brunson that well. Like he he dominated that matchup and because of it, Indiana was able to dominate game six. It it it’s kind of a question of like, all right, you you I was talking to Tony East about this locked on Pacers host the other day. You you add to his load offensively. Can he still play that same level of defense? Right. so many times. There’s a trade-off there, but if you could balance those two, like he he’s going to have a darkhorse case as an all-star. I I’m just in love with him as a player. I think he is fantastic. Um, and I think he’s going to have the best year of his career. I completely agree. And we’ve seen this story play out before for other players, right? you have a massive postseason where you’re kind of the talk of the town for a deep playoff run and then the next season it parlays itself into success in the following regular season and kind of launches you into uh another another tier of of player of production of whatever it is. So, I I think that you’ve hit the nail on the head and you mentioned kind of someone needing to step up for the lack of Hallebertton and Rick Carl putting guys in such great position is another another note that I think is important uh for Nimhard and for this Pacers team if they’re going to figure out ways to be a solid basketball team and it starts with Nimhard and I think that he’s going to be able to get it done uh on this side of things for Indiana. Now, my next pick will be back in Oklahoma City with Kase Wallace. I think that Case Wallace, you know, he’s viewed as a fine player and he’s viewed as a really good defender um right now. And that’s all true. His defense is all based upon like natural instinct right now. And he he mentions how he doesn’t really watch film a ton and how and how his kind of just playing and reacting. I think that as you mature throughout your career, you do start to watch more film. You do start to have more more of those kind of habits to where I wonder if there is another step for him to take defensively. But even if this is just who he is defensively, he’s already one of the best point of attack defenders in the league with his size and and with his skill set. I look at the offensive side of the floor, he’s never averaged double digit points, but you you look at what he did uh from the corner from three his rookie season, 44% really good on 120 shots. Last season on 97 shots from the corner, he shot 34% a 10 percentage point decrease uh you know on non-c corner threes. went from 39% to 37% and that ultimately ends up in 42% from three rookie season to 36% from three last season. And as you know, these are quality looking threes, especially the ones that he finds in the corners. Uh with this Thunder offense, it’s a lot of drive and kick stuff from Jay and from Shay. I think that he’s proven to you throughout his basketball life as like a prospect in high school to where he was at Kentucky to where he was as a rookie that he has the ability to shoot the basketball. he has the ability to convert more from three and I think that you’re going to see him convert more from three this season and get past uh you know that threshold of being a double digit score. And then last year while he did take a step back from three, he took a step forward when it comes to playing off the catch and getting toward the rim and trying to be a facilitator for this team. uh improve improving his assists by a whole assist per game uh with you know of course the limited usage because of who’s around him and then you know improving his three point three-point volume uh by a couple couple threes per game. I I I think that all those things will be able to help him not only average you know 12 points per game but evolutionize who he is in a contract year uh and how he’s viewed in a contract year for this upcoming season and just become a more impactful player. Yeah, I think my only concern there is is is like role for him and just because Oklahoma City brings everyone back. Obviously, they’re trying to incorporate Topic, another guy who’s going to earn some minutes at that guard spot. I like his game. He’s just exceptionally fluid. Big game seven for them, right? 10 points, four for six from the field, two for three from three. Um he he he could make a name for himself defensively. Just so hard to stand out on on, as you’ve said a million times, rightfully the the deepest team in the NBA. Someone I think who could have a little bit more of an opportunity. Uh, very similar to Andrew Nehard, Pton Pritchard in Boston. Um, it’s been reported that he will likely start. Anthony Simons will likely come off the bench. The Celtics, I I I I think rightfully believe that that he’s earned his. He’s deserved it with the years he’s put in in their system. Grossly underpaid. So, maybe that’s another way. They’re trying to make it up to him on that four-year I think $32 million contract. It makes my blood boil as a Knicks guy Ryland to to even say that. But, let me let me throw you some of the numbers. Um, he was already 10th in the NBA last season in three-point attempts per 36 minutes. I think Joe Missoula empowers him to set a record this year. Right. Right. I think it was Steph Curry led the NBA with 12 last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Pton Pritchard shooting 14 threes a game next season if he gets enough time on the ball. And and look with with with everything they moved off of essentially do not have a big man rotation, right? He is the clear-cut third option behind Jaylen Brown and Derek White. And I would argue on some nights he’s gonna be the second option behind Jaylen Brown on that team. He was the most efficient scoring point guard in all of basketball last season, right? 1.28 points per shot attempt. That means every time he shot the ball, you you got almost a point and a half. That that is absolutely insane. He was a 100th percentile in effective field goal percentage. 75% at the rim. That again was I think the best or or one of the or it wasn’t the best. It was one of the best numbers for any point guard in basketball last season. His 53% from mid-range was the best number for any point guard in basketball last season. 41% from three. on ridiculous volume. I do think the efficiency maybe falls off a drop and maybe even a little bit more than a drop, but it’s starting off at such a high point. I think he’s going to put up something like 20 22 points per game depending on how much they split him and Simons up and and maybe make a darkhorse run at an All-Star birth. I I I really like that pick and I really do think that Boston will be will be better as a team that a lot of people just believe because you know because they’ve kind of written them off after the Tatum injury. So that helps his case as well with the more with the surprising team success. that I think that he’ll be a a massive part of. But coming up, let’s wrap up this breakout player draft. We’re back on the Lockdown NBA game night podcast on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your teams every day. Go check out the Lockdown Knicks podcast uh for what the New York Knicks are going to do this season with with the Eastern Conference so wide open. We just talked about Boston kind of being out of the contention picture. What are the Knicks going to do? How are they going to take a step forward? Check them out. Now, my pick in this draft is is DeAndre Hayden right here. I’m gonna take DeAndre for the Lakers because he’s someone who’s been beaten down this off season and his whole career really. He’s been beaten down and talked bad about, but I I still believe that the talent is in there. I think that there’s a reason why, you know, he was always viewed as such a high prospect in his draft class and he did go number one overall partly because of the Suns bat front office at the time and and ownership at the time, but also because he has a lot of talent. And I think that if you were going to just tailor make a partner for him uh in this league, it would be Luca Donuch that can really highlight his skill set with Luca’s scoring gravity and passing ability and lobb throwing ability that I I just think that whenever you’ve been so downtrodden as a player and and you’ve been so bismerched and I’m not saying that the criticism of Eightton is wrong, what he’s done to himself has brought all this on. This is not a poor pitiful the under eight, but that does at some point have to light a fire under you. And I know that people don’t believe he can initi, you know, ignite a fire, but I do. I think that I think that whenever you’re desperate, you play some of your best basketball like and and for all intents and purposes, you know, he’s in a contract season and he’s he’s in a defining season for if he’s going to stick around the NBA and if he’s going to be uh the player that people think he can at an impact level. And I I think that this season that desperation mixed with the partnership of Luka Dajic is going to see him play a more determined style of basketball, a more impactful style of basketball, a more productive style of basketball. And for all those reasons, scoring at the especially next to Luca, I think that he’s going to break out and just kind of show you that he can still that he can be a really good NBA player. Yeah, this is this is both easily my favorite pick of the draft and in some ways my least favorite pick of the draft is someone who rooted for the Phoenix Suns and DeAndre Eaton as I wanted Luca Donis in that draft. Still uh still get a little upset, right? Makes the heart race a little bit. Um I think that his free throw numbers for his career are embarrassing. He’s never shot more than three free throws a game as just like this incredibly fluid, mobile 7 foot, 250 pound Goliath. his last two years in Portland, Ryan, uh, under or or or sorry, peaked at 1.5 free throws per game, never developed a three-point shot. Um, only 14 points per game last year, tying a career low. Uh, and yet and yet and yet to your point, like there is no better player for big man rehab than Luca Donuch, right? He can he can make Jackson Hayes look like a capable starting center and DeAndre Aiden is just in a different stratosphere of talent. I’m with you. like he said when he was coming to the NBA, “My motivation is getting to a second contract. Maybe maybe his new motivation is getting to a third contract.” And and and to your point, making a little bit more money. I I think Luca will do a lot for him. I’m really intrigued to see those two in the short role game, right? Getting DeAndre Aton those 10 to 18 foot jumpers where where he’s really money in that area. Um playing with LeBron obviously doesn’t hurt either. Uh, I I could see him having a career year and getting up to 18 points per game. Again, bouncing back from an efficiency standpoint after four straight years where or three straight years where his field goal percentage dropped. Um, overall, I’m talking myself into it. I like the pick. All right, my I’ll call it my second to last pick because I have two more guys I’m really passionate about. I’m going to throw Lonzo Ball out there. No, and this is this is a challenging one, right? Because Lonzo just It’s possible like a lot of people thought his career was over. I believe there was just like essentially no cartilage left at his knee. If I’m remembering correctly when he came back for the Bulls last year, under 37% from the field, just 34 and a half% from three after he was a 42% three-point shooter the last time we saw him uh healthy in Chicago in 2122. Like it’s possible that this guy just is not quite an NBA player anymore with all the issues. And yet, I cannot give up on him. Uh, I broadcast a bunch of his games at UCLA my senior year in college, his freshman year in college, and he to this day is just one of the most intelligent, intuitive basketball players I’ve ever seen. Like ju just magic out there on the basketball court. It reminds me of Bill Walton’s career trajectory in some ways of Hello Bruin. And to be clear, like in a in a much lighter version because peak Bill Walton is probably one of the 20 or so greatest players, maybe 25 to ever play this game. And yet, I always think about Bill Walton on the 1986 Celtics, right? Diminished version of himself, could barely move out there, and yet he just found like his basketball soulmate in that Boston Celtics team. And Larry Bird and I can’t help but think that this Cavs team is just the perfect fit for him, right? With the way they move the ball, that beautiful game that Kenny Atinson has incorporated. I’m looking forward to those three guard lineups, right? him, Garland Mitchell, throw in DeAndre Hunter, throw in Evan Mobley, and let’s have a ball. I I think that fiveman grouping is gonna blow teams out of the water. At 6 foot6, he he could he could credibly guard a good chunk of threes at his best, a very talented defender. I think the three-point shot comes back, the three-point volume comes back, and just you’re going to see some great hit aheads in transition, some lobs to Donovan Mitchell. I I I think he’s just going to play some beautiful ball this year. I I love this pick and and I think that everything you said is 100% right and and because you’re so right, I’m trading you my pick. I will have the first overall pick in next week’s draft. You have the pick right here to get your last one out. All right. Uh first, I appreciate that, Ryland. Honorable mentions, Jaden McDaniels. Uh I thought he was great in the playoffs. Uh really added to his game, ability to attack, close out some in between game. Go check out our friends over at No Ceilings. They wrote a great article breaking down. Brandon Miller, I think he puts it all together this year. his assist rate sneakily made a big jump last year. I think that continues. Matas Buzzelis, uh, big final 35 games or so of last season. I think he’s gonna be awesome. But another guy, Ryland, who went against your Thunder, uh, Terrence Shannon Jr. is is my breakout bet. Barely got to play as a rookie just because the Wolves are right up there with your Thunder uh, as the deepest team in the NBA. And yet, I think he is a perfect replacement for Tequille Alexander Walker. I think maybe he competes with his own teammate, Naz Reed, and makes a run at six man of the year. He just like in very limited minutes in that Western Conference Finals like he he looked like a star to me in some ways. I know that’s so weird to say about someone who doesn’t enter the NBA until they’re 24 years old. He’s only going to play a limited role, but his athleticism, his length, like the coiled strength, like he is not huge, but he is just freaking strong. Like people bounce off him. He was dunking on guys in summer league. He was throwing live dribble, one-handed lefty whip passes to the corner. The three-point shot looked really clean for him. He looks enormous out there at time listed as 66 looks bigger than that. The shot looks effortless. His defense is good. He to me is like a quintessential 16game player that the Minnesota Timber just continue to accumulate. Shout out to Tim Connelly in that front office. I I think he is going to be a really key piece on a really underrated Minnesota team next year. Another great pick, another fun show. Drop below your breakout players in the comments section.
NBA’s Next Breakout Stars: Who Will Dominate the Upcoming Season?
Gavin Schall and Rylan Stiles, the “Saturday duo,” analyze potential breakout players for the upcoming NBA season. From Franz Wagner’s impressive stats with the Orlando Magic to Victor Wembanyama’s projected leap to top-5 player status for the San Antonio Spurs, the hosts dissect each candidate’s skills and potential. They explore Chet Holmgren’s defensive prowess for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Andrew Nembhard’s expanded role with the Indiana Pacers, and DeAndre Ayton’s possible resurgence with the Los Angeles Lakers next to Luka Doncic.
Tune in to discover which rising stars could reshape the NBA landscape and hear expert predictions on their impact this season.
0:00 Intro: Breakout players for upcoming NBA season
5:07 Franz Wagner as potential breakout star
9:31 Victor Wembanyama’s path to top 5 player
14:25 Alperen Sengun’s potential leap with Rockets
18:48 Andrew Nembhard poised for bigger role
23:15 Payton Pritchard as Celtics’ third option
27:46 DeAndre Ayton’s opportunity with Mavericks
31:27 Lonzo Ball’s potential resurgence with Cavs
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