#60 Anthony Edwards – SG/SF – Minnesota Timberwolves
2020-21 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 3.8 REB, 4.7 APG, 1.1 STL, 0.5 BLK, 41.7 FG%, 32.9 3P%
Last year’s No. 1 overall pick did not win Rookie of the Year, but he had a really strong rookie season in Minnesota. Next to Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards looks to be a potential All-Star one day, but he will have to be a little more consistent as a shooter in his second year in the league.
Also, improving defensively would definitely help the young wing early on in his career. Edwards checks off all the boxes for being one of the best young talents in the league and if the Timberwolves do in fact contend for a play-in tournament spot, Anthony Edwards will have a big part in this.
#59 John Collins – PF – Atlanta Hawks
2020-21 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 0.5 STL, 1.0 BLK, 55.6 FG%, 39.9 3P%, 83.3 FT%
After an All-Star-like third season in the league, John Collins continued to prove that he is an offensive threat for the Hawks last year and as a result, he earned a five-year, $125M contract in the offseason to remain in Atlanta for the foreseeable future.
Collins no longer has to prove himself and is a key contributor for the Hawks. Atlanta was knocking on the door to the NBA Finals last season, so it will be very interesting to see how Collins improves heading into this season and what situations the Hawks look to put him in, specifically in the pick-and-roll game with Trae Young.
#58 Jonas Valanciunas – C – New Orleans Pelicans
2020-21 Stats: 17.1 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 0.9 BLK, 59.2 FG%, 36.8 3P%
Hey what do you know, we got a true big man to talk about here! Jonas Valanciunas emerged as one of the best rebounders in the league last season and to this point, he has flown under the radar in terms of being one of the best centers in the entire league.
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Valanciunas is such a consistent player and now on the Pelicans, he should continue being a great contributor next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The former Grizzlies big man finished fifth in offensive rebounding percentage last season and third in defensive rebounding percentage, so it should not be shocking to see him be amongst the league leaders in rebounds once again.
#57 Jerami Grant – PF/SF – Detroit Pistons
2020-21 Stats: 22.3 PPG, 4.6 REB, 2.8 APG, 0.6 STL, 1.1 BLK, 42.9 FG%, 35.0 3P%
Jerami Grant was one of the breakout stars of the 2020-21 season last year in Detroit and on a young, growing team, we should see him continue being their leader.
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The 27-year-old forward averaged career-highs in just about every statistical category there is and now, he gets to be the leader of a team with No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. This duo is definitely going to be intriguing to watch this year and Jerami Grant should continue to have a huge influence on the growth and development of the young Detroit Pistons.
#56 Kristaps Porzingis – PF/C – Dallas Mavericks
2020-21 Stats: 20.1 PPG, 8.9 REB, 1.6 APG, 0.5 STL, 1.3 BLK, 47.6 FG%, 37.6 3P%
Drawing a lot of scrutiny last year due to his lack of aggressiveness and inability to score against smaller defenders, Kristaps Porzingis enters a big year for himself in Dallas. He is under contract for the next few seasons, but if Porzingis does not prove that he can be a reliable No. 2 option next to Luka Doncic in this team’s offensive attack, the Mavericks will look to move him next offseason.
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Having time to rest his knees and legs, it will be very interesting to see if Kristaps Porzingis can rekindle some of his All-Star form from when he was in New York.
