Author: Michael Grace

Mikal Bridges is an elite defender. You won’t see him leading the scoring for Phoenix unless he’s the only one playing, but man is he fun to watch. He’s constantly aware of the ball to the point that it seems he may have some sort of radar for the thing. He’s skinny, borderline scrawny, but can somehow hang and bang with anyone in the game. For a particularly delicious highlight, go to the 1:10 mark of the video below. Bridges is tenacious and will insert himself under the rim against guys 5-6 inches taller. He simply does not care, Bridges wants the ball. On a team that features Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, and now Chris Paul, there’s reason to believe Bridges will be tasked with being a walking headache to opposing offenses, then be on the lookout to swipe rebounds from unsuspecting bigs. Phoenix’s second unit is bleak, so it’s likely Bridges and the rest of the young Suns will be hounded to keep the team afloat.

Christian Wood is playing for his SIXTH team in five seasons. He had a bit of a mini-breakout last year for Detroit, and graduated to likely being the starting center for the Rockets. Houston has a LOT of problems, and most of them are random achilles injuries throughout the roster. The main one is James Harden. If Harden plays a full season for Houston (he may be traded by the time this is posted) then the Rockets MIGHT make the playoffs. Wood will be crucial to their success if he doesn’t. No pressure, kid, but if John Wall can’t play 72 games, its you and… uh… Daniel House? Wood can switch and cover both the power forward and center positions. With his size and athleticism, he’s capable of being both a defensive monster AND a bruiser in the paint. BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE- he’s actually not a bad shooter for his size, dropping nearly 40% from three. Wood is a rags to riches story, floundering in the G-League and switching teams often, but 20-21 might be the year he finally finds a home.

De’Aaron Fox is on the cusp of national recognition. The problem is, well, he plays for the Kings, California’s forgotten franchise. Fox is an incendiary guard who elevated his game last season. He will slash to the basket like vintage John Wall, but cleaner. He’s going to need plenty of help if the Kings are going to be any kind of a threat to make the play-in tournament, but that doesn’t mean the Kings are unwatchable trash. Fox is worthy of your time in his own right. It’s like watching a tiger cub grow into his claws. He has the potential to be one of the game’s top guards, and I think this is his year to push through and make an All-Star team. You probably won’t watch a Kings game unless they’re playing a bigger team, so when that happens watch as the man they call “Swipa” slices and dices through even the best of coverage.

Bryn Forbes is. Look, you’re watching this team for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Maybe Khris Middleton too, if you’re smart. Adding Jrue Holiday is a big deal for their defense and might help shake the playoff woes for the presumptive 1 seed. But I wanted to find someone for Milwaukee who you can keep an eye on when his number is called. Forbes spent the last four seasons in San Antonio as a solid shooter for the post-dynastic Spurs. My guess is that he is another asset culled from the minor leagues in order to produce in the playoffs. That said, he will need to hone his shot throughout the season. He won’t get starter minutes (I have DiVincenzo as the starter), but Forbes will be on the floor plenty. His shooting is good enough that he may just draw one defender a half step too far, which will open the floodgates for Milwaukee’s big dogs. Signing Forbes is a smaller move, but it could pay off big.

Dennis Schröeder has spent his career being overlooked because of the role he was cast to play. Toward the end of his Atlanta tenure, he was made the starting point guard. The Hawks relied on him to be their main offensive target, and well, they won 24 games. In OKC, he was put behind Russell Westbrook one year, Chris Paul the next. What this year will show is how much he learned from one or the other (I’d gather LeBron hopes the latter). Now, he’s surrounded by two of the top 5 players in the game. Some reports have him as the backup, but I don’t see how someone of his maturity and skill will be denied the opportunity to, at least in name, be the Lakers’ starting PG. Los Angeles gave up Danny Green and a pick to get Schröeder. While he isn’t as deadly beyond the arc as Green, he can create plenty of his own looks as well as give the Lakers a young-but-experienced weapon alongside their behemoths.

Justin Holiday played in every game for the second straight season, and 3 of the last 4 years. The reason he gets the nod over bubble breakout guy T.J. Warren is due to the latter’s plantar fasciitis, which will keep him out in the short term. The elder of the two Pacer Holidays should get starts at small forward in the meantime. Will Warren return and be the guy we saw light up the Sixers for 53 points? Speaking as a pessimistic realist, he will likely struggle when he’s back to full speed and could share the load with Holiday until Nate Bjorkgren thinks its time to push him. On his own, Holiday is a smooth 3 and D player who averages over a steal per game despite reserve minutes. He’s a true pest that often has to take on the biggest assignments.

Damion Lee is technically Andrew Wiggins’ backup, but Andrew Wiggins is a backup in starters robes. Lee is the kind of guy who will have a good, long career and be a reliable rotation player. While he’s not as exciting as Steph or as fashion-forward as Kelly Oubre (who is?), Lee will be a down-roster Warrior who will contribute greatly if they are to make the postseason and contend at all for a chance to avoid the Lakers in the playoffs. Yes, the Warriors Dynasty is probably over, especially with Klay gone for the season. They’re still a good team and will get a ton of TV time. If you want to watch someone beyond the marquee names on the Dubs, pay attention to the second unit and Lee.

Svi Mykhailiuk may not even start for the Detroit Blake Griffins, but he’s maybe the best pull-up shooter on the team. When he’s not allowed to move with the ball up court, his dribble-to-3PA ratio will rival prime Klay Thompson. He will regularly be posted at the corner, ready for a dish out and a quick three. Detroit has a bunch of misfit toys and also one of the best ball-handling bigs of the last 100 years, but Svi will be a diamond in the rough whenever you make the conscious decision to watch the Pistons.

Will Barton is coming off of an injury-stunted 2020 campaign, but he was really showing something special before then. On a Denver team that is an on-paper threat to the crown, Barton is probably the fourth option. He’ll be the Nuggets’ sixth man and get an opportunity to show off his athleticism on both ends of the floor. He’s a threat from anywhere on the court and has a first step that can cut with the best of them. He turns 30 on January 6th, so he’s no spring chicken. When he’s on the floor with Nikola Jokic, watch for Barton to move up on the shoulder for a triple threat option that can punish.

Jalen Brunson is not Luka Doncic, and that’s okay. Jalen can create effectively on offense and will likely run the point on Dallas’ second unit. Its a situation where yes, you are watching the Mavs for their Euro Wunderkinds, but take a look around and you’ll find some really solid role players that will help Luka and Kristaps push this team to the middle-seed potential that they’re destined for. Brunson has a high court IQ and is better than Josh Richardson in terms of PG-centric skills.