Fancy Boys Club

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.

Dante Exum had a gnarly injury last season, but so far in the preseason has looked solid. That being said, the Cavs are bad and injury plagued and have the worst kind of position battles going on- the kind where guys are rotated out because they’re bad, not because the alternative is better. Exum has the potential to be a good offensive threat if he can stay healthy. While it’s likely he will come off the bench for Cleveland this season, he can do some damage in a pesky second unit that will cause trouble for some middling playoff hopefuls.

He was a touted prospect when he was drafted, but has never been able to live up to the hype due to his health. Sadly, with most of this Cavs team, health will be a major factor in determining if they get the most ping pong balls, the third most ping pong balls, or somewhere in between.

Otto Porter Jr. is probably the most important Chicago Bull this season. He’s not the best (Zach LaVine) or the flashiest (Z. LaVine) or biggest name (Zach L.) but he could be critical to Chicago’s future. He has potential to be a solid trade asset come the deadline for a contender looking to shore up their depth. I know, Bulls fans, you don’t want to hear that your team’s most interesting player this year is just a trade chip, but think of it this way- riding the roller coaster of paying attention to Otto Porter through a season will make suffering through yet another lost year easier. That, and seeing how Billy Donovan will use him in rotation with rookie Pat Williams will be interesting. I almost put Williams as my Guy To Watch but I just don’t think he’s going to get a ton of minutes for a good chunk of the season.

Look! Here’s some good thing’s Porter’s done!

LaMelo Ball is the only reason to watch the Hornets. Okay, I’ll admit that this is the easy choice and that Ball is arguably already in the “star” realm. BUT. He is a rookie, and the most exciting part of a really mediocre to awful roster. Gordon Hayward is getting paid and will probably put up solid numbers, but that’s about it. So what is so great about the baby Ball brother? Stuff like this.

LaMelo Ball… FILTHY pass. pic.twitter.com/QajwaCCfjz

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 13, 2020

and this…

My feed is filled with NBA chat and suddenly everything is right with the world again… And I’ll never tire of watching this pass from LaMelo Ball! pic.twitter.com/BzGclSPPfI

— Rich Leigh (@RichLeigh) December 13, 2020

and also this…

Cody Zeller really blew this nasty pass by Lamelo Ball 😨#Hornets pic.twitter.com/PmZK8ahbDz

— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) December 13, 2020

Yeah, I get it, you’re probably better off just watching his highlights on twitter after a game, but you could watch Charlotte play and then see him do a flashy pass LIVE and then tweet about it to look cool, I guess. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, the Hornets have the best uniform set in the game. @ me.