The question posed: Which players, excluding rookies, appear primed to bust out . . . either become a name on the marquee — attaining All-Star prominence, perhaps — or perceptibly advancing and being recognized nationally as more than just comparatively anonymous extras on the set.
Forty assorted team presidents, general managers, head coaches, assistants, scouts and one agent were polled. All but three responded.
Andrew Bynum: Despite being harpooned by various injuries, the Lakers center’s point grade increased each season. Averaged 20.4 during pre-season. Taking a quantum leap isn’t easy. Even healthy he remains team’s fifth best player. Stage already is crowded.
Greg Oden: Vastly improved offensively and defined physically. Offseason workout regimen exemplifies determination to become a factor intruders will fear and erase perception the Blazers draft nothing but injury-prone centers.
J.R. Smith: A top 10-to-15 talent who makes defenders look bad by beating them off the dribble, finishing with force or dropping back and effortlessly flushing a 3-pointer from 4-point range. Why would Nuggets entertain prospects of acquiring an uneven bar like Stephen Jackson, according to reports, when Chauncey Billups is doing such a great job of keeping J.R. balanced?
Jason Thompson: Does not use brute strength down low. Polished skill set and a HiQ will help the much-improved Kings win back their fantastical following.
Will Bynum: Spent two years in Israel learning how to be a point before joining the Pistons. A game-changer on both sides of the ball. Always unstoppable getting to the hoop. Now he’s obsessed at stopping opponents.
Rudy Gay: Freak athlete. Improved ball handling. Buries the three. Posts up. Starting to take ball to basket. Work ethic makes him a rising All-Star if Grizzlies so much as pretend they’re playoff bound . . . as long as team’s selfish faction is kept under a modicum of control by Lionel Hollins.
Joakim Noah: Tough kid in traffic who knows his limitations and rarely tries to exceed them. A must Bulls fixture for life. Dennis Rodman reincarnate.
Danilo Gallinari: Knicks fans would seek dual citizenship should “Italian Scallion” become as good as Andre Bargnani. But wait, more than a few consultants claim to like him more, because he knows how to create space to get off shot or attack, and is a lot tougher than he looks.
Brandon Bass: Who knows why the Hornets let him get away, whereas Mavericks mistakenly believed Magic wouldn’t match Marcin Gortat’s offer sheet and got caught holding an empty grab bag. Remarkably effective no matter what his role, undersized macho forward gives Orlando yet another (big) body to spread the floor around Dwight Howard.
LaMarcus Aldridge: Imperative importance often gets clouded, if not obscured, by our logical fascination with Brandon Roy, and our diversion by Oden’s tribulations. Lone weakness is bearable reluctance to assault offensive boards.
Aaron Brooks: Knottiest problem he faces is abstaining from dominating Yao Ming-Tracy McGrady-less teammates. Scores whenever he pleases, but must resist that reward for greater good of teammates and team, even if it fails to translate into triumph.
Brook Lopez: Should be Nets’ offensive focal point but recurrently is ignored. Should it ever occur to him he’s bigger and stronger than Devin Harris, Chris Douglas-Roberts, etc., his great footwork on the block and soft hands can’t help but pay off in the standings.
Douglas-Roberts: A downsized Antawn Jamison whose unorthodox style, mid-range game, floater and hip-hop handle get him wherever he wants to go and makes him a frustrating cover . . . and teammate. This is why Nets coach Lawrence Frank is so overpaid.
Courtney Lee: You’re right; how do three players (four, if Yi Jianlian’s improvement is no mirage) from a team seemingly going nowhere worthwhile enjoy career seasons playing under Devin Harris’ auspices without at least two head coaches being fired? Western Kentucky guard may be the key if he’s able to influence others with the win-at-all-costs attitude he displayed in Orlando.
DeAndre Jordan: Has become a centrifugal force as a rebounder and oven-stuffer for the Clippers. In one game last season, he scored 20 points, all on dunks. There’s plenty more where that came from. Imagine that, a player who knows his range.
Anthony Randolph: A lot of competition for shots makes it difficult to rise above Warriors squalor. Still, many believe multi-dimensional pipe cleaner (added 15 pounds) has the goods to become Lamar Odom clone, including Odom, quoted last season stating he sensed Hall of Fame promise in the then 19-year-old. Both are 6-foot-10 lefties.
Ryan Anderson: Size, smarts and capacity to score from three will get him many unobstructed looks in Orlando’s offense. Can put it on the floor once or twice and make a play. If Vince Carter weren’t playing so well, I’d suspect he was the throw-in on the trade.
Marreese Speights: A big upside for the Sixers’ big man. Long, athletic, very quick first step and second jump. Gets to rim, shoots it really well and with range, Just has an innate knack for putting the ball where it’s supposed to go.
George Hill: If not for a guy named Tony Parker, he’d probably be starting at point for Spurs. Regardless, he’s on course to emerge as one of the league’s uppermost backups at both backcourt positions.
Eric Gordon: Scoring numbers are better than last year when he was one of league’s top rookies for the Clippers. Knows how to score and is becoming a solid defender. Mike Dunleavy is banking on Baron Davis to get him (and others) the ball. If not, Sebastian Telfair’s wonderfully tricky and increasingly effective passing will be on display more and more. One way or the other, the Lincoln High School product is primed for a bust-out season.
Jose Calderon: Has enlarged his points per game, assists per game and 3-point field goal percentage each season with Raptors. Now it’s time to elevate into that next echelon of NBA playmakers, and that only happens by pushing and guiding your team into the upper ranks of the East.
Russell Westbrook: Super competitor, evolving passer, great leaper, and might be most resourceful rebounder next to Jason Kidd. Can’t play off-guard because his shooting isn’t consistent. That’s why the Thunder drafted James Harden, another portable player to share caretaking responsibility . . . when Kevin Durant and Jeff Green aren’t dictating proceedings.
Emeka Okafor: If healthy and suspiciously unsteady Hornets don’t disintegrate, he’s All-Star material. Playing with Chris Paul and alongside David West means temperature will rise and numbers will soar. Runs floor on every play and you know what that gets you.
Kevin Love: DeBusschere-like on boards. Waltonesque (closer to Jerry Lucas, you say) as a passer, a quality two Timberwolves head coaches flagrantly failed to utilize last year. Deviously and devilishly HiQ. Broken hand is a minor delay in his development.
Daequan Cook: Just 22 years old and three seasons in, he’s gained a strong command of pro game, Three-point marksmanship provides ample opportunity to be Heat’s No. 1 nuclear sub and take pressure off Dwyane Wade.
Shannon Brown: Very few players are more athletic than Lakers backup at point and off guard. Phil Jackson loves him cause he defends. Kobe Bryant loves him cause he’s quick to cover for him when he cheats.
Andray Blatche: If Jamison is done for awhile this kid is guaranteed to make some noise for a Wizards team almost certain to be back in the thick of the playoff mix.
Aaron Affalo: Nuggets filled in well for the departed-to-Greece Linas Kleiza . He’s shooting, defending and playing with a confidence seldom shown as a Piston.
Kris Humphries: Given consistent minutes by Rick Carlisle in Dallas, he has rendered repeated sound contributions across the stats sheet. How good has he been? James Singleton, who led NBA last year in double doubles as a reserve, has been reduced to third string status.
Jared Dudley: A Shane Battier type. Boxes out, gets deflections, guards exceptionally well. Creates extra possessions, makes open shots. Suns crowd loves him almost as team president Steve Kerr.
D.J. Augustin: Very competitive, Quick, feisty. Wants to win and always plays hard. Main reason Bobcats didn’t feel compelled to give Raymond Felton more than a 1-year deal during off-season.
Roy Hibbert: Is not a reliable rebounder, but scoring and shot blocking give Pacers a legit center for first time since Jermaine O’Neal was motivated by the scent of a maximum contract.
Corey Brewer: Fully recovered from knee surgery, the Timberwolves’ swingman demonstrating why many talent scouts forecast he’d be a better pro than Al Horford and Noah.
Oleseksiy Pecherov: Looks are deceiving. During an exhibition, Bulls analyst Stacy King openly mocked straggly Ukraine until 7-footer made him eat his words by converting four or five outside jumpers and grabbing eight or nine rebounds. So, apologize to T-Wolf president David Kahn; giving up Randy Foye and Mike Miller wasn’t so one-sided after all.
Channing Frye: As long as Alvin Gentry doesn’t mind his starting center tracing down fewer shots than Alvin Adams he’s guaranteed to have a breakout season. Mike D’Antoni designed Suns offense with ex-Knick in mind.
Lou Williams: May never be a pass-first point-man but departure of Andre Miller means soon-to-be 23 year-old gets his chance to substantially impact Philly’s fortunes.
Marquis Daniels: Though few people noticed or cared, he was often impressive for the mediocre Pacers. As a Celtic, his relaxed facility to excel point, off guard and small forward will stand out.
J.J. Hickson: Terrific physical specimen. Nice offensive and defensive rebounder as well as a shot blocker. Cavaliers’ frontline craves additional youthful exuberance and athleticism. If LeBron cares more about winning than marketing, and has as much sway with his superiors as some people think , he’ll lean on Mike Brown to choose in the 6-foot-9 sophomore.
