A breakout season left De’Aaron Fox on the cusp of his first All-Star appearance — an accomplishment he will shoot for in 2019-20. The Kings made a few questionable moves this summer, but remain an intriguing young core on the rise. Fox makes it tick, from his speedster tendencies on the fast break to his vast improvements as both a shooter and passer.
Projecting Kristaps Porzingis’ impact after an ACL injury is difficult, but ACLs are no longer career-ending. Porzingis has undergone a rigorous training regimen and will have the all-clear next season. He’s still a unique two-way weapon, spacing the floor at 7-foot-3, proficiently attacking closeouts and sucking up airspace on defense. He last averaged 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while shooting .439/.395/.793 when healthy.
Though his game isn’t tailored to the modern NBA, DeMar DeRozan did show growth last season. He stepped into a featured role in San Antonio, embracing ball movement and unlocking a new playmaking gear. He averaged a career-high 6.2 assists on top of his strong scoring numbers. His 15.6 percent mark from deep, of course, remains the biggest drawback.
D’Angelo Russell took a step forward last season, earning his first All-Star bid and lifting Brooklyn to playoff contention. Now he joins an odd situation in Golden State after the Kevin Durant fallout. While the Warriors’ plan for Russell is still unclear, he adds much-needed shot creation on the perimeter. He’s a smooth pick-and-roll operate, a three-level pull-up threat and someone who could find a nice fit next to Stephen Curry.
Tobias Harris‘ production was curtailed after joining Philadelphia last season, but his larger body of work points to an underrated, All-Star caliber talent. On the whole, Harris averaged 20.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, posting shooting splits of .487/.397/.866. He’s a tremendous low-usage star, hitting 3s at a high clip, posing a pull-up threat and beating smaller defenders in the post.