21. Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are trending up, and Kevin Huerter deserves credit. Despite not producing on the same level as Trae Young and John Collins, Huerter’s perimeter scoring is a major component to Atlanta’s rebuild. He’s on track for a massive second-year leap.
Huerter hit 38.5 percent of his 4.7 deep attempts per contest last season, providing Atlanta with two high-gravity shooters on the perimeter. His skill set goes beyond spot-up shooting, though — Huerter is adept attacking closeouts, stepping into pull-ups and putting pressure on the defense.
- PG: Trae Young | Position Rank: 11th
- SG: Kevin Huerter | Position Rank: 21st
20. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The expectation is OKC will start both Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt. While his natural position is point guard, Gilgeous-Alexander has the size at 6-foot-6 to thrive alongside CP3. He spent lots of time in multi-guard lineups with Los Angeles as a rookie.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s maturity as a scorer is his most impressive attribute. Despite his one-and-done status, SGA never feels rushed. He confidently changes speeds, using a herky-jerky style to keep defenders off balance. As his shooting range expands, SGA will continue to rise up this list.
- PG: Chris Paul | Position Rank: 7th
- SG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Position Rank: 20th
19. Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
To date, Andrew Wiggins has not fulfilled his promise. He has stagnated — idled in neutral as the Timberwolves struggle to keep their collective heads above water. There’s no questioning the natural ‘talent’. Wiggins can score. But talent does very little to ensure quality basketball.
Wiggins averaged 18.7 points on 41.2 percent shooting last season. If there’s room for optimism, it’s the trend of steadily rising 3-point attempts per contest. He’s adjusting his shot selection to some degree. There’s still a chance for Wiggins to take the next step. Maybe this will be the year.
- PG: Jeff Teague | Position Rank: 18th
- SG: Andrew Wiggins | Position Rank: 19th