15. Lauri Markkanen & Evan Mobley & Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers
The Cavs were a couple ill-timed injuries away from making serious noise in the Eastern Conference. Evan Mobley should have won Rookie of the Year in my opinion, and he’s well-positioned for a second-year explosion. He has immense room to grow on offense, while the defense is already award worthy. Jarrett Allen is coming off his first All-Star appearance and should continue to blossom as Cleveland’s defensive anchor and primary above-the-rim finisher. Lauri Markkanen was the butt of many jokes last season, but he looked right at home as a jumbo-sized small forward who can drain 3s at a high clip.
14. Andrew Wiggins & Draymond Green & Kevon Looney, Warriors
Andrew Wiggins silenced doubters once and for all during Golden State’s run to the championship. Once an unreliable gunner who showed no tangible interest in defense, Wiggins has now completely reshaped his game. He’s an efficient spot-up shooter who deploys his athleticism on drives to the rim without domineering possessions or waving off better teammates. He’s also an elite wing defender, which is a helpful transformation. Draymond Green is impossible to deny at this point. He’s flawed and it isn’t always pretty, but he impacts winning in a big way every season. Kevon Looney isn’t a sexy name, but he has been a reliable starter for several years now.
13. Mikal Bridges & Jae Crowder & DeAndre Ayton, Suns
Phoenix has been the best regular season team in the NBA for two years running. There was speculation about Deandre Ayton’s future this offseason, but the former No. 1 pick ended up coming back on a max extension. With Mikal Bridges (fresh off a top-3 finish in DPOY voting) and Jae Crowder flanking Ayton, Phoenix’s frontcourt should once again command respect around the league. There aren’t a lot of holes in the Suns’ defense, and both Ayton and Bridges still have considerable room to grow.