10. Sebastian Telfair, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
A lot of people may find it crazy to include Bassie on this list, but his pure talent is undeniable, the Wolves gave him a new contract, and maybe now with the additions of Kevin Love and Mike Miller he'll start playing to his potential on a consistent basis. Although the stakes are higher, he is coming off his best season with 51 starts out of 60 games (missing 22 to injury), averaging 9.3 points, 5.9 assists and 1.0 steal. Just as important, he was 10th in the NBA in assist/turnover ratio and shot better than 40 percent from the field for the first time in his career. He still needs to improve on that and building on his .771 career free-throw percentage. At 23, he no longer has the excuse of just being a kid out of high school. This will be his fifth season, and the Timberwolves are his third team. The confidence of a two-year deal plus his option should help him grow up, and if he can eliminate off-court distractions and focus on his career, his extraordinary quickness, hands and court vision could make him a special point guard after all.
9. Brandan Wright, F, Golden State Warriors
At some point last season, a lot of people were wondering why Warriors coach Don Nelson wasn't playing Wright more. Granted, he's only 20 and the 2007 first-round pick from North Carolina -- acquired in the Jason Richardson deal last year -- but this 6-9, 210-pounder has the total game. Nelson used Wright in just 38 games (averaging 9.9 minutes of action), but the Warriors had enough offseason turnover on their roster to move him up into the permanent rotation as sixth or seventh man by the time they get to midseason. With the loss of Baron Davis and Monta Ellis moving to point guard, they're going to have to get up and down the floor even more than they have in past. And that bodes well for Wright as he learns the nuances of the NBA game.
8. Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76ers
Barely 20, few rookies a year ago came on to help their teams advance as much as the 6-7, 210-pound Young did. The Sixers were one of the great stories of the season from the end of January right into their surprising six-game series with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, and Young was right in the middle of it. He started the final 22 games of the regular season and the six playoff games. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in just less than 27 minutes a game against the Pistons, and in the final 22 regular-season games he contributed 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.14 steals. Young is never going to be a dominant player, but a fine all-around player that will make everyone around him better and be solid on both ends of the floor. And on a team that will start Elton Brand, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert with him, he is the perfect complement as a fundamentally sound player doing the little things to win.
7. Jordan Farmar, G, Los Angeles Lakers
For the Lakers to take the next step and be the perennial favorite in the West, Farmar has to take the starting point guard position from aging Derek Fisher and make it his. He played in all 82 regular-season games and all 21 playoff games, so the 2006 first-round pick from UCLA got a full learning experience in 2007-08. But after averaging 9.1 points, 2.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes a game during the regular season, he dipped to 5.7 points, 1.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds during the playoffs in 17.1 minutes. Even more suspect was seeing his .461 field-goal shooting during the regular season drop to .383. That's not to ignore the fact that he's still only 21, but his speed, defensive ball pressure and superb 3-point shooting are vital to keeping the dogs off of Kobe Bryant and making the Lakers better overall. But coach Phil Jackson has to show enough confidence in him to start and run the halfcourt offense before he and the Lakers take it up a notch.
6. Al Thornton, F, Los Angeles Clippers
The final pick of the lottery in 2007 out of Florida State, Thornton was a favorite of some before last season began and by the time the season rolled to a close, everybody liked him even more. With Baron Davis and Marcus Camby now on board, the 6-8, 220-pound Thornton will be even more effective coming off the wing with his power and speed. He averaged 12.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 27.3 minutes a game overall, but during the final dozen games he scored at least 21 points seven times, including a 39-point explosion, and three double-figure rebounding games as well. It's tough to establish yourself on a team that is going through transition -- and primarily failing -- as the Clippers always are. But with the new additions and the patience of coach Mike Dunleavy, this guy has a chance to be a special player and very soon.
5. Joakim Noah, F, Chicago Bulls
The Bulls and Noah went through such a roller-coaster ride last season that getting lost in all the cacophony of disappointment was how much he improved as the season progressed. The ninth overall pick of the 2007 draft from two-time NCAA champion Florida raised the eyebrows of his teammates and ultimately fired coach Scott Skiles when he called out everybody for their laissez-faire attitude. Turns out, he was right, and his 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds playing 20.7 minutes in 74 games were not reflective of how vital he became as a leader on that team. The better reflection of what Noah portends to be came in the final 10 games of the season when the 6-11, 240-pounder played 32.2 minutes a game, averaging 11.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.6 steals. He is a skilled big man with boundless energy still refining his basketball skills, and at 22 could be a double-double guy this season with plenty of steals and blocks.
4. Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics
Rondo, 22, had the experience of a career last season, playing point guard on the championship team with the benefit of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to support him. His speed and toughness on defense and court coverage at both ends of the floor were unquestionable as he improved consistently all season. Whippet-quick at 6-1, 171 pounds, he averaged 10.6 points, 5.1 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals during the regular season, and that morphed into 10.2 points, 6.6 assists. 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals during the playoffs. It was a great start for the 21st overall pick of the 2006 draft out of Kentucky. His on-the-ball defense and nose for the ball are his strengths, but he has a long way to go to establish himself as a good decision-maker with the ball, get better from the free-throw line and become the kind of perimeter shooter that a defense will respect. And yet, he was the difference-maker in too many big games to underrate.
3. Marvin Williams, F, Atlanta Hawks
Eventually, Williams will be accepted as an exceptional player on his own merit as he grows up, but for now the 6-9, 230-pound forward is known as the guy that deposed general manager Billy Knight chose instead of point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams in the 2005 draft. Nonetheless, last season Williams showed signs of being that special player he promised to be during his one season at North Carolina, averaging 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. A smooth athlete with speed, jumping ability and great hands, he's just turned 22, needs to get stronger and extend his shooting range to beyond the arc. As it was, he still shot .462 from the field and .822 from the free-throw line, showing he is going to be a big-time scorer. He learned plenty during Atlanta's surprising seven-game series with the Celtics in the opening round and could take a giant step this season.
2. Devin Harris, PG, New Jersey Nets
The key player for the Nets in the Jason Kidd trade with Dallas at midseason, he was hurt early and never really had time to play his complete game for the Nets. Now he will. He shot only .438 from the field for the Nets, while averaging 15.4 points and 6.5 assists, and expect all of those numbers to go up this season. The fifth overall pick of the 2004 draft from Wisconsin, nobody was happier that the 6-3 Harris was shipped to the Eastern Conference than the Spurs, who found Harris to be the toughest matchup for Tony Parker (other than Chris Paul). Harris has a chance to be an All-Star very quickly in the Eastern Conference as the Nets go through their rebuilding phase. The big question is how quickly he will grow into a leader for that team. He was the guy at Wisconsin, and tried to be at Dallas, but coach Avery Johnson wouldn't let him. Expect Lawrence Frank to give him free rein.
1. Rodney Stuckey, G, Detroit Pistons
The 6-5 guard, chosen 15th overall in the first round in 2007 out of Eastern Washington, broke his hand in the final preseason game. He didn't play his first game until Dec. 21 and didn't start playing major minutes until late March, averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds over the final 11 game of the regular season -- 7.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds for the season. But during that final month and during the playoffs, he became an impact player -- matching up with either Rip Hamilton or Chauncey Billups in the backcourt. Occasionally, all three would be in the game. He was particularly special in some playoff games, with at least 13 points in five of the final 11 games, and averaged 9.8 points and 22.5 minutes in the six-game loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by the evil genius
10 Players Most Likely to Improve
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