The Best Player on Every NBA Team Entering the 2014-15 Season
If you enjoy the increasingly popular sport of Internet debate, just ask passionate basketball fans who the best player is on each NBA team.
For some franchises, identifying the top dog is simple. For instance: As good as Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are, LeBron James will be the focus of the Cleveland Cavaliers from Day 1 of the 2014-15 season.
Conversely, think about a team like the Houston Rockets. Do you go with the scoring prowess of James Harden, or do you value the two-way capabilities of Dwight Howard?
Entering this discussion, it's important to note that there's no one way to define a team's best player. That said, the fact that we can have this debate proves how star-studded a league the NBA is, and it sets the scene for each franchise as we approach the 2014-15 campaign.
Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford
1 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 18.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 56.7 FG%, 22.08 PER
Age: 28
The Atlanta Hawks missed Al Horford in 2013-14. With him, the team was 16-13. Without him, it went 22-31.
Without Horford in the lineup, Atlanta dropped to the eighth seed out East by the time the postseason began. "Being the eighth seed in a playoffs is not ever going to be our goal," Danny Ferry said, via The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Chris Vivlamore.
"We want more than that as a team."
With a healthy Horford on board, Atlanta will have a complete rotation with its starting center in place. In fact, it will have a 5 who, before getting hurt, posted career highs in points, blocks and field-goal percentage last season.
Atlanta may have missed out on big-time free agents in 2014, but it's gaining a key cog in Horford. This is a team that can compete for home-court advantage this season, and its seven-year big man is the biggest reason why.
Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo
2 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 11.7 PPG, 9.8 APG, 5.5 RPG, 15.34 PER
Age: 28
Rajon Rondo played just 30 games this past season. In fact, he hasn't put together a truly healthy campaign since 2009-10, which was just his fourth year in the Association.
Health aside, when Rondo has seen the floor, he's been incredibly productive. Last season was no exception, and that's why he remains the best player on this rebuilding roster.
The question here is whether or not the 28-year-old even wants to be a part of this historic organization. According to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan, via CBSSports.com's James Herbert, Rondo has "told them [the Boston Celtics] he wants out." Conversely, The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy has responded by stating, "Spokeswoman for Rajon Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy, said both men deny that Celtics guard has demanded a trade."
What will happen in this dramatic situation? Only time will tell. But with Rondo in a contract season, you know he's going to be at the top of his game as long as he can stay on the court.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
3 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 20.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 56.3 FG%, 25.50 PER
Age: 26
If you're looking for the best player on the Brooklyn Nets, and you're looking at talent alone, Deron Williams is your guy. If you're looking at recent production, you probably lean toward Joe Johnson.
Then again, if you're considering those two players, you're living in the past and not looking toward the future. Brook Lopez is the best player on this roster entering the new year, and he has a chance to make this team his in 2014-15.
When it comes to Lopez, health is the biggest hurdle. However, he doesn't see it that way.
According to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com, Lopez has stated, "Like I said before, I’m not looking for any restrictions.”
He followed that up by saying, "I’m confident I’m gonna be able to go out there and be better than I’ve ever been." That's a good sign for fans of Brooklyn, especially with a changing of the guard inevitable with age not in the team's favor.
Charlotte Hornets: Al Jefferson
4 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 21.8 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 22.75 PER
Age: 29
Until proven otherwise, Al Jefferson earns the nod as the best player on the newly named Charlotte Hornets.
Is it possible Lance Stephenson comes in and makes this team his? Sure it is.
Is there any chance we see Kemba Walker take his game to another level? You bet.
All that said, Jefferson is coming off a season that saw him put up his best numbers since his 2008-09 campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The big man proved people wrong who felt he was overpaid, and he'll continue to make that statement with elite play on an emerging Eastern Conference presence.
Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose
5 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 15.9 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.2 RPG, 9.82 PER
Age: 25
Derrick Rose has looked like his old self during this summer's FIBA competition. Even better is that he's looking like pre-injury Rose—not 2013-14 Rose.
Last season, Rose came back and never matched his expected production as a former MVP. Those stats listed above were from just 10 games before he got hurt, but this time around, he has the luxury of legitimate competition (FIBA) to get him in shape.
While we don't know yet whether or not Rose will actually return to MVP form, we do know that he's a superstar talent who fits in perfectly with the Chicago Bulls. Chicago is looked at as a top-two team out East in the eyes of many, and if Rose can stay healthy, the squad will be a contender throughout the entire 2014-15 campaign.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
6 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 27.1 PPG, 6.4 APG, 6.9 RPG, 56.7 FG%, 37.9 3PT%, 29.40 PER
Age: 29
Kevin Love is a superstar. Kyrie Irving is a budding star.
And yet, this team is going to be all about the return of arguably the best basketball player on the entire planet: LeBron James.
The combination of Love, Irving and James should create for one of the best Big Threes during 2014-15 (if not the best), but without James, this team isn't considered one of the favorites to emerge as the Eastern Conference champions. James is in the prime of his career, and his numbers prove it.
Although the 29-year-old's points, assists and rebound numbers are impressive, it's his efficiency that stands out. His field-goal percentage and three-point percentage are products of his discipline, and as long as he brings that with him to Cleveland, the Cavs will be getting a player who is even better than the one that left in 2010.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
7 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 21.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 49.7 FG%, 39.8 3PT%, 23.68 PER
Age: 36
Dirk Nowitzki has been the face of the Dallas Mavericks for quite some time, but the more important fact entering the new year is that he's still the team's best player.
As good as Nowitzki has proven to be deep into his career, the best news of all for the Mavericks is that they got to keep him this summer at an incredibly discounted rate. According to HoopsHype.com, the veteran power forward is the fourth-highest paid player on the books behind Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis and Tyson Chandler.
Taking it one step further, Nowitzki is just the 78th-highest paid player in the league, via ESPN.com. That sandwiches him between Jeff Teague and Ersan Ilyasova, and it makes him unequivocally one of the best values of the 2014-15 season.
Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried
8 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 13.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 0.9 BPG, 54.5 FG%, 19.90 PER
Age: 24
Kenneth Faried didn't earn the nickname "Manimal" by accident. His numbers are solid three years into his career, but his energy and relentless aggression above the rim are what he's become known for both with the Denver Nuggets and with Team USA.
When looking at Denver's roster, you have a classic situation where depth trumps stardom. Ty Lawson is the other candidate for the team's best player, but with Faried's FIBA experience, the hope is that he enters the 2014-15 season having improved from being surrounded by such talent.
Will Faried be a go-to option offensively for the Nuggets? Not likely. But having someone who can clean up messes and create without touches is extremely valuable.
Faried is that kind of player, and that's why he'll be the team's best no matter where he finishes in the points-per-game category.
Detroit Pistons: Greg Monroe
9 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 15.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 18.16 PER
Age: 24
You wouldn't know it by looking at the Detroit Pistons' record in 2013-14 (29-53), but there is actually a decent amount of individual talent scattered throughout the roster.
Atop that list is Greg Monroe. The 24-year-old has yet to hit his true potential, but he's established himself as a solid offensive option as well as a near-double-digit rebounder.
Behind Monroe on this list—narrowing the gap on a seemingly nightly basis—is Andre Drummond. Even Josh Smith, from an overall talent perspective, is an honorable mention, but efficiency keeps him away at this juncture.
Monroe will compete with Drummond for honors here as the former UConn product Drummond develops, but for now, give credit to what Monroe's accomplished. The youngster recently signed a one-year qualifying offer, as reported by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com), and he'll be looking for his best year to date in his upcoming contract season.
Golden State Warriors: Steph Curry
10 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 24.0 PPG, 8.5 APG, 4.3 RPG, 42.4 3PT%, 24.13 PER
Age: 26
Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and David Lee are all borderline stars for the Golden State Warriors. The team also has a couple of nice players in Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes who are excellent complements on this talent-laden roster.
Then again, this group would have a completely different identity if Steph Curry weren't the go-to option.
This past season, Curry finished first in the NBA in three-pointers made by a long shot. More than that, he's become the kind of player who can stuff a stat sheet all year long, and he's bought into the team concept of defense, which will hopefully translate to Steve Kerr's new system.
Without Curry, the Warriors wouldn't be the kind of team that's fighting for home-court advantage each postseason. It would be a borderline playoff team in a brutally deep Western Conference.
Don't discredit what the rest of this roster does for this organization, but recognize that Curry is the one behind the driver seat once each game tips off.
Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard?
11 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 18.3 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 21.36 PER
Age: 28
James Harden or Dwight Howard? This is one question that will have fans debating qualifications throughout the entire 2014-15 season.
When it comes to determining a "best player" on the Houston Rockets, consider the following: Howard is a two-way machine while Harden is particularly vulnerable on defense.
Can you make a claim for Harden in this category? Sure you can. It's not like we're comparing LeBron James to Matthew Dellavedova, as the two Rockets are virtually dealing with a 1A and 1B situation.
However, in today's day and age of limited franchise-changing centers, Howard knows how to impact a game in ways Harden simply can't. The big man forces teams to change their schemes on both offense and defense, and that's the kind of characteristic that earns you this type of recognition.
Indiana Pacers: Roy Hibbert*
12 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 10.8 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 13.54 PER
Age: 27
Roy Hibbert will enter the 2014-15 season as the Indiana Pacers' best player, but that honor comes with a huge asterisk: Paul George's absence.
As soon as George went down in the nationally televised Team USA scrimmage, the makeup of this team changed drastically. Not only had the franchise already lost Lance Stephenson to the Charlotte Hornets, but then its clear-cut best player was lost in the blink of an eye.
Although a player like David West deserves recognition here for his two-way capabilities, Hibbert earns the nod because of his defensive prowess, which is a staple of this blue-collar organization.
Then again, if we see the same kind of disappearing act from the big man that we saw during the postseason, he'll have to take a backseat to West until he regains momentum.
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul
13 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 19.1 PPG, 10.7 APG, 4.3 RPG, 2.5 SPG, 25.98 PER
Age: 29
It's almost unfair to choose between Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. One year ago, it would have been an easy choice in favor of the former, but today, Griffin has become a more consistent option on offense and is arguably the NBA's best power forward in the eyes of many.
At this point, the edge still goes to CP3, but the gap between the two is narrowing. Some will argue that Griffin's improved shooting and incredible rebounding ability are enough to give him the nod, but being a two-way player is just as important.
Throughout his career, Paul has been known as a nuisance on defense. This past season, he held opponents to a PER (per 48 minutes) of just 13.4, while Griffin's opponents reached 17.1 in the same category.
Those stats come courtesy of 82games.com, and when it comes to Paul, they prove he's still one step ahead of his teammate at this point in time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
14 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 13.8 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.3 RPG, 10.74 PER
Age: 36
When projecting how good Kobe Bryant will be in 2014-15, don't even look at the numbers above. Those statistics represent the six games he played before falling to a season-ending injury, and more importantly, they're the numbers he posted coming back from his torn Achilles.
The good news for Lakers fans is that Bryant is "100 percent." That news comes from the man himself during an interview on Brazilian television (h/t LA Times, Fox Sports West), and assuming he's not false advertising, we should see a much more Kobe-like figure this season.
Will he be back to his old self? That's the question worth asking. Despite being good to go, he's still entering his 19th season.
Expect to see something in between 2011-12 Kobe and 2013-14 Kobe, and expect him to be the best player on this roster.
Memphis Grizzlies: Marc Gasol
15 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 18.27 PER
Age: 29
Pick your poison when it comes to the Memphis Grizzlies.
While all three players fit the Memphis system perfectly, the ever-so-slight edge belongs to Marc Gasol. Not only is the big man the heart and soul of the defense, but he's entering a contract year that should see him play some of the best basketball of his career.
In Randolph's defense, he's also in a contract season, and he's also been a consistent double-double threat most of his career. Then again, he's already four years older than the 29-year-old Gasol.
To come to Conley's defense, the point guard is a true two-way presence on the perimeter. But once again, Gasol has the edge seeing as he's continuing to make a name for himself as one of the best centers in the game.
Miami Heat: Chris Bosh
16 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 51.6 FG%, 19.11 PER
Age: 30
Longtime fans of the Miami Heat might find this blasphemous, but Chris Bosh is about to be the best player in South Beach—not Dwyane Wade.
As good as Wade has been throughout his career—and will continue to be in 2014-15—it's officially Bosh's time to shine. Not only is he jumping from Option C to Option A in the offense, but his maximum contract worth $118 million over five years will put pressure on him to be the statistical machine he once was with the Toronto Raptors.
The question is: Will Bosh actually return to the kind of player he was up north? At 30 years old, that answer is likely no, but he'll be the best player on a re-tooling Miami roster.
Watching the Heat will be a far different experience this season than the past four years, and while they're no longer the favorites out East, they should prove to be competitive with Bosh leading the way.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
17 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 6.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 10.82 PER
Age: 19
The Milwaukee Bucks have young talent all over their roster. As tempting as it is to say that someone like John Henson, or even Jabari Parker, could be this team's best player, all signs point to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Although Antetokounmpo's numbers don't scream stardom, consider the following: He played just 24.6 minutes per contest, and he started in only 23 of the 77 games he played.
Above all else, the lanky perimeter player was just 18 years old at the start of last season. He's only 19 at this point, but with so much potential inside of him, it's easy to see how a full year of NBA experience could propel him to another level sooner rather than later.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Ricky Rubio
18 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 9.5 PPG, 8.6 APG, 4.2 RPG, 15.35 PER
Age: 23
Like the Milwaukee Bucks, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a rookie who could come in and become the best player right out of the gate. Andrew Wiggins is officially a part of this organization, and if he lives up to the hype, he'll be a superstar before we know it.
Also like Milwaukee, we take a different approach, choosing a young player with a better professional resume at this juncture.
Enter Ricky Rubio.
Despite being just 23 years old, Rubio is approaching his fourth year in the NBA. He's an excellent distributor and an under-appreciated defender, and while his shooting percentages are far from imposing, his numbers last year (38.1 FG%, 33.1 3PT%) are career bests.
Rubio is improving, and with Kevin Love gone, he becomes something of an emotional, and possibly statistical, leader. It's unlikely he becomes a franchise cornerstone the way Wiggins likely will, but 2014-15 will be about him taking the reins and becoming a better player outside of Love's shadow.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
19 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 2.8 BPG, 51.9 FG%, 26.54 PER
Age: 21
Anthony Davis is far and away the best player on the New Orleans Pelicans, and if you ask B/R's Howard Beck, he deserves credit as the third-best player in the entire NBA.
As Beck put it, "I think he's right there as impactful as just about anybody after LeBron [James] and Kevin Durant."
To make that claim so early in Davis' career is bold, but hardly unwarranted. According to ESPN's Hollinger Stats, the big man finished with the fourth-highest PER in just his second season, and he did it by dominating both ends of the floor.
Entering the 2014-15 season, the question is: How much better can he get? He now has another summer of international competition under his belt, and with his deadly combination of defensive prowess and offensive potential, the sky appears to be the limit for this burgeoning superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
20 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 27.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 40.2 3PT%, 24.50 PER
Age: 30
Carmelo Anthony is back with the New York Knicks, and he's hands down the best player on the team's roster.
Although Melo's contract is enough to make some fans cringe, the deal was a no-brainer for the Knicks organization. Not only has he been the face of the franchise in recent years, but the team wouldn't have had significant free-agent money to chase his replacement even if he'd left.
Will Anthony lead this team to a championship? That's yet to be determined. He's a spectacular individual talent, but winning in the playoffs hasn't been his forte throughout his 11-year career.
None of that is to say he can't do it with the right pieces around him, but truly competing out East is what will make critics feel better about a five-year, $124 million contract.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
21 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.5 APG, 39.1 3PT%, 29.90 PER
Age: 25
As elite a player as Russell Westbrook is, you can't look at this topic and not say Kevin Durant.
After all: There's a reason Nike has signed the superstar to a 10-year deal that could be worth as much as $300 million, per USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt.
At just 25 years old, Durant is a five-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA First-Team member and a four-time scoring champion. Don't forget, either, that he's the reigning MVP.
Durant is the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise, and that's only going to change if he eventually takes his talents elsewhere in free agency. A championship is his next goal, and as we've seen the past few seasons, OKC is a perennial contender because of what he does night in and night out.
Orlando Magic: Tobias Harris
22 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 14.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 16.54 PER
Age: 22
There's no clear-cut best player on the Orlando Magic, which is why the following players all have a shot at making that claim in 2014-15: Nikola Vucevic, Channing Frye, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo.
With so many question marks surrounding this organization, it's safe to assume this group is about to follow the mold of the Denver Nuggets. That is, it's going to establish depth using multiple go-to options, and it's going to avoid making one player a star at this point in the process.
If you have to choose one player to bank on, Harris seems like the one. He instantly made fans forget J.J. Redick when he came over from the Milwaukee Bucks, and he put up solid numbers in 36 starts last season.
If Harris can be a more consistent presence in the starting lineup, he'll be one step closer toward becoming the team's best player at just 22 years old. Then again, the other aforementioned players in the rotation are in the same boat, making this an interesting storyline to keep an eye on this season.
Philadelphia 76ers: Michael Carter-Williams
23 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, 6.2 RPG, 15.59 PER
Age: 22
The Philadelphia 76ers aren't interested in winning during the 2014-15 season. That's a problem for fans who are getting impatient with the current rebuild, but that won't stop Michael Carter-Williams from being ultra productive on a nightly basis.
After shocking the Association in his Rookie of the Year campaign last season, MCW is ready to expand upon his successful first impression. How can he do that? First and foremost, by fixing his broken jump shot that led to a field-goal percentage of 40.5 percent and a three-point percentage of 26.4 percent.
The bad news for the second-year player is that he's no longer going to surprise anyone. Teams have an entire year's worth of scouting reports, and he'll have to add to his game to keep opponents on their toes.
Defenses will adjust, but one thing will be the same: Carter-Williams will be the focal point of the offense. A healthy Joel Embiid would have challenged for recognition of best player, but with the big man out for the foreseeable future, look for the sophomore to take the reins for the second year in a row.
Phoenix Suns: Goran Dragic
24 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 20.3 PPG, 5.9 APG, 3.2 RPG, 40.8 3PT%, 21.43 PER
Age: 28
If Eric Bledsoe ultimately re-signs with the Phoenix Suns, there's a chance he'll make us eat our words by not calling him the best player on the roster. He has a versatile skill set and incredible athleticism, and when those two things are put together, they equal superstar potential.
There are a few problems, however, in giving Bledsoe the satisfaction of being the team's best. For starters, he's yet to officially re-sign during a summer that has shockingly seen him stumble as a once sought-after free agent.
The other problem is that he's yet to reach his actual potential, as health and production haven't always been in his favor.
Above all else, give credit where credit is due: to Goran Dragic. The guard put up some serious numbers last season, and he's a major reason the Suns were in playoff contention after being projected as one of the worst squads in the conference before the year began.
Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge
25 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 23.2 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 21.84 PER
Age: 29
LaMarcus Aldridge is in his prime, and almost anywhere you look he's considered a top-five player at the power forward position. He averaged career highs last year in points and rebounds, and just as importantly, he's established himself as a leader on a relatively young roster.
The obvious honorable mention here is Damian Lillard. In fact, being in his third season, some will likely have him ahead of Aldridge knowing that he's getting better while the big man has likely hit his ceiling.
That said, the 29-year-old Aldridge hitting his ceiling isn't a bad thing considering he's coming off three straight All-Star Games and a dominant showing in the playoffs.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
26 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 22.7 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.3 BPG, 26.18 PER
Age: 24
Not choosing Rudy Gay here is hardly an indictment on his play in 2013-14. Following the trade to the Sacramento Kings, he proved for the first time in his career that he can be a high-volume scorer while actually remaining efficient.
The problem is that DeMarcus Cousins is becoming so dominant, we can no longer look at him as an "up-and-coming" star.
Despite being just 24 years old, Cousins has become one of the best centers in the NBA. His raw numbers are right up there with the Dwight Howards of the league, and it's gotten to the point where teams have to plan for him specifically on both ends of the court.
From a statistical standpoint, you'd like to see the 6'11", 270-pound big man boost his field-goal percent to above 50 percent—but that's not the team's biggest concern. Getting Cousins to keep his head on straight and show maturity is goal No. 1, and if he can do that in the near future, he'll set himself up to become more of a leader than he's been thus far in his career.
San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker
27 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 16.7 PPG, 5.7 APG, 2.4 RPG, 37.3 3PT%, 19.00 PER
Age: 32
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the toughest teams in the NBA to identify its best player. Why is that, you ask?
Everybody plays so well in the championship system.
Instead of focusing on why Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard could easily qualify (we'll let you, the fans, do that in the comments below), we'll focus on what Tony Parker does so well. Not only did he shoot nearly 50 percent from the floor while nailing a near-career-best three-point percentage, but his stats were recorded in fewer than 30 minutes per contest.
Staying healthy is the key for Parker to remain the best player on the roster, but that holds true for all of the aging stars on this roster, and even the younger ones (Leonard included). At 32, Parker is as crafty as it comes, and while his numbers may drop in his 14th season, his impact on the game won't if he continues playing smart basketball.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
28 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 17.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.7 RPG, 38.0 3PT%, 20.20 PER
Age: 28
When looking at the Toronto Raptors, we're presented with another tough case: Kyle Lowry vs. DeMar DeRozan.
Raw statistics may point to DeRozan if you appreciate points per game (22.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 18.42 PER), but numbers don't tell the whole story. There's a reason Toronto wanted Lowry back as badly as it did, and a big part of that is his experience and general craftiness as a veteran floor general.
DeRozan will compete with Lowry for top honors throughout the year, but when it comes down to it, you can't ignore leadership on this young roster. The team has tasted the playoffs, but if Lowry had bolted in free agency, we'd be looking at this group in a different light entering 2014-15.
Utah Jazz: Gordon Hayward
29 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.2 APG, 5.1 RPG, 16.22 PER
Age: 24
After signing a four-year, $63 million contract this summer, Gordan Hayward better be the best player on the Utah Jazz this season.
Luckily for him, barring a huge leap from Derrick Favors or an all-star campaign from either Dante Exum or Trey Burke, he will be.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune's Kurt Kragthorpe, Hayward isn't worried about the expectations that come with signing such a lucrative deal. "For me," Hayward stated, "I don’t think I have to live up to anything now. They paid me what they wanted to pay me, and let’s go from there..."
Hayward went on to say, "The pressure is trying to win." He's exactly right, and that should be the mentality of the entire roster as it continues to improve.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
30 of 30
2013-14 Stats: 19.3 PPG, 8.8 APG, 4.1 RPG, 19.61 PER
Age: 24
At 24 years old, John Wall has become one of the best point guards in the game when it comes to stuffing stat sheets.
Along with the stats shown above, Wall also recorded 1.8 steals per contest and raised his three-point shooting to 35.1 percent. Both of those numbers are career highs, and he also earned that same accomplishment for points, assists, free-throw percentage and games played (all 82).
If Wall can continue to increase his range, he's going to compete with the likes of Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul as the best point guard in the game. Increasing his field-goal percentage (43.3 percent) will help that cause as well, but winning in a relatively wide open Eastern Conference will be what really makes a difference.
*Unless otherwise noted, all Personal Efficiency Rating (PER) statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.
