#40 Pascal Siakam – PF – Toronto Raptors
2020-21 Stats: 21.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.1 STL, 0.7 BLK, 45.5 FG%, 29.7 3P%
With Kyle Lowry gone, all the weight of the Toronto Raptors’ franchise falls on the shoulders of Pascal Siakam. To this point in his career, the versatile forward has been an All-Star, he was the 2018-19 Most Improved Player and was instrumental to the Raptors capturing their first championship in 2019, but can he be any better?
At 27-years-old, Pascal Siakam may have already reached the peak of his career. He is out to begin the year as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, but when he returns, the Raptors are going to need Siskam to take over the mantle as being the leader of this team. First, it was DeMar DeRozan, then it was Kawhi Leonard and then it was Kyle Lowry.
Now, it is Pascal Siakam’s turn to prove his worth to this franchise, and given his abilities to impact the game on both ends of the floor, he should once again have a chance to earn a spot in the All-Star game.
#39 Nikola Vucevic – C – Chicago Bulls
2020-21 Stats: 23.4 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.9 STL, 0.7 BLK, 47.1 FG%, 38.8 3P%
There is no question that Nikola Vucevic is one of the best scoring big men in the league, but his presence on defense is definitely something to monitor in Chicago. Defensively, Vucevic has not really been a presence throughout his career, but for the Bulls to be successful, he is going to have to shift some attention to being a reliable post defender.
Given his abilities to score virtually from anywhere on the floor and now with Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan on the team, Vucevic should continue to find ways to be a 20-plus point per game scorer for the Bulls. Chicago is a team to watch in the Eastern Conference this year because of the fact that they have a playoff-caliber roster, but have not been to the postseason in four seasons.
#38 Jamal Murray – PG – Denver Nuggets
2020-21 Stats: 21.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.3 STL, 47.7 FG%, 40.8 3P%, 86.9 FT%
Jamal Murray suffered a torn left ACL on April 13, 2021, against the Golden State Warriors and there is no timetable yet for his potential return this season. However, this should not take away from what kind of player Jamal Murray is.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: NBA Top 75 Player Rankings For 2021-22 Season: From 75 to 51
In the 2020 NBA Bubble, Murray emerged as one of the better scoring guards in the league, and last season, he continued to improve as an offensive weapon, averaging career-highs in points, field goal percentage, and three-point shooting percentage. He has also averaged 4.8 assists per game each of the last three years, proving that he is also a worthy facilitator and playmaker next to Nikola Jokic in Denver.
He may very well be held out until March 2022, but whenever he comes back, expect Murray to play at a high level, especially since the Nuggets will need this version of him in order to contend for a title.
#37 C.J. McCollum – SG – Portland Trail Blazers
2020-21 Stats: 23.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.7 APG, 0.9 STL, 45.8 FG%, 40.2 3P%, 81.2 FT%
Always known as the “Robin” to Damian Lillard’s “Batman”, C.J. McCollum has really started to come into his own over the last few seasons and is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high in points per game, as well as shooting over 40% from three-point range for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: NBA Top 75 Player Rankings For 2021-22 Season: From 75 to 51
McCollum missed a month last season due to a broken left foot, but he still managed to put up All-Star-like numbers on offense. The 2021-22 season proves to be a big year for C.J. McCollum and the Portland Trail Blazers, especially given all the recent rumors this past offseason about Damian Lillard possibly already having one foot out the door.
Seeing as they did not trade McCollum in the offseason, it is reasonable to believe he is still a part of their long-term plans with Lillard, but anything can happen when the trade deadline rolls around! If Portland looks to try and upgrade their overall talent, C.J. McCollum could wind up being the “odd-man-out”.
#36 Kyle Lowry – PG – Miami Heat
2020-21 Stats: 17.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.0 STL, 43.6 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 87.5 FT%
Miami recently made the 2020 NBA Finals, but they are coming off a 40-32 season last year in which they got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo needed some more help, so Pat Riley and this Heat front-office went out and landed 6x All-Star and potential Hall-of-Famer, Kyle Lowry.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: NBA Top 75 Player Rankings For 2021-22 Season: From 75 to 51
Given his ability to draw charges and be an all-out player in terms of hustle on both ends of the floor, Lowry is a perfect fit in Erik Spoelstra’s system. The Heat now has a new “Big 3” with Butler, Adebayo, and Lowry that will most definitely contend for a Top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
When you talk about high-IQ players in this league, it is hard not to bring up Kyle Lowry’s name, as he has always been one of the most consistent, All-Star-level players of his generation. He won a title with Toronto in 2019 and nearing the end of his career, Lowry will look to do the same in South Beach.
