By:
Alex Raskin
Last Updated: 5/18/09 6:06 PM ET
| 13108 times read
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Two years ago Rajon Rondo was a backup point guard on a 24-58 team. But after struggling for playing time behind Sebastian Telfair and Delonte West, Rondo is now a walking, talking triple-double with a championship ring on his hand.
It didn't happen overnight, but sometimes it seems like it did.
The same can be said for this year's Most Improved, Danny Granger of the Indiana Pacers. When he began his NBA career he averaged 7.5 ppg. With steady improvements each season, he now scores nearly 26 ppg and has established himself as one of the toughest defensive assignments in basketball.
So, who is the next Granger or Rondo? Here are six players that are poised for stardom next season:
LaMarcus Aldridge
Power Forward
Portland Trail Blazers
It's March 26 and Portland is trying to jockey for a better playoff seed, at home, against Phoenix. The game is mildly close for a half until LaMarcus Aldridge sinks a 20-footer from the wing, a 15-footer from the shoulder and a baby-hook from just beyond the block. Suddenly the Blazers are looking at a 21-point lead going into the fourth and the Suns—who had been riding a six-game win streak—are seeing their playoff hopes dissipate.
Aldridge scored eight of his 11 field goals in the paint that night, but those three aforementioned shots are a window into his future.
"He's still learning to take advantage of what he can do, and I think he can be a dominant force on both ends of the floor," Portland Coach Nate McMillan said to a group of reporters after the game.
With a 6-11 frame, long arms and great athleticism, the former lottery pick out of Texas has always been dangerous near the basket, but Aldridge has also shown the early stages of a deadly jumper. The scary thought for NBA defenders is that Aldridge can shoot it from any distance within 20 feet, pass to any number of capable teammates, or use his long stride and impressive handle to drive to the hole.
Aldridge finished the season averaging 18.1 ppg and 7.5 rpg, but those numbers can easily balloon past 20 and 10 by next year. Once the subject of trade speculation, Aldridge is an emerging All-Star and could be a marquee player in this league for years to come.
Rodney Stuckey
Combo Guard
Detroit Pistons
Rodney Stuckey has already seen his scoring average nearly double from his first season to his second. However, he may need to do that trick again as the Pistons enter a transitional period with him as their premiere talent.
Allen Iverson, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and perhaps even Richard Hamilton could all be out of Detroit by next season and that means the rebuilding project begins with Stuckey.
For him to thrive in the role, he will have to improve his outside shooting. As a rookie Stuckey hit only three 3-pointers. This season he managed to hit 20 but is still under 30 percent from the outside.
Stuckey's bread and butter is his ability to drive to the hoop. He has the athleticism to finish at the rim, the vision to find open shooters and he hits over 80% of his free throws just in case somebody wants to get physical.
His combo-guard talents fit well with Will Bynum and the two should be able to continue their late-season success next year.
Danilo Gallinari
Small Forward
New York Knicks
Depending on which doctor you speak with, Danilo Gallinari's back problems are either not serious or have turned his spine into a ticking time bomb.
The truth, of course, lies somewhere in between. The good news for Knicks fans is that even with the back issues, "The Rooster" still managed to impress this season.
Gallinari hit nearly 45% of his 3-pointers while scoring almost 20 ppg per 48 minutes. Showing great ball-handling and passing ability, Gallinari's game should blossom as his back becomes more flexible.
The most intriguing thing about Gallinari was his defense though. Originally thought to be his greatest weakness, the 20-year-old held his own by using his 6-10 frame to alter shots and cut down passing lanes. There were brief moments this season when Gallinari ended up guarding LeBron James, Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter off of a pick. He wasn't exactly Michael Cooper in those situations, but Gallinari proved he wasn't a defensive slouch either.
If he can put on muscle without straining his back, Gallinari should continue to improve on both sides of the court. He has told HOOPSWORLD that he will train in the United States this offseason in hopes of having a healthier second year.
Thaddeus Young
Combo Forward
Philadelphia 76ers
Beware the ides of March.
Philadelphia forward Thaddeus Young was cruising. After respectable numbers for the season's first four months, Young suddenly struck fire in March, scoring over 21 ppg until March 31.
That night, against Atlanta, Young landed awkwardly on Josh Smith's foot and was forced to miss the next seven games. He averaged 19 ppg over the final two contests of the season, but was far less effective as the 76ers lost to Orlando in the first round of the playoffs.
Once his ankle fully heels, Young should be able to pick up where he left off.
The New Orleans native finished 2008-2009 by averaging 15.3 ppg, 5 rpg, and 1.33 spg while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc.
Young's major area of improvement may come at the free throw line. He shoots a respectable 73.5% from the stripe but only makes 2.5 appearances there per game. With the speed to get to the hoop and the strength to finish when he gets there, Young should draw more fouls in the future—forever changing the way opponents guard him.
Philadelphia fans owe a big "thank you" to former G.M. Billy King.
Michael Beasley
Combo Forward
Miami Heat
The greatest disservice to Michael Beasley's rookie season was that he was playing on a decent team with postseason aspirations. Had the rookie out of Kansas State played on a losing squad, he would have been allowed to pound the ball into the floor, run 20 isolation players per game and generally shoot without consequence.
Beasley, however, plays on a team with one of the best scorers on the planet (Dwyane Wade, not Mark Blount) and started only 18 games this year. When he did play he made the most of it.
Hitting over 40% of his 3-pointers, Beasley proved to be an effective scoring option off the bench. He averaged 13.9 ppg this season and was also fifth overall amongst rookies in Player Efficiency Rating—a good sign that he is producing on the court throughout his 25 minutes per game.
Defense is still his soft spot, but playing on a team with Wade, Udonis Haslem, and Jamario Moon should teach Beasley a thing or two.
The best thing about Beasley seems to be his positive attitude. Many myths about him were dispelled once he put on a uniform and he is a good bet to work himself into a better player.
Kevin Love
Power Forward
Minnesota Timberwolves
On December 28, 2008 there was little debate as to which team got the better end of the Kevin Love-O.J. Mayo deal. The Memphis Grizzlies were holding a dynamic scorer who was good for 20 points on any given night while Minnesota's Love was struggling to crack the starting lineup of a very bad team.
The next night, however, the T-Wolves beat the Grizzlies by 10 as Love went for 17 points and 7 rebounds. From that point on, Love's season caught fire as he finished with the top Player Efficiency Rating of any rookie (18.39).
The voters for the Rookie Game may not have noticed, but Love also finished second in the NBA in terms of offensive rebounding rate and third in overall rebounding rate.
The best part of Love was that he and Al Jefferson seemed to compliment each other perfectly: Jefferson can do most of his damage on the block while Love has the shooting range to burn teams from the high post.
When Jefferson returns from his torn ACL next season, don't be shocked if each member of the tandem averages a double-double.
Alex Raskin covers the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks for HOOPSWORLD in addition to his role as the site's Senior Newslines Editor. Alex also serves as a New York Giants Correspondent for CBSsports.com and an Editorial Producer for MLB.com and MiLB.com.
