Michael Scotto of HoopsHype polled 20 NBA executives on their top three breakout candidates for the 2022/23 season and found that Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey was the most popular pick. While I’d argue that last season represented a breakout year for Maxey, some executives have far higher expectations for him going forward.
“Maxey’s going to be better than James Harden,” one general manager said to Scotto. “He just keeps getting better and better and will be a huge reason why they have success this season.”
Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Magic forward Franz Wagner, and Rockets guard Jalen Green were among the other popular breakout picks, based on the responses Scotto got from executives. Interestingly, Warriors big man James Wiseman and Pistons forward/center Marvin Bagley III were each picked as this year’s top breakout candidate by one GM.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- In his latest look at the top prospects in the 2023 NBA draft class, David Aldridge of The Athletic passes along several entertaining quotes from NBA executives, including one Eastern Conference exec’s response to whether Scoot Henderson could surpass Victor Wembanyama as next year’s No. 1 pick: “Scoot’s good, but, no. Short of Wembanyama having murdered somebody, there’s just no way.”
- Veteran guard Sindarius Thornwell has signed with Frutti Extra Bursasport, the Turkish team announced this week (via Twitter). Thornwell has appeared in 160 total NBA games and played for New Orleans and Atlanta in 2020/21, but wasn’t in the league last season.
- Longtime NBA referee Tony Brown, who officiated over 1,100 games, including one in the 2020 NBA Finals, passed away on Thursday after a fight with pancreatic cancer, according to his family (story via ESPN.com).
Lakers, Draymond, Irving, Wemby, Henderson
Comma much
Jalen Green, Kyle Kuzma & Ant Simons all gonna push for 1st time all star selections. Former teammates DeAndre Hunter, Kevin Huerter & Cam Reddish all gonna have much better #s apart this yr than they did together the past few seasons
Wiseman by the end of the season will be the one everyone is saying i wish he was on my team. If he stays healthy he will have a monster year.
Everybody already wishes Wiseman was on their team. That’s why he went #2 in the draft
What exactly is your definition of a “monster year” for a guy who will be playing 20 minutes or less per game?
Victor Wembanyama is playing a home league game rn, 1st qtr just ended with his team up 4. He hasn’t done much offensively but has at least 2 savage blocks & has been extremely dominant defensively. His mentor Rudy Gobert has won a bunch of DPOYs & is seen by most as the best defender in the league over the past 5yrs. Wembo is a good deal ahead of where Rudy was at the same age tho for numerous reasons. He’ll probably be the best defender to enter the league since Mutombo over 3decades ago & maybe ever.
Is there a package the Warriors could
Give up next year to get the #1 pick? Moody, Kuminga and Wiseman?