Pistons guard Cade Cunningham tops the list of potential breakout candidates for the upcoming season, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. Cunningham, who missed most of last season with a shin injury, dazzled while playing this month for the USA Select Team.
Wizards guard Tyus Jones, who has a chance to start after serving as a backup with the Timberwolves and Grizzlies, and Trail Blazers second-year wing Shaedon Sharpe, who put up big numbers late last season, are among the other players who make Cowley’s list.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Cooper Flagg’s decision to reclassify makes a significant impact on the 2025 draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. The 2025 draft wasn’t considered particularly strong, so with Flagg eligible to be taken that season, that group now has more star power. Despite his unorthodox game built around defense and passing, rather than scoring prowess, Flagg is the early favorite to be the top pick of that draft.
- J.P. Macura is signing with Happy Casa Brindisi of Italy, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (Twitter link). Macura made three cameo appearances in the NBA — two games with the Hornets in 2018/19 and one with the Cavaliers the following season. Macura has played the last two seasons in Italy after a one-year stop in Turkey.
- Dwyane Wade, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on Saturday, wasn’t a slam dunk to be selected by the Heat in the lottery in 2003, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes. Team president Pat Riley said the club was in need of a big but when Toronto took Chris Bosh, Wade slipped to Miami’s pick at No. 5 overall.
Cooper Flagg is definitely a big time scorer too. He can do it all.. as far as breakout guys for next season, Jalen Johnson gotta be top of the list but James Wiseman, MarJon Beauchamp, Ant Simons & Mark Williams all prime candidates as well… link to m.youtube.com
I still remember the 2003 draft (it was the first time the Heat had been in the lottery in the Riley era)… I was dying for TJ Ford… I thought he was the next big PG and the heat were a PG away (not a big man as they had just signed Lamar Odom and Brian Grant was still there)… Wade’s pick confused everyone watcing (even the ESPN crew covering it) because as they put it “The Heat needed a PG, can Wade play the point?”…. happiest I’ve ever been to be so wrong… Ford was decent not great.. and Wade changed the entire franchise.
I have 20 players that I think are do for breakout seasons. I’ll break down the reasons why.
David Roddy
Keegan Murray
Cameron Johnson
Kenyon Martin Jr.
Austin Reaves
Oneyka Okungwu
Scottie Barnes
Grant Williams
Obi Toppin
Tyus Jones
Paolo Banchero
Jalen Suggs
Shaedon Sharpe
Mark Williams
Alperen Sengun
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jalen Green
Tre Jones
Cade Cunningham
Jalen Duren
David Roddy has a chance to be the starting Small Forward for the Memphis Grizzlies now that Dillon Brooks is on the Houston Rockets. He brings a lot of physicality and his minutes should be up while Ja Morant serves his 25 game suspension.
Keegan Murray is a special talent and should be the number 3 option behind Fox & Sabonis.
Cameron Johnson will be one of the Brooklyn Nets building blocks and should be the 2nd option behind Mikal Bridges.
Kenyon Martin Jr. should be able to win the starting Power Forward position and play a big role for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Austin Reaves is going to be a full time starter with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He’s going to have the ball in his hands a lot and he has the complete package.
Oneyka Okungwu is very nice and has a chance to shine under Quin Snyder. Then the jury still out if Clint Capela gets traded he’s really going to go off.
Scottie Barnes is going to have the ball in his hands much more now that Fred Van Vleet is gone to the Houston Rockets and that’s when he’s at his best. He had a sophomore slump but he’s ready to break back out.
Grant Williams going to the Dallas Mavericks is one of the best moves of the offseason. He’s everything they need. He has a chance to be the third option and get plenty open looks off Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Then he is going to be their top defensive player.
Obi Toppin needs to win the starting Power Forward position. If he do that playing off Tyrese Haliburton and playing next to Myles Turner will do wonders for his career. Then he’s in a contract year. Look out!!!
Tyus Jones will be the starting Point Guard for the Washington Wizards and do for a breakout season. He’s been the best backup Point Guard to me for a few seasons. Now I’m interested to see what he can do running the show. His main focus will be making life easier for Jordan Poole & Kyle Kuzma.
Paolo Banchero might come to y’all as a surprise pick but to me I know he won Rookie of the Year but this guy has Superstar talent and it’s written all over him. I honestly think all his numbers across the board will go up this season and the Orlando Magic should be competing for a play in spot.
Jalen Suggs is gradually getting better and better and I expect him to do the same again this year. If his outside shot can become more consistent he will be able to wrestle the starting Shooting Guard position away from Gary Harris.
Shaedon Sharpe is oozing with talent and potential. He has all the makings of a two way wing the NBA is forever talking about. Him and Scoot Henderson are two highlight reels waiting to happen.
Mark Williams will be the Charlotte Hornets full time starting Center and having a healthy LaMelo Ball back will also help him out tremendously. I see him becoming a great defensive player.
Alperen Sengun Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green are going to be the three starters along with Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks and they all have a chance to be special. Then I see the Houston Rockets winning way more games than last season. With winning comes recognition and they will get that. This team is something to watch for. I’m excited for my boy Ime Udoka.
Tre Jones is going to start and is very solid. He just needs to work on getting his 3pt% up. Him and Victor Wembanyama in the pick and roll is something I’m looking forward to.
Cade Cunningham is on his way to superstar status and Monty Williams will definitely make him see it through. He’s somebody that will be in the Most Improved Player discussion.
Jalen Duren is a beast and a dog!!!! I love his game and feels like he’s special. Something tells me he’s going to end up having a household name. Between Cade Cunningham Jalen Duren Isaiah Stewart Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson the Detroit Pistons future has to be as bright as any young team.
the effort alone. +
Agreed. ++
Really, really good list. I’m a bit less on Roddy, but only because I think he needs more time. He’ll be awesome no doubt. I just don’t know if it’ll be this year. The physicality is really good, but he’s a bit slow still, and doesn’t have much of a jumper. But with Clarke out for the year and a committee at SF, he’ll get plenty of reps to prove himself.
I’ll also add a couple guys.
Isaiah Mobley, who I’m 100% sure will be the primary backup big for the Cavs, playing 25+ minutes a game by the end of the season. Can play both frontcourt spots and shoot, and his physicality and hustle are both great. He’s a less athletic but more polished version of his younger brother.
Honestly, I expect multiple Wizards to break out or improve this year in addition to Tyus. Gafford should get more run as the primary Center. Kispert, if he’s more aggressive, could become a 3-level scorer (he’s already a monster off the catch and sneaky good at cutting and driving). Avdija has a lot to prove and more opportunity than ever this season. The Wizards should be interesting to watch.
Christian Braun on the Nugs should get most of the reps that would have gone to Bruce Brown, and he’s going to be good. Elite defensive instincts, and he showed flashes on offense too.
And finally, Ochai Agbaji should get the attention he should’ve had last year. Elite shooting and cutting and he was stronger on defense than many thought he would be. Once he got consistent reps, he was really solid. And I expect that to continue.
Add Corey Kispert, the fact Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole are trash defenders and Kispert tries on defense and plays efficiently on offense should lend to him playing 30 minutes a night.
I was so mad the Heat won their last game of the season in 2002, against Toronto. I knew that meant they wouldnt get Bosh. Good thing they won that game