2019 NBA Season Preview

New Faces in New Places

How will Brandon Ingram, D’Angelo Russell, Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, and others look like in new jerseys this season?

IT WAS THE WILDEST NBA SUMMER IN YEARS, AND THAT’S NOT EVEN COUNTING THE ACTUAL GAMES. Once the Toronto Raptors were crowned NBA champions, the real fun began with the 2019 Draft and a crazy summer featuring over 40% of the players as free agents. Well over a billion dollars in contracts were given out, and most NBA teams got a complete makeover. Marquee names like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler, and others exchanged jerseys.

All those names had the NBA buzzing all summer. We’ve spent months wondering how Westbrook and Harden will share the ball, what Kemba will look like in green, and how Brow will fit with LeBron while dreaming about Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, Ja Morant, and a talented rookie class.

But other players changed digs this summer too, and many of them have intriguing seasons ahead that could change the look of the NBA landscape. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most interesting New Faces in New Places around the NBA. No rookies or mega stars allowed. What will guys like Brandon Ingram, Josh Richardson, D’Angelo Russell, Kristaps Porzingis, and others look like wearing different jerseys?

Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas

Technically, Porzingis isn’t “new” since he’s been in Dallas all year, but we’ve yet to see him play. Porzingis is intriguing because we finally get to see him play with a real coach in a real system with real teammates.

When we last saw him in early 2018, KP was averaging 22.7ppg with an NBA-leading 6.4% block rate, but he was terribly inefficient. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis somehow made only 47% of his twos, largely because under 20% of his shots came at the rim while a whopping 43% of his shots were from the mid-range. That’s 381 possessions KP wasted on inefficient shots, scoring 320 points on 42% true shooting. Porzingis did what he wanted, and he wanted points in meaningless games, so he shot early and often.

That won’t happen under Rick Carlisle. Already, Porzingis is taking over 8 threes a game this preseason, and he’s going to get way more than 20% of his looks at the rim playing pick-and-roll with Luka Doncic. What does a well-coached, modernized Kristaps Porzingis look like?

This was the original unicorn before The Ringer ruined the moniker, a genuine giant that blocks shots and makes threes. The Bucks created a new center role in Brook Lopez, dropping to protect the rim on D and bombing threes on offense. Has there ever been a better prototype for that role than Porzingis?

The entire Mavericks roster is interesting, with many new pieces. Delon Wright is the perfect fit next to Luka Doncic. Seth Curry is the shooter they’ve been missing. Boban is the Frankenstein monster Rick Carlisle will know when to release. But Porzingis is the star-in-waiting, and we’ve been waiting four years to see what he can really be. It’s time to find out.

Josh Richardson, Philadelphia

Al Horford is new in Philly too, but Richardson’s more interesting. Last year for Miami, JRich was a borderline All-Star playing an outsize role. He put up 17/4/4 but saw his defense decline with the bigger offensive load.

This year Richardson will be the fifth option, but that doesn’t make him unimportant. It means he will be unleashed again doing what he does best as the overqualified 3-and-D fifth man. Richardson has a career 37% three-point percentage, and he’s always been a terrific wing defender.

But he’s more than that. Richardson’s playmaking abilities have improved each year. Until Ben Simmons can shoot or handle in crunch time, this team needs a new Jimmy Butler, a crunch time playmaker. Richardson might be that guy. He’s averaged 4.5 assists per game this preseason to 5.0 for Simmons, so he’s certainly been more than 3-and-D.

And what about the 3 part? Richardson leads the Sixers in preseason threes, but he’s not going to replace J.J. Redick. And maybe that’s okay. Redick is an elite shooter who needs an offensive system built around his ability to run around screens and get open. Richardson isn’t that, and perhaps that means a more fluid offense with all five guys handling and able to create.

And that’s really what’s most intriguing about Josh Richardson — it’s that he’s the fifth starter. JRich is on the short list of most talented fifth starters in NBA history. NBA defense is a weakest link game, and Richardson over Redick is a night-and-day improvement. There’s no one left on defense to hunt, with length at every position. Josh Richardson will fill the role Jimmy Butler was always meant to be but never deigned himself to take on.

D’Angelo Russell, Golden State

Outside of Russell Westbrook in Houston, there may not be a more confusing signing than D’Angelo Russell. What exactly is DLo? He’s an All-Star who exploded for 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in the final year of his rookie deal, and now he has a max contract with the Warriors to show for it.

Unlike Nets teammate Spencer Dinwiddie who thrives in the pick-and-roll, Russell is more of an isolation scorer. And that makes him a rather interesting fit in Golden State where the ball typically zips around the horn and finds the open shooter. Russell is used to finding his own shot. How successful will he be when he has less of the ball? Any DLo touch is one Curry isn’t making, and don’t forget Draymond Green leads this team in assists.

One thing Russell will improve immensely is the Warriors bench offense. Klay Thompson never thrived with the bench unit since he can’t create his own shot as well as DLo. Russell will lead the bench offense for 14 minutes a game while Steph and Dray sit. But what about the 18 minutes he shares with them?

Only half of Russell’s threes were assisted, and just 15% of his twos. What he really did well was dominate the ball, jacking 19 shots a game and taking and making a ton of mid-range shots. Even in a breakout campaign, Russell made only 48% of his twos with 53% true shooting. He attempted only 2.5 free throws a game, opting instead for his patented mid-range pull-up. Russell is only a 35% career shooter behind the arc. What happens if more of his shots come from there and if he has less opportunity to pull up?

Russell is a far worse defender than Thompson, so he won’t hide Curry as well on that end. He’ll have to make it up offensively, and obviously not with his shooting. Golden State shoots more from the mid-range than you’d think. They were only eighth in the league in three-point attempts last year and 17th the year before. What will this offense look like with DLo? What value can he bring off the ball? And what value can he add with the ball off a career-high 41% assist rate with the greatest shooter in history running off a screen?

The Warriors offense will be very different. That doesn’t mean it will be bad.

Mike Conley, Utah

We already know what Mike Conley is, and at age 32, the die is mostly cast. If Conley finally makes an All-Star team, it won’t be because his counting numbers go up. Conley has 25 points and 13 assists in three preseason games, and he’ll shoot and handle less than ever on this team.

But that’s precisely what makes Conley interesting. It’s not what he is but what he adds to this team. Ricky Rubio was never the right fit for a team that wants the ball in Donovan Mitchell’s hands. Rubio’s value is with the ball making plays, but he’s worth little off-ball. Conley is a career 37.5% three-point shooter and could see his career extended in a more off-ball role. He’s also a far better finisher at the rim than Rubio, so he can be valuable cutting and moving off-ball, too.

Conley will be efficient — we know that — but his presence might unlock Mitchell’s next step, too. Instead of holding the ball with six defensive eyes on him and driving into a crowded lane with Rubio and Derrick Favors watching, Spida can drive and kick to Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, thriving in all the extra space they’ll leave him.

Conley can also create even more clean looks at the rim for Rudy Gobert, already one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history. Conley’s pick-and-roll ability will add a new dimension since defenses never had to respect Rubio or Mitchell shooting over the top but will have to with Conley. Don’t forget, Conley has never played with a guard as talented as Mitchell either. He spent most of his Memphis years next to guys like Tony Allen and Courtney Lee. This will be the most talent all of these guys have played with.

Ricky Rubio, Phoenix

Rubio is interesting for many of the same reasons. Rubio isn’t going to magically transform into a different player, but he can unlock something new in Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton.

Booker effectively played point last year, averaging 6.8 assists a game. What does a more efficient, lower-usage Booker look like? For all his presumed shooting, Booker shot under 33% on threes last year. What can that number rise to with Rubio creating looks for him, and can his two-point percentage continue to rise or will Booker’s efficiency fall with fewer opportunities to drive to the rim and draw fouls?

Rubio should also mean better looks for Ayton. For all the things Ricky Rubio isn’t, he remains one of the game’s elite passers. What can Ayton be with two guards creating easy baskets for him? In 2019, big men get their efficiency from the guards they play with. Rudy Gobert was one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA with Rubio. Can Ayton move in that direction?

For years, Phoenix has excused their horrid play because they didn’t have a real point guard leading the team, with names like Tyler Johnson, Isaiah Canaan, Elfrid Payton, and Tyler Ulis filling in. Rubio is an adult who will effectively run the team and add defense at the point of attack.

Booker and Ayton now have a real NBA point guard and quality wings around them. This is the team Phoenix wanted to build them. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time. No more excuses.

Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana

Brogdon is yet another point guard on the list — or is he? Brogdon averaged just 3.2 assists per game last year as the ultimate role player, but he’ll have a very different role for Indiana as the only real playmaking starter, with scorers like Jeremy Lamb and T.J. Warren not exactly Giannis Antetokounmpo out there.

Brogdon is every nerd’s darling after shooting 50/40/90, but not all 50/40/90 seasons are created equal. Brogdon had the third lowest usage rate of any such season, much more Steve Kerr than Steph Curry. Almost all his looks were created by others in an uber-efficient Milwaukee offense that also saw career years for Brook Lopez and Eric Bledsoe. There’s a reason Giannis and Budenholzer won MVP and Coach of the Year, after all. What happens to Brogdon outside of that perfectly aligned ecosystem?

For the first time in Brogdon’s career, he’ll be a focal point, needing to create for both himself and others. How much will those 50/40/90 percentages drop when Brogdon has to create for himself? Can he maintain his elite efficiency as he scales up into a higher-usage role?

Then, just as we’re getting answers to that question, the whole equation shifts again once Victor Oladipo returns. The Brogdon-Oladipo partnership makes a ton of sense and puts Brogdon back into a far more comfortable off the ball. Can he blossom in the meantime, or will he struggle in a bigger spotlight?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City

SGA is another point guard that might not actually be a point guard. Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t exactly the lead handler for the Clippers as a rookie, and he’s going to see even less of the ball with Chris Paul is around. But maybe that’s okay. Maybe SGA isn’t the next great point guard. Maybe he’s a budding star wing instead.

Gilgous-Alexander has only two assists in three preseason games, but he’s leading the team in scoring at 19.3ppg. Preseason numbers only mean so much, but that’s a transformative role to what he did for the Clippers. SGA has attempted 5 threes and taken 5 free throws a game this preseason. Those numbers are way up from 1.7 and 2.4 with L.A., and they mean a more aggressive, attacking Gilgeous-Alexander, using his wile and length to slither to the rim and finish with alacrity.

If Oklahoma City actually wants to push for the playoffs this year and gets healthy campaigns from CP3 and Danilo Gallinari, Gilgeous-Alexander might be the X factor. OKC hasn’t had an exciting young wing since James Harden. SGA is the future of this team — but he might also be the present.

Hassan Whiteside, Portland

Whiteside has long been a curse word, and Miami fans are already counting his absence as addition by subtraction. Whiteside posted 17 points and 14 boards a game just three season ago and 3.7 blocks a game the year before that, but he has a reputation as a non-team player whose value doesn’t match the production. Enter Portland’s culture.

The Blazers are rolling the dice on Whiteside as a bet on themselves and a half-season gamble until Jusuf Nurkic is healthy, and it just might pay off. Portland centers play drop defense, camouflaging Whiteside’s struggles on the perimeter and keeping him near the basket where he can rebound and block shots, playing to his strengths. Whiteside is better at both than Nurkic, and he’s a more efficient scorer and turns the ball over less.

Nurkic is a far better passer (aka, he actually passes) and absorbed more post possessions than Whiteside will, but more touches for other Blazers is a good thing and Whiteside adds a vertical threat diving to the rim on the PNR. Whiteside has always had elite raw talent and game. Portland could be the perfect role and team culture for him to thrive.

Jerami Grant, Denver

If you were going to design the perfect power forward to play next to Nikola Jokic, it might look a lot like Jerami Grant — an athletic four that can block shots, guard the perimeter, stretch the defense, and finish at the rim.

Grant was quietly one of the league’s most improved players last season, in part because of his newfound shooting. After averaging 40 threes a year at 30% shooting for his career, Grant suddenly hit 115 threes at 39%. That’s not just passable; it’s downright good. Grant is an athletic freak with the athleticism to guard all five positions. He looks like the perfect fit, in theory.

But Paul Millsap does a lot of other things well, even if the athleticism is gone. He’s a super smart defender who plays outstanding team defense, and his IQ and positioning could be more valuable on this team than Grant’s sheer athleticism. Millsap is also a far better rebounder and passer. Oklahoma City was a perfect fit for Grant’s explosive athleticism and recovery ability, but a healthy Millsap helped unlock this Denver team in a breakout campaign.

Both Millsap and Grant are in the final year of their contracts, while Michael Porter Jr. is finally healthy and has looked good this preseason. One of them is Denver’s future at the four next to Jokic. They have 82 games to decide.

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans

Almost the entire Pels roster is new, but Ingram is the biggest swing piece for their future. New Orleans went from a pouty Anthony Davis to the best future setup in the NBA overnight, and Ingram is just one of a plethora of young pieces and picks they can build around. But he’s the one they have the most imminent decision on since he’s in the final year of his contract.

What is Ingram’s best NBA role? Last season, he had a stretch where he averaged 28 points and 7.5 boards. The previous season he slashed 19/5/5.5 over almost a full month. Ingram was at his best in both situations without Lonzo Ball or another traditional point guard, with way more time on the ball.

There’s a faint whiff of Andrew Wiggins there — a player that can score heaps with the ball but blends in with the crowd in a lower-usage role. Ingram isn’t going to get to play point on a team with Ball, Jrue Holiday, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and that Zion guy… at least not with the starters. But he could be a jackknife weapon off the bench, maybe even a Sixth Man of the Year contender, if he accepts that role. It’s a tough sell in a contract year.

That contract is the big decision hanging over New Orleans’s season. Right now, the Pels are set up swimmingly for summer 2021 with Zion and all the other young pieces and oodles of cap room when half the league’s superstars will be free agents. But the wrong Ingram contract could sidle Zion with his own Wiggins if the Pelicans aren’t careful.

Ingram is a young 22, so the future is still unknown, but the Pelicans have to decide whether to commit to it soon. Otherwise he could be flipped at the deadline to another team that wants a piece of his future. ■

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