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Carrying the Momentum: NBA Players with Breakout Potential This Season
ProFitX Staff – 10/20/22
Late in the 2021-22 season, there were quite a few players that finished strong. Whether that was due to teammates being injured, a new situation, or a bigger spotlight, that late season momentum can be carried throughout the summer and into this season. This momentum building is ultimately what results in players earning large paydays over time. Which players have the chance to break out in the 2022-23 campaign if they can carry forward the momentum from last season? Anfernee Simons (Portland Trail Blazers) The campaign that Simons had last season was simply spectacular. Following the injury of Damian Lillard, he stepped up as the primary scoring option in Portland, producing 23.4 points and 5.8 assists while knocking down 42.3% of his 10.4 3-point attempts during his last 27 games. These numbers earned Simons a four-year, $100 contract in offseason. If he continues improving at this rate, he could be worth much more than his brand new deal as early as this season.
Wendell Carter Jr. (Orlando Magic)
In Carter’s first full season with the Magic, he was highly productive and averaged a double-double with 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest. Orlando has one of the best young frontcourts in the NBA with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner playing alongside Carter.
With the roster the Magic are building, Carter is set up for major success. Similar to last season, he should only get better as the season goes on.
Jalen Smith (Indiana Pacers)
While many started to doubt the former lottery pick during last season, Smith being traded from the Suns to the Pacers completely changed that narrative. As soon as he got to Indiana, the center’s value skyrocketed exponentially.
Following that mid-season trade, Smith’s numbers nearly doubled in every category as he finished the season averaging 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in a Pacers uniform. Especially if Myles Turner gets traded this season, Smith could really prove to be worth much more than the three-year, $15.3 million deal he just signed in the offseason.
Trey Murphy (New Orleans Pelicans)
When New Orleans got put into the spotlight last season during the playoffs, Murphy shined bright. Even before that, he averaged over ten points per contest while shooting better than 45% from deep during the last several weeks of the regular season.
Similar to Pokusevski, Murphy added over ten pounds of weight during the offseason and might have potentially grown taller too. The 6-foot-9 wing is emerging as a key piece for a Pelicans team that wants to do big things this season.