Enes Kanter Demands Trade Following Benching

A disgruntled Enes Kanter sounded off on Wednesday night after getting no playing time in the New York Knicks’ loss to the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden.

“I want to play basketball,” Kanter said, after receiving a Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision (DNP-CD) on Wednesday. “If you’re going to play me here, play me. Or if not, then just get me out of here.”

With starting center Luke Kornet sidelined with an ankle injury, Kanter was expected to see substantial playing time against Houston. In fact, head coach David Fizdale told Kanter on Wednesday morning that the big man would start. Later in the day, however, assistant coach Keith Smart relayed the news that Kanter was likely headed for a DNP-CD.

Kanter wants out of New York. (John E. Sokolowski/USA Today Sports)

The decision to start Noah Vonleh was “frustrating” for Kanter. Fizdale said he started Vonleh in an attempt to slow down Rockets superstar guard James Harden in pick-and-roll situations. That obviously did not work, as Harden erupted for a career-high 61 points in Houston's 114-110 victory.

Kanter was informed by Fizdale last week that the Knicks planned to play young centers Kornet and Mitchell Robinson more moving forward. Still, Kanter was irritated by the fact that he was told he would start versus Houston, only to ride the pine for the entire contest.

"My job right now is just cheer for my teammates and try to be a good teammate, [but] what they're doing to me is pretty messed up. I deserve way better," Kanter said.

The 26-year-old Kanter is clearly not a part of the long-term plans for the rebuilding Knicks. Locked in a youth movement, the Knicks see no reason to play the seven-year veteran, an awful defender. He ranks 66th out of 67 centers in ESPN's defensive real plus-minus.

Teams interested in Kanter will be drawn to his scoring and rebounding abilities. He averages 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest.

Kanter wants out of New York, changing his tune from last month when he met with Knicks general manager Scott Perry and expressed his frustration with being removed from the starting unit—but indicated his desire to remain with the franchise.

A free agent at the end of the season, Kanter would like to be moved before the NBA’s trade deadline on Feb. 7.

Rockets' Role Players Shrink in Game 1 Loss

The Golden State Warriors demonstrated on Monday night why it is such a grueling task to defeat them come playoff time. The opposition must execute close to perfection. The Houston Rockets failed to do that in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and now face a must-win contest on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center.

James Harden, expected to be named the league’s Most Valuable Player, performed at an MVP level—but so did Kevin Durant in the Warriors' 119-106 victory. While Harden scored a game-best 41 points, Durant recorded 37 of his own. Chris Paul, who posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and two steals, was on par with two-time MVP Stephen Curry (18 points, eight assists, two steals and one block).

Review of the game tape and a quick glance at the box score shows that both teams’ superstar duos came to play and essentially offset one another other. But the remaining cast of the Warriors severely outplayed Houston’s. There lies the problem for the Rockets. They don’t have the depth of talent to go neck-and-neck with the Warriors. No NBA team does.

On a night where the Rockets needed Clint Capela (who is far more than just a role player, as these playoffs have shown, but still clearly playing third fiddle to Harden and Paul) to dominate on both ends, he was instead held in check. Houston's center scored just 12 points (mostly off alley-oops) and had just six rebounds—the same amount as Curry.

P.J. Tucker, fresh off scoring 19 and 15 in his last two playoff contests, respectively, had one measly point. He missed all three field goal attempts and went 1-of-3 shooting from the charity stripe. Luc Mbah a Moute couldn’t muster a single point on 0-for-6 shooting, while Trevor Ariza registered just eight points.

Trevor Ariza struggled mightily against the Warriors in Game 1. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)

The aforementioned forwards need to hit outside jumpers for Houston to have a chance this series. Tucker, Mbah a Moute and Ariza went a combined 1-for-9 from behind the arc. They didn’t make an impact on the glass (11 rebounds combined) and had no answer for Durant.

Ariza picked up his fifth foul less than three minutes into the second half. Tucker ended up spending the most time guarding Durant, who used his height to shoot over the top of Tucker. Mbah a Moute actually has the length to defend Durant, but struggled against him in limited chances and put forth a brutal overall showing—as evidenced by his game-worst minus -14 in 20 minutes of action.

Eric Gordon was the only non-star to deliver on offense for the Rockets. The 2017 Sixth Man of the Year had 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes. However, he turned the ball over four times, struggled on the defensive end and posted a minus-10.

So while Houston relied on Capela, Gordon, Tucker, Mbah a Moute and Ariza to aid its superstar duo, Golden State leaned on the likes of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala to compliment its superstar pair. Advantage, Golden State.

Thompson had a field day, hitting six treys en route to a 28-point showing, while Green delivered his typical all-around offensive performance (five points, nine rebounds, a team-high nine assists) and stellar defense, which included a couple of steals and blocks.

Iguodala didn’t have nearly the statistical output as Thompson and Green, but his insertion into the starting unit (their “death lineup”) caused all sorts of problems for the Rockets, who were forced to sit Capela during some important stretches of the game to combat Golden State’s smaller unit.

The Rockets are counting on guys outside of Paul and Harden to come through in Game 2. If they don’t, the Rockets will likely be staring at an 0-2 series deficit, which all but ends their upset hopes.

Timberwolves' Disappointing Season Ends in Game 5 Rout

            The Minnesota Timberwolves reached the postseason for the first time since 2004. Two of their players, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, represented the franchise at the 2018 All-Star festivities. And yet by most measures, this was a dissatisfying season for the Wolves.

            Finishing eighth in the conference and grabbing just one playoff win cannot be considered a success for a team expected to post a top-5 record in the West. The Houston Rockets dispatched the Wolves in five games in the first round of the 2018 postseason, culminating with a convincing 122-104 Game 5 win on Wednesday night. Three of the contests in the series were blowouts, including a Game 4 home loss for Minnesota in which they allowed 50 points in the third quarter.

James Harden and Chris Paul, Houston’s star-studded backcourt, outperformed the Wolves’ duo of Towns and Butler.

Towns was even outplayed by his center counterpart Clint Capela, who is one of the league’s most improved players this season. Capela brought more energy on both sides of the court.

Capela recorded 24 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the opening playoff game. Towns had just eight points in the 104-101 Game 1 loss for Minnesota, which missed a golden opportunity to steal home court advantage from the top-seeded Rockets. 

Closing out the series in strong fashion, Capela registered game highs in points (26) and rebounds (15), going 12-of-14 from the field in Game 5. For the series, Capela posted better offensive statistics than Towns—something few could have predicted before the series began. He had averages of 15.8 points and 14.2 rebounds, compared to 15.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per contest for Towns.

Capela outplayed Towns for the majority of the series. (Michael Ciago/Houston Chronicle)

Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins failed to make a significant impact for the Wolves all series, a microcosm of his underwhelming season. The 23-year-old signed a massive contract extension in October—a 5-year, $145.6 million deal that kicks in next season. He remains one of the league’s weakest defenders and offers little outside of scoring.

Butler is eligible for a maximum contract extension in the summer of 2019 and Towns will eventually command a max deal as well. That means the Wolves will feature Towns, Butler and Wiggins for the foreseeable future—a “Big 3” that pales in comparison to the league’s most dominant trios.

            While Tom Thibodeau helped the Wolves reach the postseason, the 2012 NBA Coach of the Year has ran into the same problems as he did in Chicago. This is fitting given that, as the team's president of basketball operations, Thibodeau acquired some of his former Bulls players, including Butler, Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks. He still plays his starters far too long. Towns and Wiggins ranked in the top-15 in total minutes played, while Butler (who missed 23 games this season) ranked in the top-10 in minutes (36.7) per contest. Gibson averaged 33.3 minutes per game.

Thibodeau was frustrated throughout most of Minnesota's five playoff contests. (Jim Mone/AP)

            Thibodeau was brought in for his supposed defensive prowess, but the Wolves ranked 17^th in points allowed per game. Towns has the potential to improve defensively, but Wiggins seems hopeless on that side of the ball and he is under contract through the 2022-23 season.

            The Wolves broke their 14-year playoff drought. But if this season is any indication, they are far from being title contenders.

Rockets' Morey Tops Celtics' Ainge for Executive of the Year

Danny Ainge pulled off the firework offseason that the Boston Celtics had promised fans for years in the summer of 2017. A decade after acquiring future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in separate trades, Ainge landed perennial All-Star Kyrie Irving in a blockbuster deal with the rival Cleveland Cavaliers and signed All-Star Gordon Hayward to the most lucrative contract in franchise history.

Not only did Ainge acquire Irving and Hayward, he also fleeced the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that netted Jayson Tatum and a future first-round pick. Tatum is expected to finish third in Rookie of the Year voting, while the 76ers traded up for the top pick with Boston to select Markelle Fultz, who had a disastrous first season in the league and even forgot how to shoot.

Danny Ainge acquired two All-Stars this offseason. (Elise Amendola/AP Photo)

Boston's offseason changes also included the free agent signings of big men Aron Baynes and Daniel Theis, in addition to the initially-scrutinized trade with the Detroit Pistons that swapped Avery Bradley for Marcus Morris. It was arguably an A+ summer for Ainge—yet his offseason excellence shouldn’t earn him the Executive of the Year award. Instead that honor should go to Daryl Morey, the Houston Rockets general manager.

It’s an unfair reality that Hayward only played one game for the Celtics. A freak injury suffered to his leg on opening night sidelined him for the entire season and robbed him of the chance to contribute for the Celtics. Unlike Hayward, Morey’s prized offseason addition, Chris Paul, made a splash in his first season in Houston and helped lead the Rockets to the best record in the NBA.

Morey brought Paul to Houston in a stunning trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul and MVP favorite James Harden, who Morey landed in a trade in the 2012 offseason, formed a dynamic duo that spearheaded the best regular season mark (65-17) in franchise history.

Harden—the league’s leader in scoring and player efficiency rating (PER)—and Paul are easily the best backcourt court in basketball. They average a combined 49.0 points and 16.7 assists per contest. Paul has posted a 55% effective field goal percentage, while Harden owns a 54.1% mark.

Paul was just one of the widely successful offseason moves Morey made. The bench was bolstered through the signings of defensive stalwarts P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute. Tucker and Mbah a Moute have built the Rockets into a top-eight defense. Tucker and Mbah a Moute allow the Rockets to hide guys like Harden and Eric Gordon on the defensive end, both of whom have struggled  in times on that side of the ball.

Daryl Morey has built the Rockets into a championship contender. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

In rare occasions, the Rockets have used Mbah a Moute and Tucker at the 5 and 4, respectively. When doing so, Houston has outpaced opponents by 38.4 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass. This could be a lineup utilized for stretches when the Rockets inevitably play the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The Rockets will counter the Warriors’ “death lineup”—which features Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green—with the length of Mbah a Moute and Tucker, rotating in-and-out starting small forward Trevor Ariza.

Morey managed to augment the bench during the season, too. He inked free agent guard/forward Gerald Green to a 1-year, veteran minimum deal in late December. The 32-year-old Green emerged as a reliable scorer off the bench, producing per game averages of 12.1 points over 22.7 minutes.

New additions galore, the Rockets cruised through the regular season. They were the only team to win 60+ games and clinched home court advantage throughout the playoffs two weeks before the season had even ended. The Rockets dominated the regular season because of the shrewd moves by Morey, who should be recognized as the 2017-18 Executive of the Year.

NBA MVP Race: James Harden the Heavy Favorite; Davis Enters Conversation

1. James Harden, Houston Rockets

Harden leads the NBA in scoring (31.0 ppg) and player efficiency rating (30.62) and ranks third in assists per contest (8.9). All the meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are on a 16-game win streak and maintain the NBA’s best record. Further evidence of Houston’s dominance?—the Rockets are 33-1 when Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela suit up.

James Harden and the Rockets have a realistic shot to win the NBA title. (Tom Gutierrez/AP)

2. Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

Behind the brilliance of Davis, the Pelicans have won nine consecutive games and vaulted to fourth-place in the Western Conference standings—all without DeMarcus Cousins, who was lost for the season to an Achilles injury. For the month of February, Davis ranked first in scoring, second in steals, third in rebounding and third in blocks. According to NBA.com, he is the first player to finish top-3 in the aforementioned marks since 1973-74—the season steals and blocks became official statistics.

During the current nine game winning streak Anthony Davis is averaging

37.7 points
14.6 rebounds
3.0 steals
2.8 blocks
53.2% FG%
41.9% 3PT% (NOT A MISPRINT)
61.8% TS%
33.2% USG%

— The Bird WWWWWWWWWrites (@thebirdwrites) March 7, 2018

3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

James looked like the early favorite to win MVP through the first two months of the season, but now Harden is by far and away the leader of the race. The Cavs have struggled since the calendar flipped to January, hurting James’ chances to capture his fifth MVP trophy. Even so he has been great in the absence of Kevin Love and the departure of failed experiment Isaiah Thomas, averaging a triple-double for the month of February.

Congratulations to @KingJames – the Eastern Conference #KiaPOTM for the seventh February in a row!

For the first time in his career, LeBron averaged a triple-double for the month with 27.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 10.5 APG.

DETAILS → https://t.co/m5X26947UA pic.twitter.com/6i1ZeJbvlp

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 1, 2018

4. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers are riding an eight-game win streak, thanks in large part to Lillard. In the eight victories, Lillard has posted per-game averages of 32.6 points, 6.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds. As clutch as they come, Lillard is shooting 46.1% from the field in that span and Portland now has the third-best record in the West and the fifth-best mark in the NBA.

5. Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors

Durant won’t win MVP as long he is a member of the Warriors (unless Stephen Curry goes down with a long-term injury), but he can remain in the conversation because of his stellar play. Durant is averaging 25.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists with a 25.56 player efficiency rating. He is the driving force of the Warriors (50-14), who trail the Rockets by a half-game for the best record in the NBA.

Next in Line

6. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

7. Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics

8. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

9. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

10. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

Rockets Sign Luc Mbah a Moute, Adding Another Player to Match Up with Warriors

                With the Golden State Warriors retaining their core players this summer—re-singing Finals MVP Kevin Durant, giving two-time league MVP Stephen Curry a supermax contract and re-upping Andre Iguodala—while also bolstering the bench with the additions of Nick Young and Omri Casspi, the defending champions will be heavy favorites to win the title next year. For other title hopefuls, the most prudent move is to construct their roster to match up with the heavyweight Warriors. The Rockets—who traded for nine-time All-Star Chris Paul at the start of free agency—have done exactly that this offseason and Sunday’s signing of free agent combo forward Luc Mbah a Moute is further proof.

                An elite wing defender who shot a career-best 39 percent from three-point territory last season, Mbah a Moute is one of the most underrated players in the league. The 30-year-old Cameroonian small forward spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, earning 61 and 76 starts in the past two years, respectively. For all the awful moves Doc Rivers has made as the president of basketball operations for the Clippers, signing Mbah a Moute was a clear-cut home run. Mbah a Moute received an invite to the Clippers' training camp in 2015 and impressed the team enough to give him a guaranteed 1-year contract. He re-signed with the Clippers last offseason on a 2-year deal which held a player option for the second season. After declining his $2.3 million option last month, he has agreed to join a Rockets squad that has been busy this offseason in their title pursuit.

Luc Mbah a Moute became a catalyst for the Clippers' defense the past two seasons.  Kyusung Gong (Zuma Press)

                 Inking the defensive-minded Mbah a Moute to a veteran minimum deal is a steal for the Rockets, who are building one of the league’s strongest benches. While Mbah a Moute is a limited offensive player unable of creating his own shot, the 6’8” forward is capable of defending the likes of Durant and Iguodala. 

                Mbah a Moute joins the 2016-17 Sixth Man of the Year, Eric Gordon, among the Rockets reserves—along with Nene Hilario and the newly-signed P.J. Tucker. Tucker is another forward who prides himself on his tenacious defense. Tucker provides more on the offensive end than Mbah a Moute, however Mbah a Moute might be Houston’s best option to guard Durant because of his length.

                Rockets general manager Daryl Morey believes his team has "closed the gap" on the Warriors. Coming off a 55-win season, the Rockets do appear, on paper at least, to be the biggest threat to Golden State. They have two of the 10 best players in the league with MVP runner-up James Harden and superstar point guard Chris Paul in the backcourt. The team has also been linked to trade rumors for 10-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony all offseason. If Houston is able to land Anthony, they would feature three All-Stars in the starting five and potent backups. 

With James Harden and Chris Paul, the Rockets have arguably the NBA's most talented backcourt. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

                         The NBA Finals underscored the importance of a deep bench. The Warriors exposed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lack of depth as Golden State’s reserves dominated their counterparts all series long.

                 In order to take down the Warriors, a team not only needs star power in the starting unit, but also capable, gritty role players off the bench who are willing to sacrifice individual accomplishments and do the little things on the court that the Warriors’ backups—Iguodala, Shawn Livingston, JaVale McGee and David West—did in their championship campaign last season. With Tucker and Mbah a Moute on board in Houston, the Rockets are following the most practical blueprint to go head-to-head with the Warriors and now serve as the most-feared challenger to dethrone the reigning champions.

NBA All-Star Ballot 2015

Western Conference

Starters

Guard: Stephen Curry, Warriors

22.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 4.7 RPG. PER: 27.03 

Guard: James Harden, Rockets
27.3 PPG, 6.8 APG, 5.6 RPG. PER: 27.76

Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers
23.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.2 BPG. PER: 23.03

Forward: Anthony Davis, Pelicans
24.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.9 BPG. PER: 31.93

Forward: Marc Gasol, Grizzlies

18.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG. PER: 22.65

Reserves

Guard: Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
21.8 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG. PER: 21.78

Guard: Russell Westbrook, Thunder
25.2 PPG, 7.5 APG, 5.9 RPG. PER: 27.61

Guard: Chris Paul, Clippers
17.5 PPG, 9.7 APG, 4.7 RPG. PER: 24.92

Guard: Klay Thompson, Warriors

23.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.6 RPG. PER: 22.79

Forward: Blake Griffin, Clippers
22.7 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.4 BPG. PER: 22.75

Forward: Dwight Howard, Rockets
16.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG. PER: 18.30

Forward: DeMarcus Cousins, Kings
23.8 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.6 BPG. PER: 25.24

Eastern Conference

Starters

Guard: John Wall, Wizards
17.2 PPG, 10.1 APG, 4.4 RPG. PER: 20.85

Guard: Kyle Lowry, Raptors
19. 4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.9 RPG. PER: 21.86

Forward: LeBron James, Cavaliers

26.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.6 RPG. PER: 26.21

Forward: Paul Millsap, Hawks
17.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.9 BPG. PER: 20.41

Forward: Pau Gasol, Bulls

18.3 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.2 BPG, PER: 22.28

Reserves

Guard: Jeff Teague, Hawks
17.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.6 RPG. PER: 22.30

Guard: Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers
22.1 PPG, 5.2 APG, 3.1 RPG. PER: 21.11

Guard: Jimmy Butler, Bulls

20.1 PPG, 3.3 APG, 6.0 RPG. PER: 20.98

Guard: Dwyane Wade, Heat

21.8 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.8 RPG. PER: 22.55

Forward: Nikola Vucevic, Magic

19.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 0.8 BPG. PER: 22.17

Forward: Chris Bosh, Heat

21.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.6 BPG. PER: 21.04

Forward: Al Horford, Hawks

15.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG. PER: 21.52 

*Stats Accurate as of 1/29/15
*Bold indicates league-leader

NBA Player Rank 2014: Nos. 20-11

20.       Kyrie Irving (PG) - Cleveland Cavaliers

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 20.8

REB 3.6

ASST 6.1

FG% 43.0

Irving, the 2012 Rookie of the Year, notched his second straight All-Star appearance this season, winning the MVP of this year's exhibition classic. The point guard also appeared in a career-high 71 contests this season. However, Irving was unable to lead the Cavs to the playoffs this season, despite the East being a historically bad conference in 2013-2014. Irving has failed to be the leader that Cleveland needs to carry the franchise back to the postseason in the post-LeBron era. Nevertheless, the Cavs are reportedly set to meet with Irving on July 1st and the team is expected to offer him a five-year, max contract extension.

19.       DeMar DeRozan (SG) - Toronto Raptors

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 22.7

REB 4.3

ASST 4.0

FG% 42.9

DeRozan emerged as the premier shooting guard in the Eastern Conference in 2013-2014, posting career-bests in points, assists and rebounds. His will to penetrate to the basket was a big factor in his scoring totals ballooning as he ranked seventh in the league in free-throw attempts per game (8.0) and fourth in the NBA in total free throws made (519). The face of the Raptors franchise, DeRozan is a superstar in the making with his overall game likely to improve in the years to come.

18.       Tim Duncan (PF) – San Antonio Spurs

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 15.1

REB 9.7

ASST 3.0

FG% 49.

Possibly the greatest power forward of all-time, Duncan now holds the record for most playoff double-doubles. The 38-year-old had another efficient regular season that saw him nearly average a double-double (15. 1 ppg, 9.7 rpg). If the Spurs win the NBA Finals, Duncan could opt to retire, ending his storied career on top.

17.       Tony Parker (PG) – San Antonio Spurs

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 16.7

REB 2.3

ASST 5.7

FG% 49.9

Named to his third straight and sixth overall All-Star game, Parker spearheaded the Spurs to the best record in the NBA. The unequivocal leader of the Spurs, Parker consistently drives to the basket, finds the open man and can finish at the rim in traffic. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team this season.

16.       James Harden (SG) – Houston Rockets

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 25.4

REB 4.7

ASST 6.1

FG% 45.6

In his second season in Houston, Harden led all shooting guards in scoring, finishing fifth in the league overall. Harden was named to the All-NBA First Team for the first time in his career. Only LeBron James and Harden averaged at least 25.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists this season. Harden's glaring defensive lapses, though, remain an issue and his inability to get the Rockets past the first-round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season--even with the presence of Dwight Howard in Houston this year--is a cause for concern.

15.       John Wall (PG) – Washington Wizards

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 19.3

REB 4.1

ASST 8.8

FG% 43.3

With Rajon Rondo injured and Kyrie Irving unable to take his game to the next level, Wall was indubitably the best point guard in the Eastern Conference in 2013-2014. His omission from an All-NBA Team is a disgrace on the league. Wall led the entire NBA in total assists. He also knocked down 108 three-pointers, more than doubling his total from behind the arc in his first three seasons (49). Wall propelled the Wizards past the Chicago Bulls in the first-round of the playoffs and then pushed the No. 1 seed Indiana Pacers to six games before his club eventually ran out of gas.

14.       Anthony Davis (PF/C) - New Orleans Pelicans

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 20.8

REB 10.0

ASST 1.6

FG% 51.9

In just his second season, Davis led the league in blocks per contest (2.82) and finished second in the NBA with a 26.54 PER (player efficiency rating). The 21-year-old big man became the youngest player in NBA history to record a PER of 26 or more. Davis has reportedly bulked up this offseason, now weighing at 237 pounds, in an effort to post up on the block in the upcoming season. Davis also plans to extend his mid-range game to the perimeter, potentially adding the three-point shot (he has attempted 15 shots from behind the arc in two seasons) to his repertoire in 2014-2015.

13.       Al Jefferson (PF) - Charlotte Bobcats

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 21.8

REB 10.8

ASST 2.1

FG% 50.9

Charlotte was heavily criticized for handing Jefferson a lucrative, 3-year, $41 million contract. Jefferson rewarded Charlotte with a career-year, getting a spot on the All-NBA Third Team as he led the team to its second postseason in franchise history. Jefferson, who recorded 42 doubles-doubles (eighth most in NBA) in 2013-2014, became the first dominant inside presence in the franchise's short history.

12.       Joakim Noah (C) - Chicago Bulls

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 12.6

REB 11.3

ASST 5.4

FG% 47.5

Noah racked up the awards in 2013-2014, being named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a spot on the All-NBA First Team. Noah's best statistical year of his career included averages of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game, all career-highs. With Derrick Rose constantly injured, Noah has materialized as the face of the Bulls franchise. 

11.       Carmelo Anthony (SF) – New York Knicks

2013-14 SEASON

PPG 27.4

REB 8.1

ASST 3.1

FG% 45.2

While Anthony was left off all three of the All-NBA Teams, he was the only player in the league to shoot better than 40 percent from three-point range while scoring over 25 points per game. After leading the league in scoring last season, Anthony finished second in 2013-2014 with 27.4 points per contest. His 8.1 rebounds per contest were a career-best and the highest among all small forwards. Anthony plans to opt out of his contract and test free agency this summer, leaving many to wonder if he has played his final game as a Knick.