Training camp is still 28 days away from beginning for all teams, which usually determines multiple positional battles for teams ahead of the coming season. Still, rosters are mostly built, and preliminary pecking orders are in place, meaning we can take a stab at identifying true breakout players for 2024/25.
With this piece, we’ll be focusing on players who seem to be poised to go from the fringes of rosters to rotational mainstays. Think of Guerschon Yabusele last year, who went from being out of the league to being one of the NBA’s most coveted role players. Last year in this exercise, we included Max Christie, who jumped his averages up from 4.2 points to 9.6. So while Larry Nance Jr. seems primed for a massive year with the Cavaliers as a role player, he has 546 career games under his belt.
Luka Garza/Josh Minott, Boston Celtics
The Celtics went out of their way to add both Garza and Minott to standard deals early in free agency after the Timberwolves declined options for both players. However, the Wolves opting to not bring them back isn’t an indictment, more of a testament to the win-now depth Minnesota built ahead of them.
Garza hasn’t played many minutes over the course of his four-year NBA career, but he’s certainly produced when given the opportunity. In just 7.8 minutes in his career, he averages 4.9 points and 2.0 rebounds, which comes out to a per-36 average of 22.7 points and 8.9 rebounds. It would be easy to write off that kind of production since per-36 is hardly an indicative statistic of one’s talents, but that sample comes across 124 career games. And in 39 career regular season G League games, he averaged 26.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.
The Celtics lost Luke Kornet in free agency, traded away Kristaps Porzingis and are not considered likely to bring back Al Horford. That leaves Neemias Queta, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman as the only players in front of Garza in the frontcourt. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Garza emerges as a starter down the line.
Minott is also included here after his training camp last season had coaches raving. While he never ended up in the rotation, it’s still noteworthy that the Celtics added him early in free agency. Minott will battle Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman and rookie Hugo Gonzalez for minutes off the bench at the wing position. In 32 career regular season G League games, he averages 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.8 blocks.
Nigel Hayes-Davis, Phoenix Suns
If there was an option to select “most likely to be this year’s Yabusele,” Hayes-Davis would have to rank near the top. Hayes-Davis established himself as one of the best international players after not playing in the league since 2017/18. The Suns gave him a standard guaranteed deal after he averaged 15.1 points for Fenerbahce. On a new-look Phoenix team, he’ll get plenty of chances to contribute.
Jaylen Clark, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves drafted Clark with the No. 53 pick in the 2023 draft, with the Wolves essentially redshirting him while he recovered from injury in 2023/24. Last year, his first in the league, Clark emerged as a reliable depth option, averaging 4.1 points across 13.1 minutes in 40 games.
With the loss of Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Hawks in free agency, the Wolves will look to rely on their younger depth to establish themselves this season. While all eyes are on Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. to take steps forward, look for Clark (and perhaps Leonard Miller), to gain more of a foothold in the rotation.
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
Every opportunity he received, Spencer impressed for the Grizzlies and their G League affiliate. In just 10.1 minutes last year (25 appearances), Spencer averaged 4.2 points. In eight regular season G League games, Spencer averaged 23.5 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 53.8% from the field and 49.3% from three.
Memphis drafted Spencer last year with the No. 53 overall pick, and he played all of last year on a two-way deal. After standing out in their developmental system, Spencer was rewarded with a standard contract this offseason. Even though the Grizzlies are flush with rotation-caliber players, there could be an opportunity for Spencer to earn some bench minutes after the departure of Desmond Bane from the guard room.