9 Players Who Will Improve in the 2018-19 Season

It's that time of the year again. With the 2018-19 season right around the corner, it's time for me to give my predictions on which players will have big improvements throughout the year. If you wanna see the lists I made for last season, they're both right here. But with that out of the way, here are 9 players that I think will improve in the 2018-19 season.

Noah Vonleh

Let's be honest, this season is going to be complete hell for the New York Knicks. With their best player in Kristaps Porzingis expected to be out for the majority of the year, the team is going to have to rely on guys like Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, and mostly young, unproven players like Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina. Maybe they'll shock everyone like the Indiana Pacers or the Utah Jazz did this season, but I wouldn't count on it. While they probably won't have Porzingis for the first half of the season, they will have Noah Vonleh, who I think can show some big improvements as a starter will Porzingis is gone. Vonleh's stat line from last year wasn't all that impressive, averaging 4.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 44% from the field and 30% from three-point range, but following his trade to the Chicago Bulls, his stats went up to 6.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for 21 games and 19 minutes per game. If you go by per 36 minutes stats for his time in Chicago, his stats jump up to 13.1 points, 13 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He probably won't play as much when Porzingis returns, but while he's out, I can see Vonleh putting some solid numbers if he gets a starting job. 

Luke Kennard

The Detroit Pistons were on the cusp of making the playoffs this past season but came up short, finishing with a 39-43 record, four games behind the 8th seed Washington Wizards. However, with the departure of LeBron James, we could see the Pistons sneak into the playoffs over the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Pistons do want to make that run at the playoffs, they're going to need someone to step up, and in my opinion, I think that person can be Luke Kennard. Last season, Kennard averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 44% from the field and 42% from three-point range. Following the Avery Bradley trade, Kennard's stats went up to 8.6 points per game with 46% shooting from the field and 40% from three-point range on 22.4 minutes per game. Going by per 36 minutes stats, Kennard averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Kennard should be given the starting shooting guard for the Pistons this season, and I think he can put up some strong numbers in that spot.

Jarrett Allen

The Brooklyn Nets have been at the bottom of the NBA for a while now, and it doesn't look like things are going to be any better this season. Not only did they not make any big free agent signings, but they also had to watch as the Cavaliers used their 1st round pick to get Collin Sexton after the Celtics traded it to them. Luckily, the consequences of the Billy King-era are finally over and it looks like they can finally start to rebuild properly. While all eyes are likely on D'Angelo Russell this season, I think there's one guy who has gone slightly overlooked on the Nets roster, and that man is Jarrett Allen. This past season, Allen averaged 8.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 59% from the field and 33% from three-point range. While Allen started the year as a back-up, he eventually found his way into the starting line-up for the last 31 games of the year, during which he averaged 10.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 62% from the field. With no other real centers on the Nets roster, Allen is almost a lock to get the starting spot on opening day and, if he gets more playing time than he did last season (20 minutes per game), then I expect big things from him.

Willy Hernangomez

I don't think I'm alone in thinking that the New York Knicks made a big mistake letting go of Willy Hernangomez. In his rookie season, Hernangomez sort of came out of nowhere and put up a perfectly respectable 8.2 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field, and even made the All-Rookie 1st team. Despite those numbers, Hernangomez seemed to fall out of favor with Jeff Hornacek, as he ended up playing in only 26 games with the Knicks the next season and averaged just 9 minutes per game. Hernangomez ended up getting traded midseason to the Charlotte Hornets, who also underutilized him behind Dwight Howard. However, with Howard no out of the picture and the starting center spot open in Charlotte, and I think Hernangomez can fill that void perfectly. Despite his lack of playing time last season, Hernangomez did average 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 51% from the field and 4 for 7 from three-point range as a Hornet. Going by per 36-minute stats, Hernangomez's stats skyrocket up to 18.5 points, 15.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Now, do I think he'll actually put up those numbers if he gets the starting job? No. But I do think that if he gets the starting job (which he should) then I think he could be a huge asset to a team trying to get into the playoffs.

Cedi Osman

This season is going to be an unpredictable one for the Cleveland Cavaliers. On one hand, their best player by a country mile, LeBron James, is gone and the team could very easily fall into the same state they were in the first time he left. On the other hand, this time around they have another all-star caliber player in Kevin Love, who will likely cushion the blow a bit. However, the rest of the team might be in worse shape than it was back in 2010, as the performances of Jordan Clarkson, Kyle Korver, and JR Smith in the Finals really don't instill confidence in Cavs fans' eyes. However, they do have one player that pretty much every fan of the team loves, myself included, and that man is Cedi Osman. Osman didn't get a lot of playing time in his rookie season last year, but he did get 12 starts. For the year, Osman averaged 3.9 points and 2 rebounds per game while shooting 48% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Going by per 36-minute stats, Osman's averages go up to 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. There's no way he'll be able to replace LeBron James, not by a long shot, but with that starting small forward spot open, I think Osman deserves the nod and I think he'll do great on a rebuilding Cavs team.

Caleb Swanigan

A year ago, I put Caleb Swanigan on a list of rookies that everyone should keep an eye on heading into the season. Turns out, you didn't have to keep your eye on him because he barely played. In his rookie season, Swanigan played in just 27 games and averaged 2.3 points and 2 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from the field. However, I still believe that Swanigan can contribute big time for a Trail Blazers team that, after a disappointing first-round sweep at the hands of New Orleans Pelicans in the playoffs, could use another strong player in the rotation. If you go by Swanigan's per 36-minute stats, Swanigan's stats go up to 11.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. While those stats might not be the most reliable based on Swanigan's small amount of playing time, it's the best indication of what he could possibly do as a starter. While there is competition for the starting power forward spot in Al-Farouq Aminu and Zach Collins, but I think if he's given a significant amount of playing time, I think Caleb Swanigan can make the most of it.

Shaquille Harrison

The Phoenix Suns are going to be an interesting team to watch this year. Despite posting a 21-61 record last year, they had a core of young players in Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, and TJ Warren, and the additions of Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges have only made that core stronger. While they're likely not going to be contending for an NBA Championship for at least a couple of years, this team could be one of the better teams in the next five years. The only thing they seem to be missing is a point guard. While they do have Brandon Knight and Isaiah Canaan on the roster, they may have stumbled into a solid player in Shaquille Harrison. Harrison found his way onto the Suns midway through the season and only played 23 games, but he did put up fairly respectable numbers in those games. For the season, Harrison averaged 6.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 48% from the field. Going by per 36-minute stats, his numbers go up to 14.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. He likely won't get the starting job on opening day, but I do think he's got talent and can be a more than reliable as a starter.

Torrey Craig

The Denver Nuggets were as close as humanly possible to making to the playoffs without actually making the playoffs. Despite finishing the year with a 46-36 record, the Nuggets came up short, losing the deciding final game of the year against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They'll look to rebound from last season's disappointing end and make the playoffs. However, the departure of the Wilson Chandler has left a spot open at small forward. They did draft Michael Porter Jr., but with the uncertainty of how healthy he'll be when the season starts, the Nuggets will likely have to look elsewhere. Of all the players on their roster, the best option (excluding rookies) to fill in as the starting small forward, at least for now, is Torrey Craig. Craig played with the Nuggets last season on a two-way contract and played in 39 games, averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45% from the field. If you go by per 36-minute stats, his numbers increase to a respectable 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Craig obviously wouldn't be the starter if Michael Porter Jr. ends up playing, but if he isn't, I think Craig has the potential to be a reliable player.

Dejounte Murray

I put Dejounte Murray on this list last year, and I'm gonna do it again because it's my list and I can do what I want with it. But in all seriousness, I do think Dejounte Murray has a lot of potential and, after this past season, I think he's still far from his ceiling. Murray's sophomore season had it's ups and downs, from starting the season as the starting point guard (filling in for an injured Tony Parker) to falling out of rotation for the most part to returning to the starting line-up. Murray ended his season with averages of 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field. When he returned to the starting line-up in late January during the season, he ended up averaging 10.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 47% from the field and 32% from three-point range. On top of that, going by his per 36-minute stats for the whole season, Murray averaged 13.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2 steals per game. With Tony Parker out of the equation now and Patty Mills seemingly taking the backseat to Murray towards the end of the season, I'm predicting another season where Murray sees a solid increase in his stat line.

UPDATE:

Oh...well, nevermind then.

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