Daniel Waddleton
Oct 13, 2024
A BLOG POST idea stolen from the great Zach Lowe, who we have depressingly been left without this season after his dismissal at ESPN. This was my favorite piece of Zach's every season, and to not have the opportunity to read his most interesting players this season has left me and many other hoop heads low spirited.
So I take it upon myself to carve my own path of most interesting players this season to fill the void ESPN left us when they let Zach go. While giving it some deep thought and doing some research I've identified six players I am most interested to tune into this season.
The way I picked my players was through a combination of players I think have a chance of tilting the title odds in the league, players that could take big leaps, and just players I really enjoy watching on league pass.
So there's no reason to continue rambling as I tend to do, let's get into my six more intriguing players for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Center
It's difficult to find a more interesting player heading into this season then Karl-Anthony Towns. Now playing for his childhood favorite team, the New York Knicks, Towns has the chance to redefine his legacy so far in the NBA. Despite his unbelievable skill as a 6'11 big man his career thus far has been a rollercoaster, marked by questionable shot selection, avoidable fouls, and inconsistent defensive effort. In many ways, he’s not your typical Tom Thibodeau center.
Still, Towns’ skill set is undeniable, and if he can be a steadier player for the Knicks than he was in Minnesota, the ceiling for this team is incredibly high. The Knicks have transformed from a fun team with a promising future to legitimate championship contenders thanks to an aggressive offseason. They went all in to acquire Mikal Bridges, re-signed OG Anunoby to a $205 million contract, and made the bold choice to trade Julius Randle—who while polarizing was a player integral to the Knicks' turnaround since 2020-21—for Towns. It’s a daring move, but one that could prove invaluable.
With Towns now at center, he should see a boost in his offensive production similar to his pre-Gobert days in Minnesota. Deploying him as a stretch five has always been the most effective way to capitalize on his offensive prowess, though it has historically come at the expense of defensive stability. However, Towns’ presence at center will provide the Knicks with next level spacing, allowing them to now have five shooters on the floor at all times besides when Mitchell Robinson is in. This new lineup should create ample driving lanes for effective driving wings like Josh Hart and Anunoby.
While the teams main scorer Jalen Brunson doesn’t necessarily need a stretch big to thrive, having Towns as a pick-and-pop threat certainly won't hurt. Defending Brunson in pick-and-roll situations will be considerably harder with Towns as his dance partner. Teams opting for drop coverage or doubles will be left vulnerable, as Towns can now punish defenses with his quick trigger 40% three point shot. He's also a solid passer where if a team pre rotates he can make the next pass to find the open man.
Ultimately, the Knicks destiny hinges on Towns’ defense. The Knicks have surrounded him with elite defensive wings between Bridges, Hart, and Anunoby. I imagine the vision is that these wings can wall off drives enough to mitigate Towns' leaky rim protection, and navigate screens effectively to help Towns in pick and roll.
This Knicks team is one of the best rosters in the NBA, and I project them as one of the four best teams in the league currently. For them to reach the championship, however, they’ll need the best version of Karl-Anthony Towns to date.
Jalen Williams, Forward
It’s as simple as this: if Jalen Williams can take another step forward in his development this season—and this time sustain it through the playoffs—the Oklahoma City Thunder should be considered favorites to win the NBA Finals.
Williams was phenomenal last season, emerging as one of the key reasons OKC secured the top seed in the Western Conference. He played defense at an All-Defensive level, and proved to be a reliable second option on a potent offense. However, his playoff performance was a bit uneven, showing both moments of brilliance and areas for growth.
There were highs, like his impressive defense when sizing down onto Kyrie Irving in the second round and his 24-point performance to eliminate the Pelicans in the first round. But there were also lows, such as his occasional indecisiveness on offense, particularly noticeable in the series against Dallas.
The Mavericks emphasized gapping hard to cut off his driving lanes, forcing him into a series of low-percentage, indecisive mid-range jumpers. Also while he's a capable passer, it was clear throughout the series that he wasn’t yet prepared to be a dynamic playmaker in a playoff setting.
At just 23 and in his first playoff run, Williams wasn't expected to be a flawless playoff performer, but he’s already shown flashes of All-NBA potential. If OKC hopes to reach the top, they’ll need him to take his game to that level consistently. Another leap feels well be within reach for Williams, and if he can elevate his play particularly in his second postseason appearance, the Thunder’s ceiling is sky-high.
LaMelo Ball, Guard
Typically the term “unicorn” is reserved for tall big men with guard-like skills—dribbling, passing, shooting. But it’s time to expand the term because LaMelo Ball is, in every sense, a unicorn at point guard. At 6’8”, we’ve never seen a point guard who not only commands the floor at this pace and passes with his vision but is also a legitimate volume three-point shooter. Over the past two seasons, Ball has averaged 9.8 three-point attempts per game, hitting them at a 37% clip. Considering the degree of difficulty on many of these shots, that’s an impressive number.
Ball’s offensive game is nearly complete, with the only real flaw being occasional questionable shot selection. If I went into a year coma and woke up to you telling me he and Tyrese Haliburton switched places and the Pacers’ offense improved, I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s a joy to watch, and with an improved Hornets roster this season, let’s hope he can stay healthy to showcase his unique skill set on a better team then he's had.
Beyond health, the real concern for LaMelo is his defense. With his length and athleticism, he has the potential to be at the very least a neutral defender, but he hasn’t shown much desire to improve on that end. It’s hard to blame a 23-year-old for lacking energy and effort on defense when he’s the offensive engine of a poor team, but with a more competitive roster this season, the hope is it gives him incentive to buy in defensively.
LaMelo makes my list of most intriguing players simply because, if healthy, he’s one of the most entertaining players in the league and I've missed watching him play. But I’m also curious to see if an improved Hornets team pushes him to elevate his defense, showing more maturity on that end and helping Charlotte reach the play-in or beyond.
Trey Murphy III, Forward
Standing at 6'8" with a 7-foot wingspan, Trey Murphy III is a player I've dubbed my favorite role player over the past two seasons. But you know what, I'm tried of saying it and I think it’s time he sheds the "role player" label and steps into something greater.
Murphy has been a career sharpshooter, hitting nearly 40% of his threes with deep range. He’s also a freight train in transition, a plus defender, and if you fall asleep defending him off the ball he won't only beat you from deep, but is good for an occasional highlight-reel lob dunk.
Yes, Murphy could certainly just continue to play his role as one of the league's premier role players for the next 15 years, and he'd still be a top-50 asset doing so. But I believe he has the potential to do more with expanded on-ball opportunities. His usage rate has hovered around 16-18% each season, and with teammates like Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Zion Williamson, there isn’t an obvious pathway for that to change—yet.
This all could change however, if New Orleans decides to part ways with Brandon Ingram, who has been a frequent subject of trade speculation. If an Ingram trade materializes, Murphy has a chance to see his offensive role grow significantly.
While he’s not the most fluid player and doesn’t have the ball handle of a primary creator yet, getting reps in pick-and-roll situations and more chances to make decisions on offense could unlock new facets to his game. It might not always look perfect, especially at first, but with time and reps I believe Murphy could evolve into much more than an elite role player.
It would be in the Pelicans’ best interest too since if Murphy does evolve, it's not like they would then be pressed to offer a larger contract—they’ve already extended him. It's a fair number for both parties either way, but squeezing the most value possible out of 24-year-old could turn that 28 million AAV from just a solid deal into a true bargain.
I’m hoping to see an Ingram trade that unleashes Murphy into increased on-ball responsibilities. He’s too talented to be confined as just a 3-and-D wing who can pressure the rim. I want to see Murphy growing out there, making offensive decisions, and learning from mistakes.
Jalen Suggs, Guard
The Orlando Magic were a feel-good story last season, securing the fifth seed and pushing a more talented Cleveland Cavaliers team to seven games in the first round. With the addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the anticipated growth of their young core, expectations have risen slightly. Yet, few view the Magic as a serious threat in the Eastern Conference
The main reason? Despite their success, Orlando ranked in the bottom third of the NBA in offense last season, a concerning stat in a league where your team's offense often determines your team’s floor. In clutch situations, the Magic’s offense dipped even lower, ranking as poorly as 24th in the league.
The biggest issue? I would identify it as a lack of an “organizer”—a true playmaker who can create for others and stabilize the offense in times of disarray. Paolo Banchero is incredibly talented, but he’s not yet in the league’s elite initiator class, and while Franz Wagner has some playmaking skills, his priority needs to be finding his jumpshot again before he can serve as a consistent offensive engine.
The easiest solution would be if Jalen Suggs could become this missing piece for Orlando. However, Suggs has never really been known for passing, outside of his time on the gridiron in high school of course. He was selected fifth overall in 2021 as a bet on his impressive defense, competitive edge, and good positional rebounding, with a gamble on his potential scoring upside. Since entering the league, he’s primarily played off the ball, especially in half-court sets.
In many ways, Suggs reminds me of a young Marcus Smart in Boston: a point guard by position but spends a lot of time off the ball, in the game rather for his defensive impact. Those early Tatum-Brown era Celtics teams faced a similar problem to what the Magic encounter now—plenty of talent, but no true floor general.
Then, in 2022, Smart took a leap as a playmaker, and suddenly Boston was two wins away from a championship. It wasn't as if he had become some elite passer either, but he was much improved and filled a role Boston needed without having to acquire a different player.
It’s worth wondering if Suggs has that same leap in him. I would argue he’s shown more playmaking potential and has a stronger handle early in his career than a young Smart did. Suggs’ competitiveness and willingness to embrace any role gives me hope maybe he could reach this level. If he can evolve into a consistent point guard that's able to set up his talented wings, it could be transformative to this Orlando offense, without sacrificing their defensive identity.
Amen Thompson, Everywhere
The wildcard of the list, I just didn’t feel right publishing a most interesting players piece without our buddy Amen Thompson on it. Unlike the other players here, who are more established in the league, Thompson is only in his second year and didn’t even see consistent minutes until the latter half of last season. That said, he’s undoubtedly one of the six players I’m most interested in watching this season.
When he was selected fourth overall in the 2023 draft, I’ll admit I hardly even knew who he was. I was mostly unfamiliar with Overtime Elite, the league he played in before being drafted, and his scouting reports were all over the place.
When you watch him play, Amen Thompson really pops, and I got to experience that firsthand during his first summer league game against the Trail Blazers. In what felt like a summer league All-Star showcase, Thompson was the player who left the strongest impression on me.
He displayed all the skills and ability that warranted his high draft selection. Running point for Houston, he frequently operated in pick-and-roll situations, looking fluid both as a driver to score and with his ability to make sharp passes. He could seemingly get to the basket at will from anywhere on the court, even as the Blazers played off him daring him to shoot. His finishing through contact was impressive, and his elite athleticism was evident on both ends of the floor. That night, he instantly became the rookie I was most intrigued to watch during the regular season.
Unfortunately, with Houston’s deep roster, Thompson didn’t get nearly as many chances to play as the primary ballhandler like he did in summer league. But that hasn’t diminished his impact or my fascination with him. He’s an extremely rare archetype in today’s NBA—a 6’7" guard/forward who isn’t a floor spacer or a primary ballhandler yet still can make a positive impact on offense.
The Rockets used Thompson effectively as a screener in small-ball lineups, allowing ball handlers to exploit aggressive pick-and-roll coverage by hitting a rolling Thompson. From there, his elite finishing at the rim and elite passing feel in the short roll area made him a versatile threat in the middle of the floor.
Thompson is also an excellent cutter, which not only plays to his strength of getting to the rim but also counters defenders who play off him due to his limited shooting. His timely cuts take advantage of defenders’ focus on the ballhandler, creating easy scoring opportunities and putting pressure on opposing rotations.
Then there’s his transition game, where he excels both as a passer in a grab-and-go role off defensive rebounds and as a rim runner off teammates’ rebounds or forced turnovers.
Finally, he’s a standout offensive rebounder, ranking in the 90th percentile in putbacks with 1.4 points per play. It’s just yet another way he adds off-ball value and can collect point totals without being an outside shooter..
Being able to bring all this different value on offense combined with his stellar defense has made Thompson one of the most intriguing young players in basketball. He can play both a Draymond Green or a Philly Ben Simmons role on offense, and I'm super excited to see the next season of Amen Thompson is a Rockets uniform.
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