Kawhi Leonard and Paul George‘s decision to join the Los Angeles Clippers was the move of the summer. It created a smoothed-out NBA landscape populated by duos over one top-heavy superteam. But every year, certain players take a leap from middling player to star status. The following “third-star candidates” will likely be the third option on their team this coming season. They’ll also have the power to either establish a new contender or tilt the NBA playing field in their team’s favor.
Top NBA Third Star Candidates For Next Season
Kyle Kuzma
The NBA world is Kyle Kuzma‘s for the taking. He’s going to get so many open looks by virtue of playing next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. In his rookie year, he converted 39 percent of his wide-open threes while shooting 36.6 percent overall from beyond the arc. He took a step back in his sophomore year with a 31.9 percent clip on wide-open attempts and 30.3 percent overall. Can he step up and actually drain them consistently this year?
Kuzma will also need to take a leap defensively. Last year, he showed flashes of promising defense, but the good results would only last for a week or so. A championship team needs all five guys on the floor to execute defensive actions crisply and consistently. The Los Angeles Lakers will need more from the third-year forward on both ends if they want to break away from the pack of contenders. Take a look below at how Kuzma’s defensive game advanced last year. Now he just needs to execute consistently.
DeMarcus Cousins
An Achilles injury is tough to come back from. Very few high-level players come back from it and resume the same form. Dominique Wilkins was one of the few. Even if the Achilles heals properly, the other muscles around it are in danger of injury thanks to overcompensation. DeMarcus Cousins‘ quad fell victim to that in the 2019 NBA playoffs.
But this season may be different. Cousins will get the full offseason to rest and work on his game instead of rehabbing. If he stays relatively healthy and regains 80-85 percent of his former strength then he is going to be a problem. The combo of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a rejuvenated DeMarcus Cousins have the chance to be devastating from a size, facilitation, and pick-and-roll scoring standpoint. One of the only downsides would be Cousins’ vulnerability to defensive switches on the perimeter. For the low price of only $3.5 million a year, the risk is absolutely worth it.
Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward‘s tenure with the Boston Celtics has been beyond disappointing. It has been almost two years since he suffered a gruesome broken leg on opening day. Since he has taken the floor, he has been timid when penetrating the paint and unable to hold down an offensive rhythm. One can reasonably speculate that the trauma from the injury still lingers in his head.
But a Kyrie Irving-less team dynamic and another offseason to heal may prove fruitful. Hayward was once a star with the Utah Jazz. Who’s to say he can’t be one again two years after the injury? A mental hurdle like Hayward’s is grueling but not impossible to overcome. It’s more optimistic than an Achilles injury that permanently hinders a player’s explosiveness.
The opportunity is there for Hayward to be a focal point for the Celtics down the stretch alongside Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum. The stage is set for an inspiring Gordon Hayward comeback.
Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown could be another person that thrives heavily from Kyrie Irving’s departure. The 22-year-old had a glaringly bad year coming out of the gate. This could’ve been aggravated by the reportedly horrible relationship between him and his former point guard. More crunch-time minutes and less drama could serve Brown well on the new-look Celtics.
With one more year left on his rookie deal, Brown is incentivized to go all-out this season. He’ll be eligible for his first big NBA contract extension. The Boston Celtics will have a decision to make about his future with the team. If a still-unproven guy like Jamal Murray can command a $170-million deal, who’s to say Brown can’t ask for the same thing? A good playoff showing would all but solidify it.
D’Angelo Russell
One could argue that D’Angelo Russell is coming into the season already a star. He earned his first All-Star berth and made a serious leap in leadership and on-court play with the Brooklyn Nets last season. What has yet to be seen is is if his game can gel next to Stephen Curry.
At first glance, the Curry and Russell pairing seems odd. Both of them are great shooters, gifted passers (but not pass-first), and so-so defenders. Klay Thompson is the perfect blueprint for the type of guard that fits next to Curry. Russell is a whole new schematic. Will it be a skill-redundant bust or new way to reinforce their backcourt? It’ll dictate whether Russell is truly just a trade chip or if he has a future in the bay. If D’Angelo really thrives and Klay Thompson comes back relatively healthy for playoff time, then the Golden State Warriors are dangerous once again.
Caris LeVert
Kevin Durant‘s injury actually provides a great opportunity for Caris LeVert to get some reps in. The Nets won’t be considered serious title contenders with Durant out. He can hone his game in a lower pressure situation and be third-star ready by the time Durant is cleared to play. LeVert also has the chance to build early chemistry with new-teammate Kyrie Irving. The 6’7 small forward has flashed an undeniable amount of promise.
Unfortunately, LeVert has suffered some horrible injury luck. He incurred a gruesome dislocated foot injury at the start of last season but miraculously returned to the floor after being considered out for the year. The young forward has played in 168 of 251 career NBA games. Like Jaylen Brown, Caris LeVert will be eligible for an extension too. He’s already a crafty offensive player but could enter into a whole different level by learning from the basketball wisdom of Irving and Durant.
Gary Harris
Gary Harris has been a two-way force for the Nuggets when he manages to stay on the floor. Harris has played in 312 out of 410 total career games. Last year, he suited up for 57 of 82. The keys to him jumping into the next tier of players would be health, better defense, and upping his overall scoring average and three-point percentages.
He should aim to become one of the league’s great perimeter defenders while scoring around 20 points per game and shooting 40 percent from deep. Last year, he averaged 12.9 points per game, but the previous, healthier season he nabbed 17.5 points per contest. He also shot 42 percent from three in the 2016-17 NBA season but dipped down to 33.9 percent last year.
If he can hit those scoring marks, he’d be the homegrown third star that Denver needs to get ahead. It may be a multi-year process, but Harris could make the leap as soon as next year.
Honorable Mention: Lou Williams
Lou Williams is a unique case. His game isn’t projected to make a leap like the candidates above, but he can step up to be that third star when the Clippers need him. Last year, the 32-year-old averaged 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. He’s not expected to break those averages given how much his new teammates will need the ball. Matter of fact, he might even score a bit less, but he can still raise his shooting percentages (42.5 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three).
Williams has the opportunity to step up and be that third star when playoff time comes around. If an opposing defense manages to slow down Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, then Williams needs to step up to be their scoring x-factor. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year has garnered a ton of career accomplishments, but a signature playoff performance deep in the postseason is one more box he needs to check.
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