Expectations

 Roy Hibbert was pretty good last year, I expect him to just get better, probably a 15 point, 9 reb, 2 block season 

I don’t see Thabeet doing much, but I hope the Rocets give Williams a chance and he gets around 10 ppg, 4 apg, 4rpg, I somehow doubt they will though.

I expect John Wall to be fully healthy and showcase some of the ridiculous jumping ability he showed in high school, 18 ppg, 5 rpg, 9.5 apg

James Harden should have a breakthrough year, 16 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.5 apg

I expect Beaubois to average over 10 ppg (although I’m not sure, if Barea stays he should have a bigger role next year)

Ty Lawson to average around 18 ppg

Teague to average 10 ppg, 2 rpg, 5 apg

 I honestly had higher hopes for Hasheem Thabeet this year.  Towards the end of his rookie year after his stint in the D-League he played fairly well averaging 7 and 7 in the last month or so, but didn’t continue his improvement his soph season.  I thought he had the ceiling of a 10, 12 and 3 player, but I’m having second thoughts now. I’m not the type of guy who will close the book on someone after such limited playing time, and  I do think he will improve, and because of his size stay in the league for a while, but I feel his ceiling may be more of the type of player DeSagana Diop was in his prime as far as being a big body to block distract shots in the lane with virtually no offense and foul struggles.  It’s too early to close the book on him completely, but I think he may still be considered one of the worst #2 picks of all time.

Working through your list:

Hasheem Thabeet – Unless a work ethic mysteriously appears, he’s a bust.  Rockets don’t seem to believe in him, looking for a big.

Terrance Williams – Williams needs to mature.  I doubt it happens immediately, but one day he could turn into Stephen Jackson. 

Larry Sanders – very strong third bigman forced to start. Nice block numbers obscure merely solid D.

John Wall – star.

Robin Lopez – Third big. No numbers, but effective.

Joe Alexander – overseas.

Brandon Jennings – Improves, but not ever going to live up to that first month.

Roy Hibbert -Same level. He is what he is – pretty good.

O.J. Mayo – If not traded, the same. If traded, quite good. 18-20 ppg, solid D and passing.

 Serge Ibaka – League lead in blocks, DPOY, jumpshot improves.

James Harden – Another star witha g reater role. 6th man of the year.

Ibaka played great at the end of the year.  Look for his blocks and rebounding numbers to be very good as his points to steadily improve.  He’s turning into a real force on the defensive end with his size, length, and athleticism allowing him to get baskets inside. 

I think Harden moves to the starting lineup and plays very well.  He helps balance out the Durant/Westbrook dynamic.   He’s one of the most important younger guys in the league.  His continued evolving offense along with Ibaka will help take pressure off of Durant and Westbrook and make the Thunder a more well-rounded team offensively.  The Thunder are one of the top contenders again just behind the Mavs and the Heat (right there with Chicago and Memphis and just ahead of the Lakers).

OJ Mayo needs to embrace his role as a sixth man on the Grizzlies.  Could be a sixth man of the year candidate providing scoring, outside shooting, passing, ball handling, and solid defense.  If he buys in then the Grizzlies could be a top 3 or 4 seed in the West next year.

Thabeet.  Not sure what the problem is.  Hopefully he puts it together.  He played well when the Grizzlies played a zone, intimidating shots and getting steals.  He gets a lot of fouls but most backup centers do.  But he can block some shots and intimidate.  He’s also a fairly good athlete.  Hopefully he has a good year this year because he has a lot of potential and some good intangibles.  I don’t think he got enough minutes in Memphis.

The key for Brandon Jennings is getting the Bucks back to the playoffs.  If he does then all will be forgiven (for his drop off last year).  Probably will never be a top 4 or 5 point guard in the league (but he was never projected to be that high either) but he could be a top 10 to 15 point guard for years, which is about what everyone expects. 

John Wall will put up great stats again.  Let’s just see if his team improves a lot.  It can, and it could make a decent run at a playoff spot.  He has a great shot at being the best point guard in the league not named CP3, Rose, Deron Williams, Westbrook, Rajon Rondo, and Steve Nash, and a decent shot at being the fourth best point guard behind Paul, Rose, and Williams.  I think Wall has more upside than this upcoming crop of rookie point guards (Irving, Walker, Knight, Rubio, Jimmer). 

Roy Hibbert will steadily improve again.  He’s somewhere in that mix of centers along with Marc Gasol, Andrew Bogut, Andrew Bynum, and perhaps Tyson Chandler that is not in the same league with Dwight Howard but are the best of the rest.  If the Pacers come out hot and improve on their great showing last year (gave the Bulls fits in the playoffs) then I think Roy Hibbert can be an all-star if his numbers are there and if the Hawks disappoint (so Hibbert would take the backup center spot instead of Al Horford). 

Robin Lopez is a good player who kind of took a step back.  The Suns like Frye and Gortat has been playing wlel for them so he might be the odd man out.  He might need a change of scenary to get the most out of his potential.  Contenders like the Heat and Thunder (as well as the Celtics) could really use him.

Joe Alexander: I think he was an all-star in the D League so he might get called up.  Can’t believe the NBA can’t use a guy with a great motor and awesome athletic skills.  He would be good on a run and gun team like the Warriors.  The Heat might be another good spot.  The Heat will need to retool their roster and could use another athletic guy to run with Wade and LeBron.  

i can definitly see joe alexander making an impact as a role player off someones bench, and terrance williams sooner or later has to get his act together or he will become a wasted talent like Quintel Woods or one of the other similar super-athletic players who fizzled out