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We've all heard the clichés of "one man's trash being another man's treasure" and "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder". What if I told you that this could apply to players in this league too, and that there's not a black and white answer to whether a player is good or not? In a lot of the documented cases of youth killing, we'll see a prospect written off as a bust when in actuality, they just needed a change of scenery. Such is the case for many of the young players on this list. I've gone ahead and compiled a list of ten guys who are having good seasons that you probably wrote off.
10. Anfernee Simons (WAS) -- 24.4 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Originally Picked: 2018 Round 2, Pick 1
Simons was the talk of the 2020 leftover free agency cycle after a phenomenal training camp, but many were surprised to see that the results didn't follow. While he won a championship in Dallas last season, he wasn't a big part of that team and struggled in the opportunities he got. Now with a fresh start in Washington, he has the security of a multi-year contract and has been a pleasant surprise in his newfound minutes.
9. De'Andre Hunter (ATL) -- 31.7 MPG, 11.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2019 Round 1, Pick 3
After being the centerpiece of a trade for superstar Bradley Beal, Hunter's early struggles in Cleveland were put under a magnifying glass for the entire league to see. Given a clean slate in Atlanta, he has developed into a reliable third option with decent volume and a knack for locking down the opposing team's small forward. While the trade for Beal will forever be a controversial moment in the league's history, there's no debating Hunter's improvement.
8. Jaren Jackson Jr. (DEN) -- 27.7 MPG, 10.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2018 Round 1, Pick 7
Admittedly, his numbers were much better when I thought of writing this article a week ago or so and he was consistently getting starter minutes. Still, JJJ has definitely looked to have taken a step in Denver, due in part to finally being given an opportunity to play at small forward and mask his subpar rebounding abilities. Having played for four teams in four seasons, it'll be very interesting to see what kind of contract he commands on the RFA market this off-season.
7. Danuel House (MIN) -- 25.5 MPG, 12.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2016 Round 1, Pick 23
Originally coming into the league as a SF/PF tweener, House has flourished this year in a role that many would have never expected for him: backup PG/SG. Having never averaged more than six points per game over the course of a full season, House looks set to double his previous career high. Currently playing on a league minimum, House is another interesting case study to watch out for as he hits the open market with no bird years this summer.
6. Trey Lyles (DET) -- 34.4 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Originally Picked: 2015 Round 1, Pick 15
After six seasons and multiple G-League stints, Lyles was assumed around the league to be a low volume tweener forward. Many questioned why he received a four-year contract a few summers ago, but he appears to be changing the narrative. Now in his seventh season, he has earned full time starter minutes and made the most of them for a Detroit team that needs all the offense it can find. Earning just over six million each of the next two years, Lyles is one of the better bargains in the league at small forward.
5. Cam Reddish (WAS) -- 34.0 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2019 Round 1, Pick 7
After being caught in the debacle that was the Celtics' logjam, many had given up on Reddish becoming a quality starter in this league. Dealt to Washington halfway through last season, he was given a green light he never saw up in Boston and quickly began making the most of it. In a league many have claimed to be devoid of capable wings, another good year by Reddish in 2022-23 could lead to a big payday as a restricted free agent.
4. Lonzo Ball (NYK) -- 36.1 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Originally Picked: 2017 Round 1, Pick 5
Once Ben Simmons decided to stop shooting threes in San Antonio, Ball's jumper became the laughing stock of the league. While he always had good playmaking and defensive abilities, his three years in Brooklyn were a miserable affair. In the midst of a contract year, he was traded across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Knicks and performed well enough to earn a multi-year deal. Now given full reign of the offense, he finally has developed into the do-everything point guard many hoped he would become when he was first drafted.
3. Kyle Kuzma (LAC) -- 31.9 MPG, 18.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2017 Round 1, Pick 8
After being one of the highlights of the Youth Killer article written a few seasons ago, Kuzma has appeared reenergized since leaving the Jazz. After one season in Dallas and a trip to the conference finals, he's moved over to the Clippers and flourished as a second option; even his once maligned defense has improved to a respectable level. Having earned a one-year max in the off-season, Kuzma is set to hit the market again with a chance to garner another big contract.
2. Kris Dunn (MIL) -- 35.1 MPG, 17.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Originally Picked: 2016 Round 1, Pick 10
After an underwhelming four years in Denver, Dunn appeared poised to strike out in free agency and be forced to play on a qualifying offer. However, his former team inexplicably gave him a lifeline, signing him to a two-year deal and shipping to Milwaukee where he's revitalized his career. Similar to Ball, Dunn's playmaking and defensive abilities have never been questioned. Now given a chance to score as well, he's been one of the biggest surprises of the season.
1. Spencer Dinwiddie (LAC) -- 37.3 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2014 Round 1, Pick 17
Many teams have tried to unlock Dinwiddie since he entered the league, ignoring his inconsistent production in hopes that his abilities would work out in the right system. Many teams failed. After finally showing signs of life as a reserve the past two seasons, the Clippers decided to bring him back this summer on a two-year deal. Needless to say, their faith has been greatly rewarded as Dinwiddie has looked like a borderline all-star filling in for an injured James Harden and keeping the team in the playoff hunt. Now with Harden on the mend, the Clippers have three legitimate scoring options to call upon in the loaded Western Conference.
And there you have it. As a lesson to all, just because a player doesn't work on another team, doesn't mean he can't work on yours. There's steals out there all the time, and if you can fit them to your system, you will have a great bargain on your hands. If you feel I snubbed somebody, feel free to let me know below.
10. Anfernee Simons (WAS) -- 24.4 MPG, 10.9 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Originally Picked: 2018 Round 2, Pick 1
Simons was the talk of the 2020 leftover free agency cycle after a phenomenal training camp, but many were surprised to see that the results didn't follow. While he won a championship in Dallas last season, he wasn't a big part of that team and struggled in the opportunities he got. Now with a fresh start in Washington, he has the security of a multi-year contract and has been a pleasant surprise in his newfound minutes.
9. De'Andre Hunter (ATL) -- 31.7 MPG, 11.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2019 Round 1, Pick 3
After being the centerpiece of a trade for superstar Bradley Beal, Hunter's early struggles in Cleveland were put under a magnifying glass for the entire league to see. Given a clean slate in Atlanta, he has developed into a reliable third option with decent volume and a knack for locking down the opposing team's small forward. While the trade for Beal will forever be a controversial moment in the league's history, there's no debating Hunter's improvement.
8. Jaren Jackson Jr. (DEN) -- 27.7 MPG, 10.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2018 Round 1, Pick 7
Admittedly, his numbers were much better when I thought of writing this article a week ago or so and he was consistently getting starter minutes. Still, JJJ has definitely looked to have taken a step in Denver, due in part to finally being given an opportunity to play at small forward and mask his subpar rebounding abilities. Having played for four teams in four seasons, it'll be very interesting to see what kind of contract he commands on the RFA market this off-season.
7. Danuel House (MIN) -- 25.5 MPG, 12.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2016 Round 1, Pick 23
Originally coming into the league as a SF/PF tweener, House has flourished this year in a role that many would have never expected for him: backup PG/SG. Having never averaged more than six points per game over the course of a full season, House looks set to double his previous career high. Currently playing on a league minimum, House is another interesting case study to watch out for as he hits the open market with no bird years this summer.
6. Trey Lyles (DET) -- 34.4 MPG, 13.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG
Originally Picked: 2015 Round 1, Pick 15
After six seasons and multiple G-League stints, Lyles was assumed around the league to be a low volume tweener forward. Many questioned why he received a four-year contract a few summers ago, but he appears to be changing the narrative. Now in his seventh season, he has earned full time starter minutes and made the most of them for a Detroit team that needs all the offense it can find. Earning just over six million each of the next two years, Lyles is one of the better bargains in the league at small forward.
5. Cam Reddish (WAS) -- 34.0 MPG, 15.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2019 Round 1, Pick 7
After being caught in the debacle that was the Celtics' logjam, many had given up on Reddish becoming a quality starter in this league. Dealt to Washington halfway through last season, he was given a green light he never saw up in Boston and quickly began making the most of it. In a league many have claimed to be devoid of capable wings, another good year by Reddish in 2022-23 could lead to a big payday as a restricted free agent.
4. Lonzo Ball (NYK) -- 36.1 MPG, 14.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 7.7 APG, 2.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG
Originally Picked: 2017 Round 1, Pick 5
Once Ben Simmons decided to stop shooting threes in San Antonio, Ball's jumper became the laughing stock of the league. While he always had good playmaking and defensive abilities, his three years in Brooklyn were a miserable affair. In the midst of a contract year, he was traded across the Brooklyn Bridge to the Knicks and performed well enough to earn a multi-year deal. Now given full reign of the offense, he finally has developed into the do-everything point guard many hoped he would become when he was first drafted.
3. Kyle Kuzma (LAC) -- 31.9 MPG, 18.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2017 Round 1, Pick 8
After being one of the highlights of the Youth Killer article written a few seasons ago, Kuzma has appeared reenergized since leaving the Jazz. After one season in Dallas and a trip to the conference finals, he's moved over to the Clippers and flourished as a second option; even his once maligned defense has improved to a respectable level. Having earned a one-year max in the off-season, Kuzma is set to hit the market again with a chance to garner another big contract.
2. Kris Dunn (MIL) -- 35.1 MPG, 17.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 8.3 APG, 2.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Originally Picked: 2016 Round 1, Pick 10
After an underwhelming four years in Denver, Dunn appeared poised to strike out in free agency and be forced to play on a qualifying offer. However, his former team inexplicably gave him a lifeline, signing him to a two-year deal and shipping to Milwaukee where he's revitalized his career. Similar to Ball, Dunn's playmaking and defensive abilities have never been questioned. Now given a chance to score as well, he's been one of the biggest surprises of the season.
1. Spencer Dinwiddie (LAC) -- 37.3 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Originally Picked: 2014 Round 1, Pick 17
Many teams have tried to unlock Dinwiddie since he entered the league, ignoring his inconsistent production in hopes that his abilities would work out in the right system. Many teams failed. After finally showing signs of life as a reserve the past two seasons, the Clippers decided to bring him back this summer on a two-year deal. Needless to say, their faith has been greatly rewarded as Dinwiddie has looked like a borderline all-star filling in for an injured James Harden and keeping the team in the playoff hunt. Now with Harden on the mend, the Clippers have three legitimate scoring options to call upon in the loaded Western Conference.
And there you have it. As a lesson to all, just because a player doesn't work on another team, doesn't mean he can't work on yours. There's steals out there all the time, and if you can fit them to your system, you will have a great bargain on your hands. If you feel I snubbed somebody, feel free to let me know below.
