The NBA Finals tip off on Thursday, so with a couple of days in between, let’s discuss a few players who caught my attention in the postseason. Rather than pull from the teams competing for the Championship, I will revisit the players from the 14 teams who’ve been eliminated and assess whose stock is rising or falling after this postseason run.
Beginning with the rising stars, here are three players who boosted their draft stock ahead of next season.
While we were short-changed seeing Paolo in just seven postseason games, I saw enough to know he will be an early-to mid-third-round pick next year.
Banchero did everything for the Magic; he led them in points and rebounds and, similar to the regular season, acted as their primary playmaker. The Magic were so dependent on him that his usage rate soared to 34% against the Cavs, the third-highest of any player in the postseason.
The increased demand also resulted in a higher turnover rate, but that is nothing to worry about. Orlando will prioritize getting some shooters in free agency, which should only benefit Paolo’s potential assists. And imagine if his three-ball magically reappears. Even if it’s not at a 40% clip, hitting the league average of 36% with that kind of postseason volume (5.7 per game attempts) would drive his price up.
He’s going into his third NBA season, having already secured Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star berth. Any improvement in his efficiency with that type of production will make him a top-30 player in points and category leagues.
J-Dub was the player I chose to break out in the 2024 Playoffs. He struggled offensively in the Conference semifinals, shooting an uncharacteristic 42% from the field in that series. Still, I was encouraged by what he accomplished in his first postseason tour.
In the first-round sweep of the Pelicans, Williams showcased his two-way skillset, averaging 21 points with seven boards, five assists and two stocks across four games — all better marks than his regular season numbers. And while the scoring dipped versus the Mavericks, he carried the second-highest usage and racked up over 12 rebounds + assists per…
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