I’ll start this with an overly optimistic outlook.

Record: 59-23 (#1 seed)
- The league’s top scoring team just added the best defensive player in the NBA. Replacing PatBev and Vando in the staring lineup with Gobert and McDaniels is going to make this team so much better, think about that again - Bev/Vando for Gobert/McDaniels…the results may throw the planet off its axis.
KAT and Ant will have career years. Gobert will find new life playing with the most talented team he’s ever played on. DLo will embrace his new role as a true floor general.
Rudy Gobert - C
13.3 PPG / 13.9 RPG / 2.1 APG / 1.1 SPG / 2.5 BPG / 32 MPG
Awards:
- DPOTY
- 3rd Team All NBA
- 1st Team Defense
- All Star
- Motivated and hungry to prove doubters wrong, Gobert will continue to dominate on the defensive end. This time, however, he’s surrounded by the most talented team he’s played with; Rudy’s presence will elevate everyone’s game.
Karl-Anthony Towns - PF
25.8 PPG / 11.4 RPG / 4.7 APG / 1.2 SPG / 1.5 BPG / 32 MPG
Awards:
- 1st team All NBA
- All Star
- KAT will surprise many in his new role playing PF. The pairing with Gobert will prove to be very successful and KAT will have a career year, resulting in a 1st team All NBA selection at PF.
Jaden McDaniels - SF
10.3 PPG / 6.2 RPG / 1.3 APG / 1.3 SPG / 1.4 BPG / 29 MPG
Awards:
(None)
- Jaden will find himself starting for us and have a stellar year at SF. Having Gobert, protecting the rim, will make his role in guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player much easier.
Anthony Edwards - SG
26.4 PPG / 5.8 RPG / 4.4 APG / 2.2 SPG / 0.8 BPG / 33 MPG
Awards:
- 1st team All NBA
- All Star
- As expected, Ant will have a breakout year that will result in 1st team All NBA honors and an All Star appearance. Ant will have the ball in his hands much more this season and attack the rim regularly; this will result in many FTs and keep pressure on the D. After this season, many will view this as Ant’s team and he’ll become one of the media’s favorite players and considered THE top SG in the league. ANTicipating a nice jump in steals and overall defense from Ant as well.
D’Angelo Russell - PG
14.8 PPG / 3.6 RPG / 8.6 APG / 1.2 SPG / 0.3 BPG / 31 MPG
Awards:
(None)
- Playing for a contract, and embracing the role as a floor general, DLo will average a career high in assists. The KAT/Ant duo will offer plenty of firepower and DLo’s scoring will take a hit, but he’ll be dishing out many efficient dimes, especially via PnR, to Rudy. He will defer to Ant a lot this season as the primary ball handler, but he’ll still get plenty of opportunities to distribute the ball.
Bench:
Taurean Prince: 9/3/1 while being regarded as a top vet presence. He’ll be one of the first off the bench and give us a solid 20 minutes a night.
Kyle Anderson: 7/5/3 while providing solid defense all around and being a great playmaker at the 3/4 for the 2nd unit. 20 MPG
Jaylen Nowell: 11/3/3 as Malik’s replacement. He’ll be the first guard off the bench and bring a new element to the 2nd unit with his playmaking ability- something Malik didn’t offer. 18-20 MPG
Austin Rivers: 5/2/2. Good vet presence and will emerge as the preferred backup PG (my guess is Forbes/Rivers/Jmac will all split this role, though). Will see some DNPs. 8-12 MPG
Jordan McLaughlin: 5/2/3. He’ll continue to come off the bench but have some DNPs. 8-12 MPG
Bryn Forbes: 7/1/1. There will be some DNPs, but when he does play he’ll be lights out. Expect a few 20 point games. 8-12 MPG
Naz Reid: 7/4/1. His role will decrease and he’ll also see many DNPs. 8-12 MPG
Rotation:
Rudy (32) / KAT (8) / Naz (8)
KAT (24) / Prince (12) / Anderson (12)
McDaniels (29) / Prince (8) / Anderson (8) / Ant (3)
Ant (30) / Nowell (18)
DLo (31) / Rivers/McLaughlin/Forbes (17)