What NBA groups ought to do with their open roster spots

Markelle Fultz

• Final with: Orlando Magic
• 2023/24 stats: 7.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.8 apg, 47.2 FG%, 22.2 3P%

In our offseason preview piece for the Magic right here at HoopsHype, it was speculated that maybe Fultz would be a part of a playoff-calibre workforce, albeit for the minimal wage:

For Fultz as a person, maybe the most effective factor to do will likely be to take a minimum-salary contract on a high-profile workforce and rebuild his profession/worth, in the best way that Malik Beasley and Kelly Oubre have executed this season.

To date, although, he has not executed a lot as that, and there’s scant little about him on the rumour mill. Stardom and riches in China probably await, but when Fultz desires to remain in contact with the NBA – and he ought to – then his choices are dwindling.

Talen Horton-Tucker

• Final with: Utah Jazz
• 2023/24 stats: 10.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 39.6 FG%, 33.0 3P%

In a market the place high quality gamers similar to Tyus Jones have settled for the minimal wage, when clearly deserving of far more, it’s onerous to see something above that for Horton-Tucker, who to date has not even gotten that a lot. The Jazz – preferring Brice Sensabaugh – have renounced his cap hold as a way of facilitating the extension of Lauri Markkanen, leaving him with, it could seem, no suitors. Horton-Tucker has expertise, however his deployment of that expertise (similar to driving into closed lanes, capturing when he ought to go, et cetera) continues to be not the place it must be, and on condition that he now has 5 years on the clock, he’s not the prospect. Wants a bounce-back season.

Dennis Smith Jr

• Final with: Brooklyn Nets
• 2023/24 stats: 6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 43.5 FG%, 29.4 3P%

Having fallen out of the NBA for a bit, Smith Jr made his return with a stable bounce-back season with the Hornets in 2022/23, and was stable sufficient in his consolidation season with Brooklyn. The athleticism, protection and energy have been good issues to imprint on the rebuilding roster round him, and whereas he’s insurmountably distant from the upside he was as soon as thought to have, it’s not a foul function to embrace going ahead.

Jordan Goodwin

• Final with: Memphis Grizzlies
• 2023/24 stats: 6.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 36.9 FG%, 29.8 3P%

Goodwin was one of many predominant beneficiaries of Memphis’s misplaced season, because the absence of Ja Morant gave him loads of taking part in time. After spending the primary half of the season with the Suns, he spent 17 video games with the Grizzlies to shut out the 12 months, beginning 12 of them, and averaging 10.0 factors, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per recreation. The three-year veteran has not acquired a constant shot profile, struggling from all areas, but his vitality, hustle and dedication are infectious, and he wins possessions and bothers greater opponents far more than a 6-foot-3 participant usually would. He nonetheless has some years to develop as a scorer and shooter, though the time to kick on is now.

Ish Smith

• Final with: Charlotte Hornets
• 2023/24 stats: 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.4 apg, 41.8 FG%, 50.0 3P%

At age 36, the e book on Smith has been long-since written. He has been – within the nicest potential definition of the phrase – a journeyman reserve within the NBA for 14 years now; if there’s to be a fifteenth, his greatest guess is likely to be as an in-season 10-day contract or partially-guaranteed signing.

Others: Jacob Gilyard, Trent Forrest, Jared Butler, Lester Quinones, Shabazz Napier