Rodions Kurucs

Kurucs ended up enjoying a robust role for a second-round pick last season, as the now-21-year-old averaged 20.5 minutes over 63 games, with 46 of those starting assignments. The second-year pro from Latvia brought some Euroleague experience into the NBA, which may have helped lay the foundation for a solid start to his professional career stateside. Kurucs finished with 8.5 points (on 45.0 percent shooting) and 3.9 rebounds across 20.5 minutes last season, filling in at both forward spots. Kurucs finished off the postseason with a 14-point, seven-rebound effort over 15 minutes in Game 5 against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals and then followed it up with averages of 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals across 24.5 minutes over six games in Las Vegas Summer League play. Looking ahead to the coming season, Kurucs should be in for at least a slight increase in playing time, although a solid veteran in Wilson Chandler does slot in behind him on the depth chart and should see his fair share of opportunity. Kurucs still figures to be no better than a fourth option in the offense when the starting five is at full health, however. D'Angelo Russell has been swapped out for an equally high-usage asset in Kyrie Irving, while DeAndre Jordan now joins Jarrett Allen down low and figures to gobble up plenty of the frontcourt's rebounding opportunities. Meanwhile, highly capable wings Joe Harris and Caris LeVert figure to command a robust allotment of shot attempts as well, leaving Kurucs with some, but not an abundance, of opportunity to upgrade his rookie-season numbers.