Cleveland Cavaliers: Where Kevin Love ranks among other starting centers
#27 – Thomas Bryant – Washington Wizards
Thomas Bryant played more for the Washington Wizards last season than was initially expected after an injury to Dwight Howard, and he played solidly. However, Bryant’s ceiling is likely last season.
Bryant minutes per game improved from 4.8 as a rookie to 20.8 as a second-year man. Naturally, his per-game averages increased as well. As a rookie, he averaged 1.5 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. In his second season, he averaged 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game (all stats per Basketball-Reference).
The Wizards are going to be in contention for the number one pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, especially if they move star shooting guard Bradley Beal. John Wall is likely to miss the entire season. Bryant will likely put up some solid stats out of necessity, but like Zeller and the Hornets, it won’t affect the win-loss column much.
#26 – Ivica Zubac – Los Angeles Clippers
Ivica Zubac starting last season with the cross-town rival Los Angeles Lakers before being dealt to the Clippers. Zubac is going to be vital to the Clippers’ success this season as they are a bit undersized.
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Montrezl Harrell and Jaymichael Green are the only other two players on the present-day roster that can play center, and both of them are primarily power forwards.
Zubac will play a lot of minutes when having to match up with teams who have bigger centers like the Lakers (Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis), Houston Rockets (Clint Capela), Portland Trail Blazers (Hassan Whiteside, Jusuf Nurkic when healthy), and the Golden State Warriors (Willy Cauley-Stein).
With an NBA title as their goal, the career 6.9 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game per Basketball-Reference, Zubac will be instrumental in fulfilling that goal.
#25 – Dwight Powell – Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks will have thoughts of making the playoffs this season with star big-man Kristaps Porzingis returning from a torn ACL in the 2016-17 season to join forces with budding superstar Luka Doncic.
Dwight Powell had the best year of his career last season in Dallas and he will be counted on to improve upon that excellent season.
While his raw per-game stats of 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game (Basketball-Reference) may go down due to the return of Porzingis, he will be counted on, on the defensive end of the floor, and to be very efficient on the offensive end.