Cavs: Jordan Clarkson’s top competition for Sixth Man of the Year
#4 – Fred VanVleet – Toronto Raptors
While Toronto Raptors fans surely already loved diminutive guard Fred VanVleet, the rest of
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America fell in love with him during the NBA Finals. He was spectacular and one of the key support pieces for the Raptors during their title run.
VanVleet was also very solid in the regular season last year. Per Basketball-Reference he had per-game averages of 11.0 points, 4.8 points, and 2.6 rebounds.
He will receive a lot of playing time this season and will likely be the first guard option off of the Raptors bench. Veteran All-Star Kyle Lowry may see his minutes limited to try to save his legs for the playoffs as he is starting to pile the miles up. That means more playing time for the young, fleet of foot VanVleet.
A lot of experts are counting the Raptors out in the Eastern Conference as far as being a contender due to Kawhi Leonard move to the West Coast, however, their bench will be one of the better bench units in the conference and it will be led by VanVleet.
#3 – Spencer Dinwiddie – Brooklyn Nets
Spencer Dinwiddie is coming off the best season of his career. A season in which the Nets surprised the NBA world and made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Now they add Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, who won’t play this season, and DeAndre Jordan. The Nets are deep and talented and should be considered a favorite in the East.
Dinwiddie will be the primary backup at both guard positions behind Irving and sharpshooting Joe Harris.
Last season was a banner season for Dinwiddie and he finished fourth in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting after sporting per game averages of 16.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per Basketball-Reference.
Dinwiddie is finally living up to his first-round draft selection and is a budding breakout star. He will be a major key in the Nets making a run come postseason time.