Predicting one breakout player for each NBA team in 2024: Eastern Conference Edition

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The start of the NBA season is here, so let’s predict one breakout player from each Eastern Conference team ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. 

Editor’s Note: This is the Eastern Conference edition of our series on breakout player candidates for each NBA team in the 2024-25 season. The Western Conference edition can be read here.

Every year, each team opens the season with optimism about their new acquisitions or young prospects who are due for a breakout season. Some breakouts are easier to predict than others, but the formula used for this list will be a blend of past production, talent, upside, and most importantly, opportunity.

The top five Most Improved Player Award results last season went as follows: Tyrese Maxey, Coby White, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Brunson. Some of those “breakouts” were expected, but then you have Coby White, who seemingly came out of nowhere after a relatively disappointing start to his career.

But making an unexpected leap comes in several different forms. This will focus on players leaping from one level to another, rather than getting fixated on their past “leaps.” Yes, some of these players have already broken out, but there are levels to it. From bench player to key rotation piece, from role player to key starter, from starter to star, or from star to superstar, there are various ways to make “breakout watch” in this league.

Here are 15 players we think are due for a breakout in the Eastern Conference.

Atlanta Hawks: Dyson Daniels

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The trendy pick here would be Jalen Johnson. Almost every outlet and fantasy basketball preview this season has already churned out several words about why he is “next”. While I agree he is primed for a breakout season, the newly acquired Dyson Daniels is a name that is not being talked about enough. So let’s focus on him.

Acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade with the Pelicans, Daniels is a former lottery pick with a clear path to minutes and will get the bulk of those minutes alongside a true point guard in Trae Young. Last season, Daniels appeared in 61 games (16 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in 22.3 minutes. His 44/31/64 shooting splits left a lot to be desired, but defense is his calling card.

In his preseason debut for Atlanta, Daniels compiled 14 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 rebound in 22 minutes on 5-8 shooting from the field. He hit one of his three attempts from three-point range. If he can figure out his shot, the rest of his offensive game will work itself out with Trae Young finding him on cuts or leaking out in transition for easy buckets.

Boston Celtics: Sam Hauser

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The Celtics return all of their key players and most of them already broke out during their title run. Sam Hauser had some big moments for the Celtics last season, and his elite shooting can keep him on the floor in key moments. He is a career 42.2% shooter from long range and at 6’8 has the size to get his shot off with ease.

A true breakout season for him will be tough due to how deep Boston is. If he can get more volume up on the threes with continued elite efficiency he could be recognized as one of the best shooters in the association. He saw his minutes rise from 6.1 in his rookie season to 16.1 in 2002-23 up to 22.0 a season ago. That upward trajectory and trust from Boston’s staff leads me to believe he has more in the tank and will deliver in the second unit alongside Payton Pritchard.

Brooklyn Nets: Cam Thomas

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Honorable Mention: Trendon Watford

Brooklyn has several breakout candidates, but Cam Thomas will be the alpha scorer on a rebuilding team. He increased his points per game from 10.6 to 22.5 last season, which is already a considerable leap, but he’s just getting started.

With Mikal Bridges out of the mix, Thomas will surely get upwards of 20 shot attempts per game after averaging ~18 per game last season. He can score from all three levels and has never met a shot he doesn’t like. But it’s not just about the scoring for him to hit the next level of his game. If he can make strides in playmaking with all the defensive attention he will draw, that’s a game-changer. His efficiency and defense are other areas of potential improvement, but overall he has one job: get buckets. He will succeed in that department. Brooklyn may not be world-beaters next season, but expect Thomas to have some absurd scoring nights. I could see him going for 55-plus one night. He had four 40-plus point performances last season for Brooklyn.

Charlotte Hornets: Tre Mann

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Tre Mann is a dynamic scorer entering his age-23 season in what should be a significant reserve role with plenty of opportunity to showcase his talent. Charlotte acquired him in the Gordon Hayward trade last February after having his minutes blocked by a deep Oklahoma City squad. He is entering his fifth season in the association, and now has a direct path to minutes sharing the backcourt with LaMelo Ball. Last season, Mann appeared in 28 games for the Hornets post-trade and put up 11.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on a 55.2 TS%.

The former 18th overall pick has picked up where he left off, averaging 16 PPG in 19 MPG on 64.9% shooting from the field in his first three preseason games. His shifty handle and ability to hit tough stepback jumpers make him a dangerous off-the-dribble threat.

In short: The guy just gets buckets. Is it crazy to say that Mann is a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate?

Chicago Bulls: Josh Giddey

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The change of scenery and expanded role for Josh Giddey makes him a no-brainer pick for a Bulls team stuck in basketball purgatory. Giddey has elite court vision and size and is capable of stuffing the stat sheet on any given night. He is viewed as a foundational piece in Chicago’s rebuild after losing DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.

Last season, Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on a 47/33/80 shooting splits in 80 games while averaging 25.1 minutes per contest. Coming off career lows in nearly every stat across the board, expect him to bounce back in a new environment with free reign. His production could soar to the 18-9-7 range with several triple-doubles next season in a unique (but kinda fun?) backcourt alongside Coby White and Zach LaVine (assuming the latter is not traded or injured).

Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley

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The Cavaliers have the infrastructure in place to be a force this season. The backcourt is explosive, the bigs are versatile, and they have shooting around them plus a lockdown wing defender in Isaac Okoro. They go as Donovan Mitchell goes offensively, but Evan Mobley has a chance to be the most impactful two-way star for the Cavs as soon as this season.

Very few bigs can move the way Mobley does defensively. His offensive game isn’t reliant on needing the ball in his hands to make an impact. He can finish around the rim at a high rate and has a soft touch in the mid-range. If his three-ball starts falling more consistently as it did last season on a higher volume, a breakout is entirely possible. His calling card is defense, and should he pair an improved offensive game with higher usage while maintaining his excellent defense, he has a chance to solidify himself as one of the best young bigs in the game.

Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey

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Ivey has all of the tools to be a special guard in the NBA. The beginning of his career has been bumpy, dealing with plenty of adversity and struggles early on. He was cut out of the starting lineup for a significant chunk of last season, but now with a new coaching situation, he is looking to rise from the ashes.

Last season, Ivey averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.4 rebounds on a 43/33/75 shooting split in 77 games (61 starts). He saw his minutes decrease from 31.1 his rookie season to 28.8 and started in 12 fewer games despite playing in three more than the previous year. He has looked sharp early in the preseason. With Cade Cunningham looking healthy again, he and Ivey should have a chance to form a strong backcourt with a stronger supporting cast around them than a season ago.

Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin

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Honorable Mention: Jarace Walker

It’s hard to believe Mathurin is still just 22 years old. He burst onto the scene his rookie season, averaging 16.7 points per game, and saw nearly 30 minutes a night. Last season may look like he regressed on paper, but in reality, he was adjusting to a new role and dealt with an injury that prematurely shut his season down.

The improvement in his three-pointer was noticeable before he suffered an injury and missed the playoffs. Indiana sure missed him on the wing in the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. Haliburton will love to have another option with him pushing the tempo in what should be a crisp Pacers offense yet again. Indiana plays an exciting style of uptempo basketball, and it’s easy to see Mathurin thriving in it next season in year three.

Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic

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The Miami Heat are known for finding diamonds in the rough, and Nikola Jovic might be the next “how did they get him/where did he come from” rotation piece in Miami. Jovic, the 27th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Serbia, has shown significant strides in his game. He was a key piece in Serbia’s Bronze Medal run this summer.

He is viewed as a “connector” thanks to his 6’10 frame and ability to weave through traffic with his tight handle and excellent court vision. He can also space the floor well and do a little bit of everything, making his fit seamless in just about any lineup Erik Spoelstra throws out there. Between him and Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami has a pair of two versatile young forwards who can play the “Swiss Army knife” role. Expect him to stuff the stat sheet plenty next year for the Heat.

Milwaukee Bucks: Gary Trent Jr.

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The Bucks are a team filled with proven veterans, making it tough to see any true sleeper breakouts cracking this list. Gary Trent Jr. is a reliable veteran wing, and he will get plenty of minutes alongside Dame and Giannis, commanding plenty of defensive attention. That means a wealth of open looks for Trent Jr., a career 38% shooter from deep.

A large role, clean looks, and a chip on his shoulder as he looks to rebuild his value? That ticks the boxes for how breakout candidates are formed, and at the very least figures to rebuild his value for a larger payday next summer.

New York Knicks: Jericho Sims

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Honorable Mention: Miles McBride

The Knicks will need some help at center with Mitchell Robinson out until at least January. While KAT will get minutes at center to help offset that loss, having a big with the vertical spacing that Sims provides is paramount in today’s NBA. The inside-out game could even pair the two on the court at the same time after the success Towns had with Gobert in Minnesota.

He should rack up rebounds and continue his high-flying act in a larger role with Robinson sidelined. If he looks like a capable rotation big while Robinson is out, the Knicks could be more comfortable trading him, freeing Sims for a consistent role.

Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs

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Jalen Suggs is a versatile guard who can impact the game in several ways. The addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope should help take some pressure off Suggs defensively and allow him to focus more on being an offensive threat.

Suggs will still wreak havoc defensively; it’s in his DNA as a hard-nosed competitor. The opportunity to focus more of his energy on facilitating/playmaking will be the key for him to elevate his game. He shot a career-best 39% from three on over 5 attempts per game last season, indicating there is more to his game offensively. There are so many reasons to love Jalen Suggs’ game, and that list should continue growing as he progresses. This could be the year he puts it all together for Orlando.

Philadelphia 76ers: Caleb Martin

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The Sixers have Paul George and Kelly Oubre on the wing, but Caleb Martin could be the sneaky addition that makes a greater impact than expected. He has been a reliable rotation piece for Miami the past three seasons and averaged a career-high 10 points per game in 2023-24.

Martin is a career 35.6% shooter from deep and had several key moments as an integral piece in Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals. The 76ers will give him plenty of run and with Paul George and Joel Embiid’s injury history, he may find himself playing heavy minutes for large stretches. Either way, Martin was a nice addition to a Philadelphia team that could use someone in his mold.

Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick

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Honorable Mention(s): Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett

Toronto has three legitimate candidates you could place for this label, but Gradey is the guy who can solve their spacing issues with a strong shooting season. Dick has to make it click as a floor spacer alongside Quickley given the rest of the team’s reluctance to shoot at times.

The Kansas product shot 36.5% from three-point range during his rookie campaign. He just had a 27-point preseason outing along with 6 boards and 2 steals on 12-21 shooting. Dick is locked in as Toronto’s starting shooting guard and should see significant minutes, priming him for a breakout second season.

Washington Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly

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Coulibaly is another prospect primed for a breakout sophomore season. Head Coach Brian Keefe recently said that he intends “to assign Coulibaly to guard opponents’ most dangerous perimeter players and also expect him to take more of a role handling the ball and initiating the offense.”

Along with the heavy minutes, the former lottery pick recently turned 20 years old and has 15 starts in 63 games under his belt. During his rookie year in Washington, he averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in 27.2 minutes. With a year under his belt and confidence instilled from his head coach, expect a big sophomore year from the French guard.