The NBA Role-Player All-Stars
By: Spencer Young
Tags: Future, Spencer Young, All Star Game, NBA, Sports

Starters:

Joe Ingles, Guard/Forward, Utah Jazz

When Mike Conley first arrived in Utah, his presence caused Joe Ingles to post some of the worst numbers of his career. Now, since Conley has returned from injury, Ingles is arguably the more valuable player. When Conley was out, Ingles slotted in as the team’s point guard, and he thrived, showing the benefits of years of experience with Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.

Ingles is one of the league’s best shooters, at 39.6% for the season and 40.7% for his career. While it took him a while to get going, he was on a tear when first being reintroduced into the starting lineup. One adjustment he has made is in the type of threes he takes. Rather than shoot catch and shoot threes like a traditional off-ball wing, he is now taking more pull-up threes than ever before.

This newfound threat of the pull-up three makes Ingles one of the best pick and roll ball-handlers in the league, where his chemistry with Gobert is simply unparalleled. Ingles was already a terrific pick and roll player due to his craftiness; now, teams have almost no answer to stop the Ingles-Gobert connection.

Defensively, while he isn’t the best, he pairs quick hands with veteran guile, which have made up for his athletic shortcomings for many years now. But with Royce O’Neale, Donovan Mitchell, and Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, the Jazz don’t need Ingles to be an out-of-this-world defender.

Ingles should remain in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future, as he and the Jazz have one of the best starting units in the NBA. In the playoffs, Ingles ability to defend and hit threes will be crucial, as well as his ability to be a secondary playmaker to relieve to load off of Donovan Mitchell. In just the past two seasons, fans have watched Ingles have terrific performances against the likes of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Paul George, and the Jazz will need Ingles to continue that success.

Marcus Smart, Guard, Boston Celtics

On a team with All-Star Jayson Tatum and All-Star level forwards in Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, Marcus Smart has consistently carved out a role for himself by being arguably the NBA’s best perimeter defender. He has the aggressive, bulldog-like defensive style of Patrick Beverley, but what separates Smart is his strength and ability to battle down low against players who are over six inches taller than him.

Offensively, Smart begrudgingly refuses to hold back from shooting threes, now launching a career-high 6.5 threes per game. He is shooting a respectable percentage, however, and defenses can’t completely ignore him. He is also a strong secondary ball-handler, helping to run second units as a de facto point guard at times. Also, his aforementioned strength allows him to bully past players, either for easy post-touches or kick-out passes; he is averaging a near career-high 4.7 assists in Brad Stevens spaced-out offense.

It can be hard to put Smart’s defensive value into context, as defensive metrics are highly flawed, but Smart already has two defensive win shares and a defensive box plus/minus of 0.8, with just 43 games under his belt. It is hard to fathom that a 6'3" guard is a team’s best option against LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, or even Giannis Antetokounmpo, yet that is what Smart is: an otherworldly defensive presence who chips in on offense.

The playoffs haven’t always been kind to Smart; he struggled from the field in the Celtics’ storied 2018 playoff run, and an injury limited him in last year’s playoffs. Smart, like the Celtics, will be looking to avenge last year’s disappointment this time around.

Davis Bertans, Forward, Washington Wizards

When Davis Bertans was quietly sent to the Washington Wizards so the Spurs could clear cap room to sign Marcus Morris, little was made of the move for Washington. While it was made clear that Gregg Popovich liked the Latvian sharpshooter, Popovich never favored Bertans over older, aging players like Rudy Gay.

Fast forward to this season and Bertans is making his case as the NBA’s most improved player. He is now a starter who is a legitimate tertiary option to Bradley Beal in D.C. Bertans is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and his tall frame, high release, and extreme range make him one of the most lethal offensive weapons in basketball.

At 6'10", Bertans’ shot cannot be blocked, and defenders need to stay attached to him at all times, which is an essential reason why the Wizards have one of the best offenses in the league. He doesn’t drive often, though his height does aid him when finishing inside.

Bertans has only started 4 games this season, mostly for defensive purposes. At 15 points per game, however, he is one of the most prolific scorers on the Wizards. With Bertans entering free agency in an otherwise weak free-agent class, one contender is sure to offer a massive contract to gain the Latvian sharpshooter, an investment that is worth making.

Paul Millsap, Forward, Denver Nuggets

A former All-Star transitioning to life as a role player, Paul Millsap has become an invaluable piece for the Denver Nuggets. His offensive capabilities, ability to anchor a defense, and veteran leadership all make him one of the best role players in the league. In the playoffs, he re-emerged as a primary scoring option when fatigue and inexperience plagued Denver’s young stars in Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.

This year, Millsap is shooting 44.0% from three, effectively eliminating one of his only weaknesses. While he has lost a step defensively, he relies on his smarts more than his athleticism, anyways.

He missed a large slate of games as well, but with Jerami Grant, the Nuggets are more prepared to survive when Millsap exits the floor. Recently, he has been coming off of the bench for the more athletic Grant, but his impact remains, as in just his second game back from injury, he scored 22 points with 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block against the Spurs.

Whether Denver will keep Millsap, who is on an expiring contract, remains to be seen. But Millsap is still central to Denver’s playoff chances, where he will have to match up with some combination of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gobert, and Kristaps Porzingis.

Aron Baynes, Center, Phoenix Suns

When Aron Baynes became the starting center in place of the suspended Deandre Ayton, nobody could have anticipated the meteoric rise of Baynes as a starter. Suddenly he was utilized everywhere offensively, hitting hook shots, face-up jumpers, and even three-pointers.

It is his three-point shot that took Baynes from being an average, physical center, to a true offensive weapon. Early in the season, before teams were aware of his shooting ability, Baynes launched 4.4 threes per game — and hit them at a remarkable 48.4% clip. The unanticipated aspect of Baynes’ shooting was a catalyst in the Suns’ surprising 5–2 start.

But Baynes has maintained the rest of his game, still setting solid screens to free up guards and playing physical defense. He is a solid finisher in the lane, though his frame doesn’t allow him to elevate very far off the ground. Overall, for the season, he is averaging 11.5 points, far and away a career-high

Recently, Baynes has struggled with injuries, and the reintegration of Deandre Ayton means an end to the fun actions that coach Monty Williams ran for Baynes at the beginning of the year. Still, Baynes will likely end up on a contender soon, where his unique 3&D abilities as a huge 6' 10" center will be better put to use.