With so much talent in the NBA, plenty of skilled players make their impact off the bench. If you want to be a contender in this league, the ability to go nine or ten guys deep is a must, but a strong second unit always begins with a dynamic sixth man. Here are the five best early candidates for NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors.

5. Norman Powell - Raptors

Norman Powell is certainly the least-known player on this list. Part of this probably comes down to the fact that he plays in Canada, but NBA fans should know his name. While his numbers aren't incredible -- 9.6 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.1 rebounds in 22.4 minutes a game -- Powell has had times in which he looks like the best player on the court. He's the most important member of a bench unit in Toronto that ranks toward the top of the league.

4. Jordan Clarkson - Lakers

Jordan Clarkson just keeps on playing hard. The fourth-year player out of Missouri has been overlooked at times amid fanfare over well-hyped Lakers like Lonzo Ball and Julius Randle, but that hasn't stopped Clarkson from consistently producing, and with season averages of 14.8 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds, he's putting together an early case for Sixth Man of the Year.

3. Marcus Morris - Celtics

Don't sleep on Marcus Morris. The power forward came to Boston from Detroit this offseason in the trade for Avery Bradley, and after missing the first portion of the season with knee problems, the stretch four out of Kansas is really showing his value. Morris has been a big reason for the Celtics' somewhat surprising success this season as an effective anchor of the second unit. Morris is averaging 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds and provides immense value for Boston as a guy who can always get his shot off.

2. Eric Gordon - Rockets

Eric Gordon needs no introduction in the Sixth Man of the Year discussion. The Rockets shooting guard won the award last season, and he has picked up right where he left off. Gordon is averaging 19.4 points, 2.6 assists and 3.1 three-pointers per game for the Western Conference-leading Rockets. Gordon plays an immense amount of minutes off the bench at 31 per game, so don't be surprised to hear his name called once again when award season comes around.

1. Lou Williams - Clippers