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15. (Tie) Dante Exum, Utah Jazz and Frank Kaminsky, Charlotte Hornets

Have you seen what Dante Exum has done since the All-Star break? Before laying an egg against the Sacramento Kings on March 30, he was shooting 45 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from three, improving his decision-making off the bounce and just generally gaining confidence through garbage-time detonations.

How about what Frank Kaminsky started doing just prior to said All-Star break? He's averaging 15.7 points and 2.3 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from distance over his last 15 games. His rim protection is still blah, but he's holding his own on defense overall.

Keep your eyes on both basketball cubs. They could be gearing up for third-year breakouts.

14. Stanley Johnson, Detroit Pistons

Anyone else prepared to die on the Stanley Johnson hill?

Johnson's playing time is down from last season, but that says more about the Detroit Pistons' wonky spacing and personnel. His intensity on the defensive end seldom wavers, and he can already be a frightening playmaker off the bounce—despite the complete lack of a jump shot.

13. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn Nets

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson still can't shoot and has regressed as a pick-and-roll distributor (turnovers, man). But he continues to be a happy surprise as an overall playmaker. His assists per 100 possessions are up more than a tick from his rookie season, and he's drawing a lot more fouls.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson is using Hollis-Jefferson more liberally at the 4, and it's working. His defensive efforts would be viewed more favorably if he played for another team. He is the third-most valuable sophomore on the less glamorous side, according to NBA Math's Defensive Points Saved.

12. Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors

Norman Powell has ambled in and out of a second-year offensive coma, and his defensive intensity has fluctuated by the game and assignment. But he remains active enough for the Toronto Raptors to spin trading Terrence Ross as a win.

P.J. Tucker's arrival has helped bring Powell's defensive workload to a manageable head, and the 23-year-old has been a constant in one-on-one situations. Opponents are shooting 9-of-28 against him in isolation (32.1 percent) while coughing up the rock almost 16 percent of the time.

11. Montrezl Harrell, Houston Rockets

Listed at 6'8", Montrezl Harrell somehow spends almost half of his floor time at center without giving up an inch.

He rates as a better rim protector than Nene and more effective post-up blockade than Clint Capela. He doesn't have three-point range (that we've seen) or rebound particularly well, but he's shooting almost 75 percent at the rim and nearly 60 percent as the pick-and-roll diver.

Surprised? Impressed? Surprised as how impressed you are? Good. You're supposed to be.