Jabari Walker
Was there any scenario in which the Trail Blazers would move on from Jabari Walker this summer? Probably not, but the Colorado product started the year as a second-year player with some potential and will finish it as a guaranteed piece of the franchise's young core.
Walker has been consistent and reliable for head coach Chauncey Billups, playing in 69 games and starting 20 while averaging 8.9 points and 6.6 rebounds. He's even shown some flashes of an expanding skill set as a scorer. His effort and tenacity on the boards (2.0 of those 6.9 rebounds have come on the offensive glass) have been irreplaceable to the Blazers.
The 6-foot-9 big man is averaging 13.0 points and a wild 17.7 rebounds in his last three games.