NBA up-and-coming duos tier list: Where do Scoot Henderson & Shaedon Sharpe rank?
By Reese Kunz
Tier 2: The future of the league is in good hands
2. Chet Holmgren & Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder could have three All-Stars next season, even in the loaded Western Conference. What's even scarier for the rest of the league is that Holmgren is 22, Williams is 23, and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is 26. Something to monitor this upcoming season will be how Holmgren does with more minutes at the power forward spot after OKC landed Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency this summer.
3. Paolo Banchero & Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
The Magic have one of the league's most under-the-radar stars, and it's not named Paolo Banchero. With his size, athleticism, and versatility, Franz Wagner has all the tools to be a dominant force in the league.
Their shooting is the only thing keeping this duo from being higher on the list. Banchero shot 33.9 percent from beyond the arc last season, while Wagner connected on only 28.1 of his attempts. The good news is that they are incredibly young (Paolo is 21, and Wagner is 23) and have plenty of time to develop that aspect of their games.
4. LaMelo Ball & Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
LaMelo has gone from being overrated to underrated. While he likely can't be the best player on a team with championship aspirations, he still possesses many great qualities that contribute to winning basketball (despite his, at times, overly flashy plays).
Between Ball and Miller, the Hornets have a great one-two punch of versatile players who can stretch the floor for each other. The future is bright in Charlotte, but they need to bolster their wing rotation to give these two players a better chance of making the playoffs in the East.
5. Anthony Edwards & Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves
Similarly to the Spurs with Wemby and Castle, the Timberwolves have their duo of a young superstar and a promising but unproven rookie. They could fit into the criteria for the next tier, but Edwards is too special of a player not to have them here. After all, many analysts debated last season about whether or not Edwards should be considered the future face of the league.
Many have concerns about Dillingham as a prospect due to his frame and defensive limitations, but he has a great landing spot in Minnesota. The Timberwolves have two-way wings and bigs who can protect the paint and compensate for Dillingham's weaknesses.