'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
So much has already been said this off-season about the new duos forming across the league, with stars from every corner teaming up to form the most open season of this generation. It's difficult not to talk about who will come out on top next year.
It seems that gone are the days of the big three, as player movement has reached a point where half the league has a superstar duo. Whether it's LeBron and AD or Kawhi and PG, they each have a window to win and for most, that opportunity is right now.
But in today's article, we take a look toward the future and rank the upcoming partnerships that will one day take over the NBA for years to come:
#5 Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
Career stats
Jayson Tatum: 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game
Jaylen Brown: 11.2 points, 4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game
Much has been spoken about the Celtics roster, their depth and impressive young core. During their first year playing together, Tatum and Brown managed to force a game seven against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers without star Kyrie Irving.
Last season, they were underwhelming and suffered a second-round playoff defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks in embarrassing fashion - failing to work out significant chemistry issues and struggling to live up to their high expectations. This offseason, the star veterans in Irving and Al Horford have both departed the franchise for pastures new, leaving the keys to these two young stars.
Both have had some developmental issues and many believe the Celtics are handling their youth core poorly, having tried to force Gordon Hayward into the rotation more regularly given his injury issues and a huge max contract hanging on his shoulders to boot.
If they can figure it out, Tatum has the potential to be an offensive weapon while Brown can work to become an exceptional two-way wing. Once their chemistry issues are resolved, the duo could lead by example and push for a top four seed in the Eastern Conference this coming season.
#4 De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III (Sacramento Kings)
Career stats:
De'Aaron Fox: 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game
Marvin Bagley III: 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and one assist per game
With the Kings narrowly missing out on the Western Conference playoffs this past season, it's no doubt that Fox took a significant leap forward from his rookie year and is eager to show he's the best point-guard in his draft class.
Bagley, the second pick in last summer's draft, got off to a slow start compared to some of his other rookie counterparts - regularly coming off the bench early on in the season. However, he continued to improve with time though and had a 20 point, 17 rebound game in late November before spraining his knee the following month which saw him miss 11 games.
Despite a rocky start to both their rookie seasons in different years, they have shown ample promise and alongside Buddy Hield, the Kings could potentially become a force to be reckoned with in the near future.
#3 Trae Young and John Collins (Atlanta Hawks)
Career stats:
Trae Young: 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game
John Collins: 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game
During the early days of the 2018/19 season, it appeared as though the Hawks made a horrible decision to trade Luka Doncic for Trae on draft night. Fortunately for Atlanta though, Young found his form during the second-half of the season and improved in every aspect to finish second in the Rookie of the Year voting.
Young and Collins have already shown just how well they work together. Trae's vision and ball-handling abilities combine to make the two a potentially dominant duo as Collins' form drastically improved from his rookie year with Trae setting him up as the point. Benefiting greatly from defences focusing their efforts on his elite long-range shooting teammate, the 22-year-old earns plenty of points in the pick-and-roll to devastating effect.
With more first-round draft picks added to the Hawks roster this season, led by this duo it would not be surprising for them to emerge as one of the lower seeds in the Eastern Conference playoffs soon in future.
#2 Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)
Career stats:
Devin Booker: 21.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists per game
DeAndre Ayton: 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game
These two have huge potential as a duo. At just 22 and 20 respectively, Booker and Ayton have the potential to be superstars for years to come if they can learn to play together.
While both have insane amounts of upside, the Phoenix Suns still ultimately ended with the worst record in the Western Conference. Still yet to figure out how to mesh successfully, Ayton struggled to get as many touches as he deserves in his rookie season. Booker had the third-highest usage rate at 32.9% last season, which didn't help Ayton to reach his full expectations as the number one pick of the 2018 Draft.
As a franchise, the Suns have been struggling for a while recently and while their front office continues to make average moves like their draft day business, it's hard to see this pairing winning anything anytime soon, despite their immense talent.
#1 Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis (Dallas Mavericks)
Career stats:
Luka Doncic: 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6 assists per game
Kristaps Porzingis: 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game
While Dallas fans may seem slightly disappointed by their lacklustre free agency period, the Mavericks front office made the most important deal: signing Kristaps Porzingis to a five-year max contract deal this summer.
The duo of Doncic and Porzingis has the potential to headline the NBA for the next decade and are a perfect fit for one another going forward in the league. The pair already have an off-the-court relationship, after Kristaps endorsed Doncic two years prior before the draft having watched Luka dominate the EuroLeague as a teenager.
Porzingis is yet to play with an elite guard in his short NBA career to date so with Doncic, a pick-and-roll between these two has the potential to be impossible to guard. They will get constant mismatches and with Doncic being the league's second-best step back shooter behind James Harden, as soon as they go to double Porzingis will be ready to pop out to the three or slash to the basket.
At 23-years-old, Kristaps has already been an All-Star once before tearing his ACL in January 2018 which derailed his year. Doncic narrowly missed out on an All-Star berth during an impressive rookie year and injuries aside, there should be nothing to stop these two from being an dominant force in future.
