San Antonio Spurs: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

2. Derrick White

After playing a grant total of 139 minutes last year (roughly 4.6 percent of how many minutes LeBron James played, for context), just about anything Derrick White does would be considered an improvement. The question at hand is not just about improvement though: it’s about a breakout.

Luckily for White, he is indeed primed for a breakout. He followed the Dejounte Murray “spend your rookie year in the G League” path that Gregg Popovich likes, and he spent last year learning from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

He should enter the season as the fourth guard in the rotation behind Murray, Belinelli and Mills, and it’s not out of the question that he could displace Patty Mills as the third guard before the season ends. He could even become a starter.

Derrick White killed the G League last year, and he has all the tools to allow him to fit alongside anyone. At 6’5″ with a 6’8″ wingspan, he can play either guard spot, and he’s a quality defender.

He’s not a great primary ball-handler yet, but he is a solid shooter, and has averaged 37.5 percent shooting from deep over his career in college, the G League and the NBA. He and Murray could completely stifle opposing backcourts, or Pop can stagger their minutes so that one is always out there playing solid defense.

For White, he already has the talent to break out. All he needs now is the opportunity, which he should receive.