9. Danilo Gallinari, Oklahoma City Thunder
Last season was the culmination of Danilo Gallinari’s career: he was healthy and effective throughout almost the entire season, playing for a team on which he was able to showcase his diverse talents. Gallo’s career has thus far been a study in bad luck – injuries have interrupted or wiped out no fewer than eight of Gallinari’s 11 seasons in the Association.
Last season, a healthy and rejuvenated Gallo lodged a 46.3/43.3/90.4 shooting line to go with a career-best 9.7 rebounds per 48 minutes. His career year provided the Clippers with 5.5 wins on 54 percent Total Efficiency, indicating that he was both very productive and a very good fit in his role.
2019-20, however, will see the 31-year-old Gallinari attempt to repeat his good fortune from last year in a new city with new teammates. His career-high 63.3 percent True Shooting Percentage last season came in a highly egalitarian offense which relied heavily on the jump-shooting ability of Gallinari and Tobias Harris for the starting unit to score.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring Chris Paul and developing point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will have a much more guard-oriented offensive scheme. To flourish in his new setting, Gallinari will have to prove himself effective playing off of those guards.
His age and injury history are enough on their own to predict a decline from last season and his role in OKC only strengthens the case. As good a story as Danilo Gallinari was last season, there is little chance of a repeat performance this year.