Five underrated NBA preseason performers pushing for a rotation spot

The NBA preseason won’t crown a champion, but it does decide jobs. These five players quietly turned October minutes into real cases for rotation roles.

Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks

Dallas picked up Ryan Nembhard on a two-way, and he’s making the most of it. He’s flashed the exact profile Dallas needs behind star usage — clean pick-and-roll reads, ball security and spot threes — earning praise as a “standout” heading into the preseason finale. Beyond the eyeball test, his 12-assist game against Utah showcased his style: a low-mistake floor general in the margins who can survive next to stars and keep second units organized.

If Nembhard keeps the turnover rate down and the catch-and-shoot holds near his college mark, he’s on track for backup-guard minutes.

Curtis Jones, Denver Nuggets

Undrafted guard Curtis Jones didn’t need much time to pop: 11 points in seven minutes, hitting 3-of-6 from deep with a steal and zero turnovers in a quick burst against the Clippers. That’s the exact low-usage, high-impact profile Denver craves on the wing around Nikola Jokic. The pitch is simple — run, space, defend and never hijack possessions.

If that shot volume is real (even in tiny samples), Jones becomes a plug-and-play high-IQ spacer in a second unit that’s been searching for a reliable tempo setter for a long time.

Jared Butler, Phoenix Suns

No box score turned more heads than Jared Butler against the Lakers: 35 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, drilling five three-pointers while running the show with real composure in a win. It’s not just the explosion — it's how he did it: calm pace, smart usage, clean reads when the defense loaded up.

Phoenix is top-heavy; the backcourt behind Devin Booker/Jalen Green needs competence. If Butler’s pull-up holds and the assist-to-turnover ratio stays tidy, the Suns may have found a guard who can stabilize non-Booker minutes without bleeding points.

Johnny Juzang, Minnesota Timberwolves

Johnny Juzang arrived on an Exhibit-10 and started forcing the issue quickly: 16 points against Denver, then 20 points with six threes against Indiana. So far he’s posting 15.3 points while shooting an absurd 54.5% from three through four games — exactly the off-ball punch Minnesota wants around Anthony Edwards.

With the Wolves leaning even harder into spacing, Juzang’s corner-three reliability and improved physicality give Chris Finch a clean three-and-D plug when lineups stagger or injuries hit.

Luka Garza, Boston Celtics

Without Porzingis and Al Horford, Boston needed front-court stability — and Luka Garza is making a credible push. He posted a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double in 16 minutes at Memphis, then followed with a 12-point game against the Raptors.

The opportunity is real: Boston’s depth chart up front has been reshuffled, leaving minutes available behind Chris Boucher and Neemias Queta.

Garza won’t morph into a switch big, but his touch, quick decisions, and punishing work on the glass fit Joe Mazzulla's offense. If he keeps stacking efficient second-unit minutes, he’s more than an injury patch.

Preseason context matters — small samples, varied competition — but the traits translate. Nembhard’s control, Jones’ plug-and-play shooting, Butler’s on-ball creation, Juzang’s sniper lane and Garza’s functional size all solve real needs on real teams. Keep these five circled when rotations tighten deep into the season.