NEXT DEPARTMENT

WORTH A SHOT?

With NBA camps days away, we got to wondering who'll be this season's Rajon Rondo—you know, the young supporting actor who elevates his profile and his team. Here are the odds that one of these five guys will do just that.

By Jordan Brenner

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ANDRAY BLATCHE, PF WIZARDS
ODDS: 15–1

HE IS ... A 6'11" inside-out threat, just three years removed from playing in prep school.

STUMBLING BLOCK: He's erratic and has had off-the-court issues, including two arrests (but no convictions) since 2007.

NBA COMPARISON: A taller Josh Smith

CALLING CARD: Covers the whole court

HIS TASK: Help Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas (when he's back) by blocking shots.

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RONNIE BREWER, SG JAZZ
ODDS: 9–1

HE IS ... A ballhawk (1.7 spg last season) and Utah's best backcourt option next to Deron Williams.

STUMBLING BLOCK: The third-year pro has a pretty lousy jumper (22% on three-point shots in '07-'08).

NBA COMPARISON: Josh Howard lite

CALLING CARD: Quick hands

HIS TASK: Get the Jazz Finals-ready by supplying speed on the wing and clamping down on guys like Kobe.

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LOUIS WILLIAMS, SG 76ERS
ODDS: 9–2

HE IS ... A fourth-year prep-to-pro who averaged a career-high 11.5 ppg last season.

STUMBLING BLOCK: At 6'2", 175 pounds, he's undersized for a shooting guard, and he lacks point guard skills.

NBA COMPARISON: Leandro Barbosa

CALLING CARD: Quickness

HIS TASK: Complement Elton Brand with perimeter shooting, because the Sixers have few other options.

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MARTELL WEBSTER, SF BLAZERS
ODDS: 4–1

HE IS ... Already an established starter at age 21, after entering the league out of high school in 2005.

STUMBLING BLOCK: His D needs work, and Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden will see the ball first.

NBA COMPARISON: Mike Miller

CALLING CARD: A sweet stroke

HIS TASK: Spread the floor to give Roy room to drive and Aldridge/Oden space in the post.

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RODNEY STUCKEY, PG PISTONS
ODDS: 3–2

HE IS ... A 6'5" combo guard who flashed brilliance as a rookie in last season's playoffs.

STUMBLING BLOCK: He's stuck behind Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, and his three-point stroke needs work.

NBA COMPARISON: Baron Davis, with less range

CALLING CARD: Strength and speed

HIS TASK: Provide instant O that lets the Pistons rest starters—and maybe prompts them to trade Billups.

FEAR THE SWORD

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By Ryan Hockensmith

For four years, pro wrestling fans called Brock Lesnar by his ring nickname, the Next Big Thing. A 6'3", 286-pound former NCAA wrestling champ with a knack for infuriating crowds on the microphone, Lesnar was an easy sell. Within five months of his 2002 debut, he was the WWE's youngest-ever champ, at age 25.

Fast-forward to 2008. Only 15 months into his MMA career, the 31-year-old Lesnar is now the UFC's Next Big Thing (though, for the record, he has no official moniker). He's the first high-level pro wrestling crossover—and he has brought plenty of WWE fans with him. On Nov. 15, he'll fight three-time champ Randy Couture in a pay-per-view fight that should shatter UFC records.

"We estimate we'll get at least 250,000 buys from fans who've never bought one of our fights before," says UFC president Dana White. "Brock is a huge new draw."

One reason for Lesnar's appeal is his larger-than-life image. Sure, there's the giant tattoo of a sword on his torso, but he's also taller by a few inches than most of his opponents and outweighs them by at least 20 pounds. And he combines that imposing physique with quick fists and a signature move that belies his inexperience in the Octagon: a double-leg takedown that rattles even veteran fighters.

After a February loss to former champ Frank Mir in Lesnar's UFC debut, he drubbed tough vet Heath Herring for 15 minutes in an August rout. Afterward, with both of Herring's eyes nearly swollen shut, Lesnar raised his hands to a screaming crowd. One fan cheered while holding up a life-size cutout of him. "When I fight, people seem to want to watch," Lesnar says. And the UFC couldn't be happier.

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