Five wild-card players who could impact the wide-open East race - ESPN

The NBA's Eastern Conference is as unpredictable as any point in recent history.

Superstar injuries during last season's playoffs depleted two East powers. The upstart Detroit Pistons sit atop the standings at the quarter mark. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers, a preseason conference favorite that returned most of last season's 64-win team, are eighth. The Milwaukee Bucks, who made a free agency splash, are battling to stay in the play-in race as they await the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

With so much basketball to be played, it's too early to predict the contenders that will match up for conference supremacy in the spring. And while the superstars — among them, the Pistons' Cade Cunningham, the New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson, and, for now, the Bucks' Antetokounmpo — are well known, this race could very well be decided by players who fill in the gaps around them.

They're the wild cards, and they could determine the futures of their teams come postseason time. Let's examine four players who fit the bill and what league insiders are saying about their seasons so far — plus break down one player that has the power to totally transform the race.

Season so far: Career highs in points (18.9) and assists (4.0)

Why he'll impact the East race: Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson chuckled when Mobley was referred to as Slim Duncan, a nod to the Hall of Fame big man from the San Antonio Spurs. And the league has been waiting for Mobley to truly assert his dominance despite his reluctant personality and willingness to fit in alongside Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.

The Cavs haven't dominated the conference (14-11 this season after 25 games compared to 21-4 last year), and the vibes have been different. If Mobley turns into