National Basketball Association

NBA: 10 Relative Unknowns Entering Defining Seasons In 2016-17

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:05 p.m. ET

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Entering the 2016-17 NBA season, here are 10 higher profile players who are still relative unknowns looking to prove where they belong in this league.

Feb 25, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives past Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) during the first quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not always easy to find one’s place in the NBA. For every once-in-a-generation superstar like LeBron James or Stephen Curry, there are hundreds of players who top out as role players, third-stringers or even fail to make it in the league at all.

When it comes to new talent in the NBA Draft, the most interesting cases to look back on are the star players, the “steals” of the draft based on how late they were taken, and the “busts” based on how early they went in the draft.

But even after one, two, three or even more seasons in the league, it’s not always easy to tell which group a player belongs in. Whether it’s due to team fit, trades, inadequate playing time, D-League assignments or just paying one’s dues, it takes a while for some players to truly show us their place in the league.

Entering the 2016-17 season, there are plenty talented players who fit that description. Some are playing for new teams, some are hoping to make good on lucrative summer contracts and some are still trying to live up to their pre-draft hype back when they first entered the league.

Here’s a look at 10 players who, for whatever reason, enter the 2016-17 season as relative unknowns — and how they’ll look to provide a clearer picture of where they belong in the NBA in potentially career-defining seasons.

Honorable Mentions: Thomas Robinson, Jordan Clarkson, Tyler Johnson, John Henson, Alex Len, Kyle Anderson, Dewayne Dedmon, Jared Sullinger

Mar 2, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Solomon Hill (44) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Indiana won 104-99. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

10. E’Twaun Moore/Solomon Hill

Let’s just call this one “the New Orleans Pelicans‘ summer additions,” since both E’Twaun Moore and Solomon Hill fit the bill as relative unknowns who will be looking to prove their worth in 2016-17.

Moore is a 27-year-old point guard/shooting guard hybrid entering his sixth season in the league and his first with the Pellies after they signed him to a four-year, $34 million contract. The annual salary isn’t terrible considering the NBA’s skyrocketing cap, but it’s still a hefty investment considering all that’s at stake.

In a summer where New Orleans needed to start putting elite talent around Anthony Davis to build a contender, the best they could do was rookie Buddy Hield, E’Twaun Moore and Solomon Hill? Without even getting rid of Omer Asik or Tyreke Evans to move into the next era?

Moore has the length to be a plus-defender at his position, but his 45.2 percent three-point shooting from last season hardly seems sustainable — even for a career 36.9 percent shooter from distance.

Moore is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game on .485/.462/.688 shooting splits in his 22 starts for the Chicago Bulls. But that’s an awfully small sample size to trust in, especially when committing four years to a player who is already 27 and probably doesn’t raise this team’s ceiling much.

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The same could be said of Hill, who was signed to a whopping four-year, $52 million deal this summer. That’s quite a ballsy investment in a player who didn’t come alive until the last two weeks of the season.

Hill’s ability to log minutes as a small-ball 4, the way he came to life in the Indiana Pacers’ first round playoff series and his 11-of-19 shooting from three-point range in the postseason were all encouraging signs for the Pelicans, but outside of that, Hill is something of an unknown.

Even with all those positives, the 25-year-old Hill averaged only 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game for that “breakout” seven-game series. In 2014-15, when he started in 78 of 82 games for Indiana, Hill gave some indication of what to expect from him as a starter, posting a career-high 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game on .396/.327/.824 shooting splits.

Can he spread the floor for New Orleans? Can he be their answer on the wing as a two-way player? Or was this just another bad long-term investment in a summer that should’ve been spent clearing the books for a true superstar companion for AD? Both Hill and Moore got nice paydays this summer; now it’s just a matter of trying to live up to them.

Jan 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard (11) shoots the ball over Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

9. Meyers Leonard

A summer ago, the Portland Trail Blazers lost four of their five starters and started acquiring youth to transition into a new era. It look a lot less time than expected, as Rip City made it to the second round of the playoffs in a season where most experts expected them to tank.

In the wake of their surprisingly successful 2015-16 campaign, general manager Neil Olshey went a bit overboard in securing the team’s young core, investing in them for the long haul.

C.J. McCollum got a four-year, $106 million extension. Allen Crabbe got four years and $75 million, Maurice Harmless got four years and $40 million and Meyers Leonard got four years and $41 million.

Olshey’s summer was essentially one of those Toys-R-Us shopping sprees they did in the 90s where the kid would run up an down the aisles shoveling whatever toys they could into their cart before the timer ran out.

Guys like Harkless and Noah Vonleh have plenty to prove entering the 2016-17 season, but entering his fifth year in the league, it’s probably time for Leonard to start living up to his billing as a stretch-5.

Last year, he put up 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game (all career highs), shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three-point range. He also proved his proficiency as a catch-and-shoot, pick-and-pop big.

Like McCollum, expectations for Leonard were high entering the 2015-16 season after a breakout playoff performance the year before. Unlike McCollum, Leonard was unable to deliver a true breakout season, battling injuries early on and starting in only 10 of his 61 games.

Is Leonard capable of becoming Portland’s stretch-4 of the future and claiming a starting spot? Or will he continue to be relegated to backup 5 duty behind Mason Plumlee? The raw potential is there, but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to harness it in a fully healthy season.

Feb 28, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Gorgui Dieng (5) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

8. Gorgui Dieng

There’s no question that Karl-Anthony Towns is the future of the Minnesota Timberwolves, but where does that leave Gorgui Dieng, a fourth-year center who has gotten better every season and nearly averaged a double-double last year in just 27.2 minutes per game last year?

In his third NBA season, Dieng put up a career-high 10.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks despite only starting in 39 games.

He shot a career-high 53.3 percent from the field, and though he’s already 26 — making him older than Ricky Rubio, a player that NBA fans seem hell-bent on forcing out the door — Dieng could be valuable to Minnesota down the line.

Though KAT projects to become a defensive anchor at the 5-spot, Dieng could still fill a role as a quality backup big. He’s not an elite two-way player by any means, nor does he possess the makings of one, but is it possible there’s room for further improvement in 2016-17?

Given Towns’ exceedingly fast development, it’s only a matter of time before he’s fully ready to transition to the 5-spot and no longer needs someone like Kevin Garnett or Gorgui Dieng alongside him in the frontcourt.

But if that time has not yet arrived at the start of the upcoming season, Dieng will have his chance to prove his long-term value to the Wolves as something more than just a backup big — and right before hitting restricted free agency next summer, no less.

After all, if KAT can spread the floor from three-point range as a 4, Dieng could very well hold down the fort at center — provided he shows enough improvement this year.

Apr 8, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) looks for an open man during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

7. Otto Porter Jr.

John Wall has to prove he can lead. Bradley Beal has to prove he can stay healthy. For Otto Porter Jr., his task for 2016-17 is proving he’s capable of filling the vacant spot in the Washington Wizards‘ Big Three of the future.

To be fair, Porter made strides towards this goal in 2015-16, putting together a career-best year of 11.6 points, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from three-point range — ALL career-highs.

In just his third season in the league, Porter ensured any lingering “draft bust” talk was put to rest. Now it’s a matter of elevating his perception from “finally contributing” to “finally meeting pre-draft expectations.”

While it was exciting to see Porter build upon his breakout playoff series in 2015, and while it’s encouraging that his three-point stroke is steadily coming along, the 2016-17 season represents his best chance to take the next step forward and become an intrinsic part of Washington’s success.

After all, we can’t ignore that Porter’s career numbers came in a season where Beal missed 27 games and the Wizards missed the playoffs.

He has virtually no competition for the starting job at small forward, so now, entering a contract season, it’s time for Porter to make the most of a great situation and become the complement to the Wall-Beal backcourt that Washington envisioned when it drafted him in 2013.

Apr 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) dunks during the third quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center. The Milwaukee Bucks won 109-108 in OT. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

6. Nerlens Noel

Whether he’s playing for the Philadelphia 76ers or a different team, the 2016-17 season will be a big one for Nerlens Noel. Entering his third season in the league, Noel has been unable to inspire the Sixers faithful that he’s a franchise cornerstone, and because of that, his place in a crowded frontcourt has come into question.

Maybe its his current offensive limitations, since he only averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game last year for a Sixers squad devoid of any go-to options on offense. Maybe it’s his inability to spread the floor, which calls into question how he and Jahlil Okafor — a traditional back-to-the-basket post threat — could ever co-exist.

Or maybe it’s the imminent arrivals of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, which further exacerbate Philly’s need to trade someone in that crowded frontcourt.

Whatever the case, the 22-year-old Noel is going to make a nice trade acquisition for some lucky team, assuming he’s the one dealt. According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, a trade of either Noel or Okafor is eventually happening; now it’s just a matter of who’s getting the boot.

At this point, Noel is a far more well-rounded player than Okafor, averaging 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game last year. He shot 52.5 percent from the floor and took steps closer to being a future defensive anchor.

The problem is it’s hard to judge Noel’s true value under the microscope of Philadelphia’s complete incompetence over the last two years. Is he an underrated defender for keeping this haphazard bunch from being the league’s worst defense? Or is he an even worse project on the offensive end than feared because he hardly scores for this Sixers team?

Whether playing for the 76ers or another team, the 2016-17 season is Noel’s best chance to prove his intrinsic value as an elite defender and — ideally — an improving player on the offensive end of the floor. With Noel hitting restricted free agency next summer, the pressure is on.

Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) walks to the sideline during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

5. Brandon Knight

Things haven’t been great for Brandon Knight ever since the Milwaukee Bucks made the stunning decision to move him to the Phoenix Suns at the 2015 NBA Trade Deadline.

He’s missed 46 of a possible 109 games in his time in Phoenix, he’s struggled to win over a skeptic fan base and he’s gone from having a career year as “the guy” in his team’s backcourt to sharing it with Eric Bledsoe.

In Milwaukee, Knight averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game on .435/.409/.881 shooting splits for a Bucks team that was the sixth seed in the East. Though he put up a career-high 19.6 points per game last year, it came in perhaps the most disappointing season in Suns franchise history.

Between his embarrassing defense, his 33.7 percent shooting from long range since coming to Phoenix, his questionable shot selection, his lack of playmaking and his inability to stay healthy, Knight’s trade value is as low as it’s every been to anyone paying close attention.

To make matters even worse, Knight has a tall task ahead of him in 2016-17 as he returns from a season-ending adductor injury and sports hernia: convincing anyone that he has a long-term future in Phoenix with teen phenom Devin Booker hot on his heels.

As the Suns head toward another Eric Bledsoe-Goran Dragic–Isaiah Thomas kind of backourt logjam, “trade Brandon Knight” seems to be the popular solution to the problem. Another Bledsoe injury could easily change matters, but then again, so could another injury to Knight.

Booker is the fan base’s new favorite player, and has been dubbed as a potential savior for the franchise after his promising rookie season. Basically, Booker is the future. Bledsoe is the team’s best all-around player, a far more well-rounded player and a better leader than Knight at this point.

In 2016-17, Knight will not only be fighting to overcome the injury-prone stigma, but he’ll also be battling to prove his long-term place on this roster…and possibly even his merit as a starter altogether.

Apr 13, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) catches a pass during the first half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

4. Elfrid Payton

It seems premature to include Elfrid Payton on such a list, since he’s only entering his third NBA season. But given the way the Orlando Magic have moved on from young, tantalizing prospects like Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo already, Payton could be next if he can’t build on his progress.

In his first two seasons in the league, Payton has established himself as a promising, well-rounded point guard of the future. He averaged 10.7 points, 6.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season, improving his three-point percentage by more than six percent.

However, his paltry .436/.326/.589 shooting splits reveal his greatest shortcoming as a point guard in the modern NBA. Without being able to spread the floor, defenders can play off of him and go under screens on pick-and-rolls, rendering his impressive playmaking skills less effective.

If Payton can fine-tune his jumper and at least become an average shooter, his two-way play will be more than worthy of a long-term future with whatever the hell Orlando is trying to build. Hopefully the extra shooting Orlando added to the perimeter this offseason will help mitigate his weakness in this area.

But if not, even a team like the Magic with no immediate replacement will eventually try to move on as they strive for a long-awaited return to the playoffs. It may not come as suddenly as the Harris or Oladipo trades, but Payton’s clock is already ticking as a jumbled frontcourt tries to mesh with a young backcourt.

If Payton only makes marginal improvement in 2016-17, or if the Magic again fail to make the playoffs, his time in Orlando might be limited. This team is looking for proven, star players to carry them into a new era. After abandoning a few younger, rawer prospects, another season of mediocre development might lead to more questions than faith in regards to Payton’s future.

Apr 8, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) practices prior to a game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The New York Knicks won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

3. Joel Embiid

It seems entirely unfair to put Joel Embiid in this category since he hasn’t played a single NBA game yet, but be honest: If he struggles with injury problems again in 2016-17, will he really ever shed the “draft bust” label in your mind? Probably not.

Because of foot injuries and surgeries, Embiid has been denied his chance at a rookie season not once, but twice. He’s put on weight, he’s been criticized for not taking his rehab seriously enough, you name it. When you’re unable to prove your worth on the court, it’s a lot easier to question your dedication to return to it.

But now that Embiid says he’s 100 percent, it’s only a matter of time before we see what he can do at the NBA level. Remember, this was a prospect who was frequently compared to Hakeem Olajuwon entering the draft.

The only problem is, there will be plenty of obstacles in his way. For starters, there’s a big difference between being 100 percent healthy and being in 100 percent game shape. Conditioning will be a major challenge for a guy who hasn’t played an actual game of basketball in two years, especially since he only averaged 23.1 minutes per game in his 28 college games over one season at Kansas.

Give the wear and tear of an 82-game season, staying healthy may also be a problem for Embiid, who’s dealt with foot problems ever since his lone season with the Jayhawks.

That’s a great concern for a team like the Sixers, who will be watching every move Embiid makes under a magnifying glass as they try to decide which players to keep in their Noel-Okafor-Embiid logjam.

Given history of recurrence in a navicular fracture, can't plan too far ahead with Embiid until he proves he's 100% https://t.co/vG4nZcNMz1

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) September 4, 2016

There’s also the minor issue of adjusting to the NBA level, since Embiid is essentially entering his rookie season now. Even with Ben Simmons there to pump up everyone’s scoring numbers as a facilitator, playing on the lowly Sixers — a team with an already crowded frontcourt rotation — doesn’t exactly give him Embiid best chance to succeed.

From staying healthy to proving he is the piece in the Okafor-Noel-Embiid trio that deserves to stay in Philly, Embiid and the expectations that come with him are complete question marks entering the 2016-17 season.

Apr 8, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) dunks during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Miami Heat 112-109. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. Victor Oladipo

If there were ever a time for Victor Oladipo to live up to all his pre-draft hype and emerge with a breakout season, it’d be now.

As a former No. 2 overall selection, Oladipo was the popular pick to be the best player from the 2013 NBA Draft class in a few years. But after failing to make the leap once again in Year 3, the impatient Orlando Magic decided to make a move for a more established player in Serge Ibaka, trading him to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oladipo trade wasn’t enough to convince Kevin Durant to stay in free agency, but his departure gives the Russell Westbrook-Dipo backcourt an opportunity to run the show. We know Oladipo is a terrific defender, but can he show the necessary improvement on the offensive end?

The floor spacing Westbrook is going to see this season, playing with Roberson, Adams and Oladipo. pic.twitter.com/0yCKxOu72I

— KL Chouinard (@KLChouinard) September 2, 2016

The Thunder are certainly hoping so. Westbrook (30.2 percent) and Oladipo (33.9 percent) are historically poor three-point shooters for their careers, so OKC’s new backcourt will have to use length, deflections and relentless transition attacks to turn defense into efficient offense. Floor spacing will be an issue if Oladipo can’t improve his perimeter shooting.

But at only 24 years old, Oladipo gets a chance at a fresh start, playing for a more competitive team and a head coach who will actually appreciate his talents rather than relegate them to bench duty like Scott Skiles did.

Just two seasons ago, Oladipo put up 17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Though his numbers dropped to 16.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season, he played fewer minutes, vacillated from the starting lineup to sixth man duty, and still managed to increase his three-point efficiency to a career-high 34.8 percent.

Oladipo will come nowhere near replacing Kevin Durant in the starting lineup, but as he heads toward restricted free agency next summer, the pressure is on to prove that this attractive, moldable lump of clay may actually take the shape of an elite two-way player one day.

May 30, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) celebrates after making a three-point basket during the third quarter in game seven of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

1. Harrison Barnes

Of all the question marks entering the 2016-17 season, none loom larger than figuring out how good Harrison Barnes actually is. Gone are the days of standing in the corner as the Golden State Warriors’ fourth or fifth option on offense. The time for a greater role has come.

With a four-year, $94 million contract, the Dallas Mavericks are investing in the raw potential of this 24-year-old swingman. Often overlooked within the Dubs’ ell-encompassing dominance, Barnes’ versatility was a big reason their “Lineup of Death” was so effective over the last two years.

But as much as Barnes spread the floor efficiently (39.4 percent from three-point range), as much as his defensive versatility will help the Mavs, and as young as he still is, this is quite a large gamble on a player whose strengths may have been magnified while playing for a team that won 140 regular season games and a title over the last two years.

Was Barnes being held back as an underrated part of the Warriors’ historic success? Or was he just a role player who did his job and will struggle to take on more responsibility elsewhere? In 2016-17, we’ll get a better idea of the answer.

Expectations shouldn’t be high for Barnes, a reserved person who was downright timid on the court at times last year. His inability to step up when his team needed him most — like in the last three games of the 2016 NBA Finals when he shot 5-for-32 from the field — shows he’s nowhere near ready to take the reins from Dirk Nowitzki.

Barnes should bump up his 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game from last year, but will the efficiency remain intact now that he’s not being spoon-fed wide open looks on a silver platter?

Ultimately, this may simply come down to how head coach Rick Carlisle handles his development. There’s no question Carlisle is known for extracting more out his players than perhaps any NBA head coach, but will his sterner coaching style break a soft-spoken guy like Barnes?