National Basketball Association

NBA: Ranking The 10 Most Overrated Players Heading Into 2016-17

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) walks past Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) in the third quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

With NBA training camps opening in the next week, we explore the 10 most overrated players heading into the 2016-17 NBA season

You smell that?

That, my friends, is the scent of the 2016-17 NBA season. Training camps are set to open in the next week, and media days are scheduled just before.

We actually have preseason games in roughly 10 days. Yes, this is the time to begin to get excited. The NBA season is finally around the corner. With optimism at an all-time high, probably the highest it’ll be for most teams, this will probably be the most joyous time of the year for plenty NBA teams.

Whether you’re a Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers or Brooklyn Nets fan, the excitement is there. You’re not just hoping that this season was over already, as you may or may not feel in about three months.

As we begin to preview the new NBA season, we decided to explore a few of the most overrated players heading into the 2016-17 campaign.

DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers

This is an easy one to kick off this piece. DeAndre Jordan was named to the All-NBA first team this past season. I’m pretty sure that Jordan isn’t the best center in the NBA. That is impossible.

With all due respect to Jordan, this is a guy that has made a career playing next to Chris Paul. And dunking. Mostly, thanks to CP3 though.

Sure, Jordan is a great athlete and is one of the best interior defenders in the NBA, but he’s so bad on the offensive end that this shouldn’t even be an argument. Jordan has no offensive fire power other than jumping over defenders. And catching lobs.

DeAndre Jordan is a good player, don’t get me wrong. But he’s not the best center in the NBA. Or even a top 3 center in the game. Cool it.

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) moves the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

I love the way Draymond Green plays the game, aside from kicking folks in the unmentionables. He’s a really good player that can do a little bit of everything – he can defend, hit the perimeter shot, drive to the basket and even distribute if the opportunity presents itself.

However, he is a bit overrated when it comes to his entire game. He’s essentially a poor man’s LeBron James, who just happened to fall into the right system in Golden State. He’s the perfect glue guy for this team, but I’m not sure he’d have the same impact on any of the other 29 teams in the league.

Green’s legend also grew during this year’s NBA Finals, when he was suspended in the series’ swing game. The Warriors lost and because Green was suspended, the thought is that things would’ve went differently had he been active. I’m not sure about that. He gets the benefit of the doubt, though. I guess.

May 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) dunks the ball as Charlotte Hornets center Frank Kaminsky III (44) looks on during the first half in game seven of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

Don’t hate me, Miami Heat fans. Hear out my reasoning. Do we even know what Hassan Whiteside is? I don’t think so. He’s been back in the NBA for a year and a half now, and he’s cashed that opportunity into a max contract.

Good for him, but he’s still somewhat a mystery. And that should scare everyone in the Heat organization. He’s a good shot-blocker, no question. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a good defender. Too many times, he’s left his team out to dry chasing blocks. That’s something that can get corrected with experience in a certain scheme. Can Erik Spoelstra reach out to him?

If not him, then who?

The good news is that he’s in the perfect situation. And he’s going to be a lot of fun to watch this season. However, thanks to his big contract, he’s made this list more because of the uncertainty that surrounds his name.

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) reacts after his slam dunk in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Tristan Thompson, Cleveland Cavaliers

Listen, I love what Tristan Thompson does for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s often their heart and soul on the defensive end. He’s the energy guy that every championship team needs on their roster. In fact, I’m not sure where this team would be without him, actually.

However, my biggest question is whether Thompson really is all these things or if he’s just another guy that’s been created by LeBron James – similar to what J.J. Hickson was during his first stint in Cleveland.

I honestly don’t know. Ever since LeBron re-joined the Cavs, Thompson’s field goal percentage has shot up. Does that have more to do with the LeBron effect or did it simply click for Thompson when LeBron showed up?

I think we all know the answer to that.

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in the first half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

Speaking of the LeBron effect, it does one of two things. It either makes a borderline player good or a really good player look not all as advertised. While Tristan Thompson fit the bill for the first part of that theory, Kevin Love fits in to that second part.

My biggest thing about Love is that he can’t even fit the third fiddle correctly on a consistent basis. In fact, you can actually make the argument that there are times when Love’s presence in the lineup makes the Cavs a worse team. That’s…not good.

At one point during his stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves, many thought Love was a top 5 or 10 player in the NBA. Filling the stat sheet is a helluva drug. The Cavs would be fine with or without Love.

May 6, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) battle under the basket during the first half in game three of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Al Horford, Boston Celtics

I appreciate Al Horford’s game as much as the next guy. However, with the way that he was built up this summer, I think he’s simply set up to fail with the Boston Celtics.

If the Celtics are expecting him to be THE guy this season, they’re going to be terribly disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Horford is a really good player. In fact, I’d go all the way to say that he’s probably a top 5 center or power forward, whatever you want to label him as, in the NBA.

What I won’t say, though, is that he’s a superstar. He’s not that. And it’s not fair to place that type of expectation on Horford’s shoulders. And when you’re projecting the Celtics to win 50-plus games, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

Apr 24, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) takes a shot during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

Before I begin my “bashing” of Andre Drummond, I want to make something clear. I don’t expect to see Drummond to be on this list for very long. However, for the time being, I can’t help but group the young, raw center in this group.

Drummond is a beast on the boards and is an above average rim-protector, though he’s still a long ways from a finished piece on the offensive end. And in order to be considered one of the better centers in the NBA, he needs to make that leap in his game. And that free throw shooting…well, not great.

Drummond was named to the All-NBA third team this past season, and I’m not exactly sure he’s the third best at his position right now. Maybe after the 2016-17 season? Not right now.

In fairness, I do belive Drummond has the ability to be the best center in the NBA one day. I firmly believe that.

Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

The final tipping point on Jimmy Butler came at one point during this past year’s Olympics. I was watching it in the background when Butler entered the game. Viewed as one of the better two-way players in the NBA, Butler just looked like another guy out there on the floor.

That…didn’t look right. It turned me off almost automatically. Then, it led me to the questions: is Butler just another guy?

Of course not. However, is he the superstar that should be the face of any franchise? I don’t think so. Even though this season will be the biggest indication of that, I don’t think Butler can be the best player on a really good team. Butler is a really good player. He’s just not anything special – he shot 45 percent from the field and is a below average three-point shooter. And probably a bit overrated.

Apr 26, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Celtics 110-83. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics

The underdog story is really fun and inspiring. Everyone counted out Isaiah Thomas when he was an undersized point guard coming out of college. He was the 60th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He’s coming off his first NBA All-Star appearance.

Thomas has come a long way, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The only real reason why Thomas was even on the All-Star team was because Kyrie Irving was injured for the first part of the season and didn’t qualify. Sorry, IT.

I respect what Thomas has grown into over the last few years, but I just don’t think he’s a superstar. I don’t think he can be a difference maker in the playoffs. He can’t win a series on his own. He’s a really nice player, but if he’s your best player you’re not going far.

Jul 29, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Dwayne Wade (right) and Bulls general manager Gar Forman pose for a photo after addressing the media after a press conference at Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

I don’t think anyone would argue with the fact that Dwyane Wade had a great season. There’s no question about it. He even had a better run in the playoffs, though. And that’s what most people will remember heading into the 2016-17 season.

Heck, he averaged nearly 22 points, six rebounds and four assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from three-point range. You can even make the argument that he beat the Charlotte Hornets all by himself in that season-saving Game 6.

What people should remember, though, is the fact that he’s a soon to be 35-year-old shooting guard. Father time is around the corner. It beats everyone.

Wade is still relatively good for his age and position. However, the eventual drop in production is around the corner. We should be prepared for it, and not be blinded by his big name.