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NBA: Seven Teams With The Most Bust Potential In 2016-17

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Mar 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) leads a break against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2016-17 NBA season a little more than a month away from tipping off, we explore seven teams with the most bust potential entering the new year

NBA training camps open in roughly a month, and that’s great news for basketball heads that are just waiting for October to get here.

While there’s plenty being written up on how much the Golden State Warriors will dominate the NBA or how LeBron James is in prime position to take his place as the best basketball player ever, there’s certainly a number of other storylines worthy of attention.

A lot of them have to do with a handful of teams primed to bounce back after rough times over the last few seasons. After big offseasons and a key acquisition or two, there are several teams gaining all kinds of traction this summer probably even a team or two that shouldn’t even be garnering such praise, but HEY it’s the offseason. That’s what we do during the summer.

With that in mind, we explore seven teams that are entering the 2016-17 season with the most bust potential.

In other words, seven teams that simply might not live up to the lofty expectations that they’ve been placed under this summer.

Mar 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (8), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) and guard Andrew Wiggins (22) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 107-104. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Timberwolves

This one is simple. Ever since closing the 2015-16 season hot, especially after beating the Golden State Warriors late in the year, expectations have only shot up this summer for the Wolves. From Andrew Wiggins to Karl-Anthony Towns, there’s no question that this is the NBA’s most talented young team in the league.

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See, that’s the problem. They’re young. Really young. In order for the Wolves to meet the expectations that some are placing on them, which consist of being a top 4 team in the West to simply making the field of 16, there really isn’t much margin for error in Minnesota.

The Wolves don’t have the luxury of a veteran star to hang their hat on. They don’t have the luxury of even a veteran contributor (that’s “been there before”) to hang their hat on. They’re just a group of extremely young, talented guys that have all the potential in the world – sprinkled with a point guard that should be better than he currently is and a head coach that is known for running his players into the ground.

Sorry, Tom Thibodeau.

Don’t get me wrong, I love what the Wolves are doing. I believe in their talent and potential. I just don’t know if they’re going to live up to some of the expectations that they’re going to be playing under in 2016-17.

Nov 15, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) and forward Derrick Favors (15) react after defeating the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Jazz defeated the Hawks 97-96. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Utah Jazz

Ah, arguably the trendiest pick of the summer. The Utah Jazz could very well be this year’s sweethearts (a title that I gave to last year’s Portland Trail Blazers), led by the easy-on-the-eyes Gordon Hayward, the underrated Derrick Favors, the fan-favorite Rudy Gobert and now Iso-Joe.

Heck, they even have Boris Diaw now. How can you NOT like this team?

Problem is, there’s still a lot of questions surrounding this team’s offense and shooting. And that tends to be an issue in the new-era of NBA basketball. Last season, the Jazz were middle of the pack in three-point percentage and averaged the third lowest points per game.

Accounting for pace, the Jazz were in the bottom half of the NBA in offense last season. Not great. While Joe Johnson will likely help in that department, it’s difficult to gauge just how much better this team will be on that side of the ball.

The addition of George Hill will solve a lot of last year’s point guard issues, including getting into the right sets, but he still leaves a lot to be desired as an all-around lead guard. The Jazz have all the potential in the world, but I’m just not sold on this team being a top 5 team out West. I hope I’m wrong.

Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers shocked the world last season. Not only did the underrated Blazers make the playoffs, but they upset the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. While injuries to Chris Paul and Blake Griffin helped turn that series, you can’t take away that accomplishment from Portland.

There were questions whether C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard could co-exist in the team’s starting backcourt before the start of last season. With that question now behind this team, the hope is that they can build off last year’s success. After adding Evan Turner, Festus Ezeli and re-signing Allen Crabbe this summer, Portland will be looking to take the next step as a team.

Question is, was last season an aberration or the start of something special in Portland? Can this team continue to excel on the perimeter, not get much from their frontcourt, and still get away with it?

We’ll see in 2016-17.

Dec 11, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) and center Marc Gasol (33) look on during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum. The Hornets won 123-99. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Memphis Grizzlies

Looking at their roster, there’s probably no reason why the Memphis Grizzlies should be on this list. After all, they’re not young and have a ton of proven players on the team.

Mike Conley is one of the best two-way point guards in the NBA. The same could be said about Marc Gasol. Even though Zach Randolph isn’t exactly in his prime anymore, he’s still a face to be reckon with in the post. The addition of Chandler Parsons will help their poor shooting and drafting Wade Baldwin should help stabilize the team’s backcourt depth issues.

However, the fact that this team has a history of injury issues is why we should slow down on penciling in the Grizzlies as a top 4 team in the West.

Gasol, Conley and Parsons are all coming off injuries from last season. Those are the team’s three most important players. Not good.

The assumption is that each of them will fully recover and have a prosperous season in 2016-17, but it’s certainly something to think about.

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

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls said they wanted to get younger and more athletic this summer. So, what do they do? They do the complete opposite from that. Because, the Bulls.

Chicago signed Rajon Rondo, after trading Derrick Rose to the Knicks, and then grabbed Dwyane Wade away from the Miami Heat. While those are fine moves, I’m not sure they’re exactly what’s best for this franchise moving forward. Especially with the way the team is constructed.

If the Bulls weren’t going to get younger, at the very least they could’ve addressed their putrid shooting. Adding Rondo and Wade doesn’t exactly accomplish that.

I know Rondo has had two straight over 30 percent shooting years from distance, but he’s just not the guy you want taking your threes. Wade, well, he’s just bad. And, frankly, doesn’t shoot them all that much, anyway.

Thing is, if you just look on paper, the combination of Rondo, Wade and Jimmy Butler is going to get people excited in Chicago. It shouldn’t. This is going to be a rough season, if it all doesn’t go perfectly. And, it almost never does. Not even for the Dubs.

New York Knicks

Before I talk down on the Knicks, I just want to say that New York being good again is a great thing for the NBA. I’m just not sure that’s going to be the case in 2016-17. This is not about Carmelo Anthony, because he’s a great player – and will be remembered as one no matter how he finishes out his career.

This is about the front office and the roster construction. Short of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah finding the fountain of youth, I have a hard time believing that this team is capable of finishing as a top 5 team in the East.

I mean, maybe Kristaps Porzingis makes the big jump and surprises the masses on his way to being the ideal sidekick to Melo. But, unless he can accelerate his development by like three years, that isn’t going to happen. I love PorzinGod, he’s just not ready yet to be the second-best player on a good team.

The Knicks have an opportunity to be OK to pretty good this season. Heck, they might even make the playoffs. But, let’s be honest. They aren’t going to make much noise beyond that.

Mar 4, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99), guard Avery Bradley (0) and `Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) celebrate against the Utah Jazz during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics

There’s no question that the Boston Celtics had a successful summer. After drafting a prospect like Jaylen Brown and signing Al Horford, it’s difficult to argue otherwise.

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However, with that said, the Celtics are being talked about as if they’re going to be the team to finally dethrone LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. With all due respect to Brad Stevens and company, I simply can’t envision that happening.

For as good as Horford will be for this team – on both sides of the ball – I just don’t think this team has enough talent. Isaiah Thomas might’ve made the all-star team a year ago, but I don’t think he’s a top point guard in the NBA. Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, even though they’re quickly getting better, still have a ways to go before becoming polished all-around players.

They still lack that one player that can win you a playoff game and series. Horford is not that guy.

The Celtics are going to win a lot of regular season games. They’re built for it. I’m just not willing to bet this team to do much, if anything, in the playoffs.

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