NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Sixth Man Of The Year Award In 2016-17

Mar 6, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter (11) keeps a ball in bound against Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Thunder beat the Bucks 104-96. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 1, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward center Al Jefferson (25) looks to shoot as he is defended by Philadelphia 76ers center Carl Landry (7) during the second half of the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 100-91. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Al Jefferson

The Indiana Pacers‘ desire to play faster didn’t really mesh with the Al Jefferson signing in free agency, but in the interest of putting more points on the board, perhaps their new sixth man will exceed expectations.

Jefferson only played 47 games for the Charlotte Hornets last season, coming off the bench in 29 of them. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 23.3 minutes per game on the year, shooting 48.5 percent from the field.

From yesterday, really great stuff from Al Jefferson on his new (young) teammate, Myles Turner: pic.twitter.com/IonEl0jY9B
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) September 27, 2016

At age 31, his transition into a bench role is all but assured. Myles Turner is ready to flourish as Indiana’s stretch-5 of the future, and Jefferson’s plodding, methodical approach on the low block is better suited for a second unit that could use a sure thing whenever they need a bucket.

If Jefferson can stay healthy and embraces sixth man duty, who knows? People are awfully high on a Pacers team that has a lot to prove defensively, but if their offense takes a major leap forward and Jefferson is a chief contributor off the bench, he’ll be in the conversation.