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NBA: 15 Young Players In Need Of A Breakout Season In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to he basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2015; Madison, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) drives to he basket against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) in the first quarter at Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) guards New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the game at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Pelicans 121-114. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Terrence Jones

Our second Terrence on the list, Terrence Jones will be looking to rebuild his value with the New Orleans Pelicans on a one-year minimum contract. For a player who once figured to be the third member of the Houston Rockets’ Big Three, the last few years could not have gone worse for T-Jones.

Once upon a time, Jones was putting up 12.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in his sophomore season, attempting to expand his range to the three-point line and exciting Rockets fans with his strong rebounding.

But because of injuries, the emergence of Donatas Motiejunas and the switch from head coach Kevin McHale to interim J.B. Bickerstaff, Jones’ bright future never materialized.

Ever since his promising second season, Jones missed 49 and then 32 games over the next two seasons. His numbers shrank to 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last year — all while playing six fewer minutes per game — and he shot just 31.6 percent from three-point range.

He was never able to become the stretch-4 Houston was searching for, and even as a restricted free agent this summer, the offers never poured in for the athletic 24-year-old.

Jones plays with a competitive fire when healthy, and he’s still young enough to make a name for himself with this change of scenery. But if he’s unable to carve out minutes on this Pelicans roster alongside his former Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis, he may never approach his full NBA potential.

Next: No. 3