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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 6, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets shooting guard Jeremy Lamb (3) drives against New York Knicks shooting guard Arron Afflalo (4) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

12. Jeremy Lamb

Talk about being phased out of the rotation. Early in the 2015-16 season with the Charlotte Hornets, Jeremy Lamb was just as important to the team’s bench as their designated sixth man, Jeremy Lin. By the end of the year, Lamb wasn’t even getting up off of Steve Clifford’s bench.

Before the All-Star break, Lamb was experiencing something of a breakout season, averaging 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game on .463/.316/.781 shooting. After the break, his numbers plummeted to 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game on .415/.292/.583 shooting.

It got so bad that Lamb’s standing with the team almost reached its breaking point leading up to the 2016 NBA Draft, as the Hornets looked to unload his contract to free up cap room for re-signing their many free agents.

Once expected to be the next success story for the Thunder’s youth development, Lamb was making the most of his fresh start in Charlotte until his minutes and production began to fade. With Nicolas Batum re-signed and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist healthy, Lamb may have a hard time earning favor with Clifford again.

As one of the league’s most efficient offenses last season, the Hornets needed perimeter shooting, which is why Troy Daniels started stealing Lamb’s minutes in the first place.

Daniels is gone now, but Marco Belinelli has replaced him and will try to provide the same three-point touch. Until Lamb can shore up that area of his game as a career 33.6 percent shooter from distance, he may struggle to re-establish himself in the rotation.

Next: No. 11