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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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Mar 23, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) dunks the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the first quarter of the game at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Maurice Harkless

The Portland Trail Blazers just rewarded Maurice Harkless with a four-year, $40 million contract extension, so it’s not like this 23-year-old is playing to make ends meet in 2016-17. But after such a hefty investment, Rip City would probably like to see him build on his strong finish to the 2015-16 campaign.

Though he only averaged 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game on the season, Harkless earned Terry Stotts’ trust over the final three weeks of the season. He averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game in that span, shooting 47.6 percent from the floor as well.

Harkless is still unable to spread the floor to three-point range, and it’s a bit disconcerting that the best season of his four-year NBA career remains his rookie campaign in 2012-13.

But with the Blazers going all in on their current core, young players like Harkless could be the defining line between the success and failure of their accelerated rebuild.

It’s time for this fifth year player to start making strides forward with the raw potential we’ve seen go relatively untapped for far too long — especially after that leap-of-faith contract he just earned. It’s time to fine-tune that perimeter jumper and become more than an 11th man.

As good as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are, it’ll take internal development from players just like Harkless to really build something in Portland.

Next: No. 8