NBA: Top 10 Candidates For 2016-17 Most Improved Player Of The Year

NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Most Improved Player Of The Year Award In 2016-17

Mar 26, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and center Alex Len (21) defend during the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 105-94. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 23, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams (12) poses for portraits during Oklahoma City Thunder media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Steven Adams

With Kevin Durant gone, the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to need career years from Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams if they want to even dream about approaching last year’s 55-win mark.

More than likely, the Russell Westbrook Show will hit its rough patches as OKC struggles to put adequate perimeter shooting around him, but even if Adams is not a main option on offense, his case for Most Improved Player of the Year hinges on whether he establishes himself as top-five center.

At only 22 years last postseason, Adams came dangerously close to doing so, anchoring a stingy OKC defense and lightening the offensive load with intuitive passing as the Thunder downed the mighty 67-win San Antonio Spurs and built a 3-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors. Here’s hoping his preseason ankle injury isn’t too serious, because the potential is clearly here.

He’ll have to boost his numbers up from the 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game he averaged last year. He’ll even have to bump his numbers up from the 10.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game he put up in the postseason. But if he can do so, and become a bigger focal point within the offense, his defensive toughness and importance to the Thunder’s success will shine through.