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

By Gerald Bourguet

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
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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Oct 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) drives to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Harrison Barnes

On the Golden State Warriors, Harrison Barnes was both an underrated part of a championship team’s success and an overrated prospect whose flaws stuck out amidst the brilliance around him all at once. With the Dallas Mavericks, he’ll get the chance to set the record straight on what kind of player he really is.

Last season, Barnes averaged 11.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from downtown. His ability to play the 4 helped make the Dubs’ “Lineup of Death” so potent, as did his ability to knock down open corner threes.

But Barnes has never lived up to lofty projections coming out of high school and college, and his struggles in the last three games of the 2016 NBA Finals — 5-for-32 shooting — was a major driving force behind Golden State’s 3-1 collapse.

In an expanded role on the Mavs, however, Barnes should be able to surpass last year’s career numbers in a statistical breakout year.

His efficiency may fall off without open looks being served up on a silver platter, and the early returns haven’t been great, with Barnes putting up 15 points on 4-of-18 shooting through two preseason games. But Harry B will be a vital piece of Dallas’ success on both ends of the floor, and if he can adapt to that role, the MIP Award will be within his sights.