NBA: 10 candidates for bounce-back seasons in 2017-18

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8. Ian Mahinmi

When the Washington Wizards signed Ian Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million deal last summer, it wasn’t just because of the salary cap spike; it was because he was coming off a career year with the Indiana Pacers and was expected to be the eventual successor to Marcin Gortat at center.

Unfortunately, Mahinmi’s first season in D.C. was a complete disappointment, with his numbers dropping to 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in only 31 appearances. Injuries hindered his progress, but he wasn’t the defensive stalwart the Wizards envisioned even when he was on the court.

In 2017-18, the 30-year-old Mahinmi needs to prove himself as a younger, more defensively inclined alternative to Gortat, who is 33 years old and may have a harder time keeping up as the game’s more modern centers stretch the floor to the perimeter.

Mahinmi has the defensive chops to defend pick-and-rolls and protect the rim, but he’ll need to stay healthy and revert back to his career year in 2015-16 in order to start living up to that gaudy contract.