The Washington Wizards secured top spot in the NBA’s Southeast division with a six-game cushion last season. After plenty of moves within the division this offseason, they could be in position to win the Southeast with an even bigger gap in 2017-18. John Wall will lead the Wizards as one of the division’s biggest stars, but he won’t do it alone with a potential breakout candidate helping to carry the load in Washington. Here is a look at five potential breakout players from the Pacific division this NBA season.
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr., Washington Wizards
Oubre is entering his third NBA season and all signs point towards this being a breakout year for the 2015 first-round pick. Oubre averaged just 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game a year ago. However, his development at both ends of the floor has put him in position to play a bigger role for the Wizards this coming season. Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. will carry the bulk of the load at the offensive end of the floor. However, that doesn’t mean Oubre won’t be in line for a breakout season of his own as a key contributor entering his third year in the NBA. With Bogdan Bogdanovic gone and the Wizards extremely thin in terms of their bench positions, Oubre will have plenty opportunity to contribute. He has to be on your fantasy radar, albeit late in drafts.
PF: Taurean Prince, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks cleared house following another disappointing season. They are now fully committed to a youth movement as part of their rebuild. Prince will be one of the biggest beneficiaries after the second-year wing made substantial progress throughout last season. He averaged 8.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 41.5-perfenct shooting after the All-Star break last season. It won’t be a surprise if he builds on those numbers with the best season of his career in 2017-18.
SF: Justise Winslow, Miami Heat
A torn labrum limited Winslow to just 18 games last season. However, he is now fully healthy and primed for a big year entering his third NBA season. Winslow is already a capable defender that has a knack for making plays at both ends of the floor. Now he needs to prove there are no lasting effects from his injury and that he can improve his shooting consistency at the offensive end of the floor. If he can do those two things, Winslow could be primed for a breakout year while posting double-digit averages in both points and rebounds. A lot of people have written him off as a player with a low ceiling but remember that he’s still just 21 years old. As a a starter last season, haveraged 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 threes. He definitely has the potential to grow.
SG: Malik Monk, Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte kept its veteran core intact and added Dwight Howard to the mix with the hope that he can help them win a playoff series this season. While the veterans will lead the way, their rookie first round pick Monk could play a bigger role than expected this season. Monk has the tools to become a trustworthy backup behind Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum and he will likely battle Jeremy Lamb and Michael Carter-Williams for that role. An athletic guard that can shoot the three-ball, Monk could make a splash in his rookie season for the Hornets.
PF: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Gordon averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season. Despite his immense potential and athletic ability, he has never really dominated at the NBA level. Gordon has the talent to become a star in the NBA but he needs to take that next step after teasing Magic fans the past couple of years. It’s important to remember that Gordon won’t turn 22 until September so he is still very young. With another year of experience at the NBA level under his belt and a little more help around him, Gordon could be in line for a breakout season in 2017-18.
The 2017 NBA futures are out. It’s been a wild offseason already, but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
