There has been a lot of talk about the biggest moves of the offseason and how they will translate on the floor but one important aspect of grading each NBA team heading in to this season is the return of the key players that have almost been forgotten since they went down early last year.
Everybody remembers that the Oklahoma City Thunder will have Kevin Durant back in the lineup and it’s impossible to forget Chris Bosh will return to the Miami Heat, but what about the other impact players that haven’t been talked about nearly as much? Here is a look at the three forgotten players that are set to make an impact when they return from injury this season.
Alec Burks, Utah Jazz
It’s important to remember that Utah posted a .500 record in each of the final three months of last season and could be even better with the return of Burks at the shooting guard position. The 2011 first-round pick had his 2014-15 season cut short due to a shoulder injury but he had averaged 13.9 points, 3.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game before he went down and could be bound to take a major step forward. Many fantasy buffs forget that Burks had a great finish to the 2013-14 campaign. He averaged 15.1 points per game with 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 4.0 free throws and 1.0 steals after the All-Star break and was deemed a sleeper on draft day.
Burks is still only 24 years old but now the starting shooting guard position is Rodney Hood’s to lose. However, Hood was fairly inconsistent as a rookie, so this will be a competition. Burks is further along in his development and he should be the more consistent player. He’s the guy making more money at the position, so don’t be surprised if he starts getting the big minutes again.
Josh McRoberts, Miami Heat
The Heat will get Bosh back and they signed Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Amar’e Stoudamire and Gerald Green in the offseason, but one of the most overlooked aspects of this year’s roster will be the return of Josh McRoberts. As you might recall, McRoberts was one of the headline signings by Pat Riley last offseason after LeBron James left but he wasn’t able to make much if an impact.
The 28-year-old averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the Charlotte Hornets in 2013-14 but was limited to 17 games last year because of injury. McRoberts isn’t a starter but he is a quality veteran role player that can stretch the floor with his shot coming off the bench behind Bosh. Depending on the minutes he sees, he can be a sneaky source of three-pointers along with a mixed bag of other things.
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Ricky Rubio, Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota might not be a contender in the Western Conference but they are loaded with young players including reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, 2015 No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine and Gorgui Dieng. With all of the talent the Timberwolves have been adding, one guy gets lost in the shuffle: Ricky Rubio.
He could help in the development of every one of those players. Rubio has struggled to stay healthy but he is still just 24 years old and he averaged 10.3 points, 8.8 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in 22 appearances last season before he was injured. Rubio has played a full 82 games only once in four NBA seasons but he has talked a lot about wanting to prove himself this year. If you’re drafting the guy, you’re buying in on the cheap and he’s got legitimate talent around him these days. He’s not going to be a great source for points but he’s averaged 8.2 assists per game for his career while averaging 4.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals. He’s going to be a very valuable point guard if he stays healthy and right now, he’s an overlooked player on this roster.
