When everybody else is relaxing during the offseason, these are the guys you can usually find sweating it out in the confines of a hot, stuffy gym.
They are the players with a chip on their shoulders, something stuck in their craw, working, drilling, running, shooting and burning to show they’re ready to take the next step up with their game. So we look ahead at award winners for the 2015-16 season with five choices for the Kia Most Improved Player Award.
Otto Porter
Washington Wizards
GMs and coaches all over the league seek the next Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green or Khris Middleton … as in a feisty, versatile, in-your-face combo forward with star potential.
The Wizards might have gotten their first glimpse of their man last spring in the playoffs. If he didn’t quite become Superman, he was far more than Clark Kent when Porter got rid of his goggles and became a serious part of the Washington rotation.
It took him nearly two full seasons, but he finally got the playing time to show he’s capable of being a valuable “3-and-D” type. He can space the floor with his outside shot and be an up-close defender. Despite a slender (OK, skinny) frame, he gets inside to receive passes that result in easy buckets and also averaged eight rebounds per game in the playoffs. Ask Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan what a pest he can be. If coach Randy Wittman increases his playing time, it could pay off big.
Marcus Smart
Boston Celtics
Smart’s rookie season was slowed by a bad ankle and bad chemistry. Until Rajon Rondo was shipped out to the Dallas Mavericks on December 18, 2014, there just weren’t enough minutes for Smart and the return from the injury just had him spinning his wheels on offense.
But his reputation coming out of college was as a prime-time defender and Smart didn’t disappoint there. Statistically, he ranked in the top 20 percent of the league in defending the pick-and-roll and his overall performance raised the Celtics level of defensive performance when he was on the court. He helped raise the level of opponents’ turnovers, while decreasing their field goal percentage.
However, Smart must improve his shooting to become the player the Celtics are counting on. He’s got the attitude, the instincts and given a season of good health, Smart money says he should blossom in Year Two under coach Brad Stevens.
Aaron Gordon
Orlando Magic
Gordon would be the first to tell you he just wasn’t comfortable last season as an NBA rookie. A power forward in college, he was mostly asked to play small forward with the Magic and was a fish out of water.
But it was a more confident Gordon who took the floor for the Magic at the Orlando Summer League. Gordon beat defenders off the dribble and finished with power dunks. He pulled up off the dribble and stroked jumpers like they were his calling card. He even nailed 3-pointers. Put all those newfound skills together with his 6-foot-9, 230-pound body, explosive leaping ability and athletic moves and Gordon is a definite candidate.
Enes Kanter
Oklahoma City Thunder
Did Kanter improve or was he just given more of a chance to play after being traded at the deadline by the Utah Jazz? He averaged 18.7 points and 11 rebounds in 26 games with the Thunder. That got him the whopping offer sheet from Portland that OKC had to match, even if it meant overpaying. His numbers aren’t likely to go higher.
In fact, his points will probably drop with the return of a healthy Kevin Durant to the line-up. But now Kanter gets to reap the benefits of playing with Durant and Russell Westbrook, which means just hanging around the post and receiving passes for even easier shots.
If he’s going to be a serious contender for the award, Kanter will have to show that he’s more than just a disinterested spectator on defender and use his size – even just raise his arms – to try to protect the rim. If new coach Billy Donovan can get higher effort there – with Serge Ibaka at his back – a lot could be looking back up in OKC after a lost season.
Donatas Motiejunas
Houston Rockets
James Harden definitely was the lead horse pulling the wagon with his MVP-level performance. But an argument can be made that the power forward from Lithuania was the second most instrumental player in keeping the Rockets afloat last season.
He filled in for both Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones with nifty moves in the paint born of great footwork, a nice touch from the outside, a willingness and ability to keep the moving in the offense and joyous energy that he brings to the court. He was averaging 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game before back surgery ended his season and kept him out of the playoffs entirely. There is grit to his work ethic and a joy to his game that could shine if he stays healthy and gets more minutes.
By Fran Blinebury
First appeared on NBA.com Global
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