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11 players ready to take over NBA with breakout seasons in 2016-17

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Every season, we see a number of NBA players break out and put themselves in the conversation to win the Most Improved Player award.

There are several reasons why that happens, the most obvious being natural progression — think C.J. McCollum, who parlayed a strong end to his sophomore season into an expanded role with the Trail Blazers after their mass exodus. However, players can also see a significant uptick in production by joining a different team, adding a particular skill to their game that's been missing or simply playing for a new coach. Trades play a significant role in the process, too, as they can open up bigger opportunities for players on the existing roster.

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With that in mind, let's take a look at 11 players who are destined to make a jump during the 2016-17 season.

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Devin Booker

Devin Booker

Booker showed promise as a reserve with the Suns by converting 50 percent of his 3-pointers in the opening 32 games of his career. He then stole the show while also making a strong Rookie of the Year case when he was promoted to a full-time starter.

In the final 44 games of last season, Booker averaged an impressive 18.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds per contest. That he shot 40.7 percent from the field and 31.0 percent from the perimeter isn't indicative of his potential as a shooter, and he showcased parts of his game we didn't get a chance to see at Kentucky. It all came together for him during a five-game stretch in March when Booker averaged 28.4 points per game — he scored at least 30 points in three of those games — as Phoenix's primary scorer.

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The Suns have a logjam in the backcourt with Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis all needing the ball to succeed, but Booker has done everything in his power to prove himself as a star on the rise. The sooner the Suns give him more responsibility, the better for everyone involved.

Also, Booker is only 19 years old ... 19!

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo makes this list for the second year in a row, which speaks to his never-ending potential considering he's already made encouraging strides with the Bucks.

After flirting with the idea of playing him at point, Bucks head coach Jason Kidd threw Antetokounmpo into the deep end during the second half of last season with impressive results. In the 28 games after All-Star Weekend, Antetokounmpo averaged 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per contest — numbers we've never seen sustained throughout an entire season. He racked up five triple-doubles during that time, putting him behind only Russell Westbrook, Draymond Green and Rajon Rondo for most on the season. And because of Antetokounmpo's success, Kidd is prepared to make him the team's primary ball handler starting next season.

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In theory, that adjustment alone should help Antetokounmpo put together the counting stats needed to get some All-Star consideration, but there are plenty of ways he can continue to improve. After shooting 29.2 percent on jump shots in 2014-15, for example, Antetokounmpo improved ever-so-slightly to 32.0 in 2015-16. Fine-tuning that part of his game will help Antetokounmpo become the all-around monster he has the potential to be as he ventures into the unguardable category.

Clint Capela

Clint Capela

Here's why Clint Capela joins Antetokounmpo as a repeat offender on this list: With Dwight Howard no longer in Houston, Capela figures to be the starting center for the Rockets on opening day and should benefit greatly from playing in Mike D'Antoni's space-and-pace system.

The biggest difference between Capela and Howard is Capela embraces his role as a pick-and-roll center, whereas Howard resents it. Last season, Capela scored 18.5 percent of his points as the roll man compared with 9.3 percent by Howard. Capela was one of the best in the league in those situations, too, scoring at an impressive rate of 1.17 points per possession. That's important when playing alongside James Harden, who does a good chunk of his damage as the ball handler in pick-and-rolls.

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With the new additions to the roster, the Harden-Capela pick-and-roll should become a staple in Houston's offense while more competent shooters such as Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson space the floor around them. There's no reason why they shouldn't be able to replicate the spread pick-and-roll D'Antoni made famous in Phoenix with Harden acting as Steve Nash. It will be incredibly difficult for opponents to contain — crash and some of the best spot-up shooters in the league will be left open; stay and Harden will wiggle his way toward the basket for a layup or alley-oop.

Either way, Capela and his rolling ways will be a big reason why the Rockets are one of the best offensive teams in the NBA next season.

Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes

After spending four seasons as a fourth wheel to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes has the perfect opportunity to spread his wings in Dallas. While it may take him some time to adjust to his new role — Barnes was basically a spot-up shooter with the Warriors and he's now expected to do it all — Mark Cuban sees him eventually becoming a go-to option for the Mavericks.

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Time will tell if those shoes are too big for Barnes to fill, but there's reason to believe he's only scratched the surface of his potential. He's built perfectly for a modern small forward and he checked out as one of the best shooters in the league during the regular season. Under the tutelage of another excellent head coach in Rick Carlisle, Barnes should see his usage in the post (as well as some other areas of his game) increase as he continues to shine in small ball lineups.

This is the opportunity Barnes has been waiting for. The Mavericks are stuck somewhere between hanging onto a playoff dream and rebuilding, and the pressure is on Barnes to move the needle. It might not be a quick rise to the top for him, but Barnes is in position to break out.

Jonas Valanciunas

Jonas Valanciunas

It seems like Jonas Valanciunas is discussed as a Most Improved Player candidate every year. However, after a dominant showing in the playoffs in which he averaged 15.0 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game before sustaining an ankle injury, it looks like the Raptors center is finally primed for the big season we've been waiting for.

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It helps that Toronto's front court rotation features an underdeveloped Lucas Nogueira and a 20-year-old rookie in Jakob Poeltl as Valanciunas' backups. Had Bismack Biyombo returned to the Raptors instead of signing with the Magic, the minutes battle between the two would've impacted Valanciunas' role moving forward.

Nonetheless, the next step for the Raptors is to find ways to keep Valanciunas on the floor against smaller lineups and for him to be more comfortable as a go-to option. It might even include a healthy dose of 3-pointers, which would help space the floor for Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Put those factors together and the timing feels right for Valanciunas to become one of the many stars of the 2011 NBA Draft class.

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving

LeBron James coasted a little more than usual during last year's regular season to conserve his body for the playoffs — obviously a smart decision seeing as he put on one of the greatest Finals performances we've ever seen to beat the Warriors and end Cleveland's 54-year championship drought.

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Now that James is entering his 14th season in the NBA, he may very well take an even bigger step back, which would pave the way for Kyrie Irving to build on his equally impressive Finals performance. It's not as though we don't already know what Irving is capable of — he is a three-time All-Star with career averages of 20.8 points and 5.5 assists per game — but Irving might be the one leading the charge for the Cavaliers during the regular season as he begins to enter the prime of his career.

That could mean a hunt for the scoring title or similar numbers to the Stephen Currys and Russell Westbrooks of the world. Bottom line: As long as he can stay healthy, Irving should put on a show next season.

D'Angelo Russell

D'Angelo Russell

There are a few reasons why D'Angelo Russell could be in for a breakout sophomore season.

First, Russell's incident with Nick Young took a lot of the shine away from what was an encouraging rookie season. He proved to be a silky scorer who already plays like a crafty veteran, and he doesn't shy away from the big moments. With Young not expected to be on the roster come opening night, a new season will mark a much-needed fresh start for Russell.

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Secondly, with Kobe Bryant's farewell tour in the rearview mirror, the Lakers can begin building for the future with their young core of Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram. Because Byron Scott is no longer in the picture, either, Russell doesn't have to worry about his coach crushing his morale through the media as he did one too many times last season. A clear understanding of who the Lakers are will naturally help players such as Russell be more comfortable in their environment.

Speaking of head coaches, Luke Walton is far better equipped to put Russell in positions to succeed than Scott. Not only will he be able to resonate with the younger players, Walton has supreme confidence in his roster. (He recently said Randle and Russell can be All-Stars somewhere down the road). Walton also understands the importance of perimeter shooting in today's game, which should make Russell feel right at home.

Andre Drummond

Andre Drummond

After signing a $127 million contract extension, Andre Drummond will try to prove he is the franchise player everyone believes he can be.

Like Valanciunas, Drummond will always be a strong option for breakout players based solely on his raw tools. He's a huge center at 6-11 and 280 pounds, and few players his size have the same jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism. Something as simple as him rolling to the basket for lobs has a way of bending the defense for his teammates to get open looks, and it will become more deadly as the roster continues to take shape around him.

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But there could be so much more to Drummond's game. Last season, nobody attempted more shots out of the post than Drummond, yet he converted them at a dreadful 39.6 percent clip. The only players who shot worse in those situations with more than 100 attempts were Roy Hibbert and Alex Len. If Drummond can improve his accuracy at the charity stripe by even the slightest of margins — apparently we have a new shooting form to look forward to — that would be the icing on the cake.

The Pistons proved they are on the up-and-up despite being swept by the Cavaliers in the opening round of the playoffs. If Drummond keeps improving like he has to this point, they could be scary good in the future.

Derrick Favors

Derrick Favors

Five players averaged at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game last season. Four of them were All-Stars: Paul Millsap, Andre Drummond, Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. The other? Derrick Favors.

Favors fits into the players-you-didn't-know-are-really-good category. He can space the floor consistently out to 16-feet, he's a powerful finisher around the basket and he has the sort of defensive versatility that makes him an ideal fit next to a traditional rim protector such as Rudy Gobert. He's improved each season he's been with the Jazz and quietly turned himself into the engine that makes the team go, too.

With the Jazz projected to take the next jump into title contention by sneaking into the playoffs, Favors will be at the forefront of their success. He faces some stiff competition when it comes to making the All-Star team in the Western Conference, but that won't be the best way to measure the impact Favors has on the game. While the Jazz continue their rise to the top, Favors will only get more attention.

Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder

Dennis Schroder's career has been plagued with inconsistency thus far, which is to be expected from a young international point guard who is still learning the game. But with Jeff Teague no longer in the picture, the days of Schroder having the luxury of playing with the same reckless abandon that's gotten him this far are probably over with.

For the Hawks to pick up from where they left off, Schroder will have to be slightly more calculated in his attack. That means not turning the ball over nearly 20 times per 100 possessions as he has to this point of his career. We've seen what it could look like if successful in spurts — take his 21 points against the Cavaliers in an elimination game or his per-36 minute averages of 19.5 points, 7.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds last season as good examples — but he hasn't proven the ability to sustain those spurts of efficiency over long periods.

It becomes slightly more complicated with the arrival of Dwight Howard, who isn't the ideal center to pair with Schroder. (Only two players scored more of their points as the ball handler in pick-and-rolls than Schroder last season and, as we've already discussed, Howard would much rather set himself up in the post). However, the Hawks clearly trust that Schroder is prepared to take the next step and there's no doubt he is confident in his ability to lead the team. With Jarrett Jack and Malcolm Delaney as his backups, the opportunity to make some noise is certainly there for Schroder's taking.

Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns has gotten his NBA career off to an incredible start. The only rookies besides him to average at least 18 points, 10 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game are David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, Elton Brand and Ralph Sampson — six Hall of Famers and one two-time All-Star. Of that group, O'Neal and Brand were the same age as Towns when they accomplished it.

Like the legends he's following, Towns is only going to get better as he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the NBA and refines some of the weaker parts of his game. The addition of Tom Thibodeau as head coach and another rising star in Kris Dunn puts him in perfect position to build on his rookie campaign and begin his ascent to become one of the league's best players on both ends of the floor.

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