NBA

15 NBA Players Facing A Make-or-Break 2014-15 Season

15 NBA Players Facing Make-or-Break Seasons in 2014-15

Jeremy Lin
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There are some NBA seasons that have make-or-break written all over them for certain players. Whether it is a result of failing to live up to expectations or rebounding from injuries, this upcoming season has implications for many players, but none more so than these 15. Failure to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them could mean they will be out of work next year, or they will be facing major pay cuts. Either way, the time is now.

15. Otto Porter (Washington Wizards)

Otto Porter
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15. Otto Porter (Washington Wizards)

Otto Porter
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It may seem extreme to call a player’s second season make-or-break, but when a team spends the third overall pick on someone who produces two points per game, that’s what it feels like. Porter had a disappointing rookie season, but then again, it is hard to produce when your rear end is glued to the pine. With Ariza’s departure and Martell Webster coming off of back surgery, it will be time for Porter to make his presence felt.

14. Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz)

Jeremy Evans
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14. Jeremy Evans (Utah Jazz)

Jeremy Evans
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For Jeremy Evans, the 2014-15 season could quite literally make-or-break his career. He could solidify his place in the league as a respectable role player or he could find himself forced to explore his options across seas. Evans did make some noticeable progress last season, but entering his fourth year in the pros, the Jazz and their new coach will look to Evans to establish his place on this team.

13. Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic)

Evan Fournier
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13. Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic)

Evan Fournier
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Fournier is entering his third season in the NBA and his first with the Orlando Magic. In a Nuggets uniform, he never quite met the expectations of the organization, which placed an inordinate amount of trust in a young player. Now he will be expected to provide much of the production the team lost when they shipped Arron Afflalo to the Nuggets, a task that could make or break Fournier.

12. Thomas Robinson (Portland Trail Blazers)

Thomas Robinson
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12. Thomas Robinson (Portland Trail Blazers)

Thomas Robinson
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Robinson, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft, is now going into his third season, still looking to prove that he was worth such a lofty pick. This, however, will be the first year he enters a new season with the same team he ended the last one with. He showed signs of improvement last season, and the Blazers are counting on his new-found comfort in Portland to take his game to the next level.

11. Wesley Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)

Wesley Johnson
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11. Wesley Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers)

Wesley Johnson
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Johnson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, is entering his fifth NBA season and his second in a Lakers uniform. Last season, Johnson was able to crack the starting lineup and logged more minutes than any other time in his career. He established himself as their best defender, but coach Scott will look to Johnson to not only continue his defensive dominance, but to establish himself as an offensive threat too.

10. Jeremy Lamb (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Jeremy Lamb
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10. Jeremy Lamb (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Jeremy Lamb
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It may be slightly hyperbolic to call Lamb’s third season make-or-break, but the Thunder so desperately need another viable scoring option that if Lamb doesn’t step up to fill that role, they may think about exercising the team option they have on his contract next year.

9. Derrick Williams (Sacramento Kings)

Derrick Williams
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9. Derrick Williams (Sacramento Kings)

Derrick Williams
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A former overall No. 2 overall draft selection, Williams has failed to make the transition to the NBA, especially with his perimeter shooting, which has been absolutely horrific. Now, entering his fourth year in the league and with an $ 8.7 million qualifying offer on the line, the pressure will be on Williams to become a dependable part of the Kings' rotation. Otherwise, Williams may find himself looking for work.

8. Jimmer Fredette (New Orleans Pelicans)

Jimmer Fredette
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8. Jimmer Fredette (New Orleans Pelicans)

Jimmer Fredette
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Fredette left college as one of the most prolific scorers of all time. Now, he enters his fourth NBA season looking to prove he can even be a moderate scoring threat in the league, and I think he is in a good situation to do just that. He should get more minutes in New Orleans to prove he can be a sharpshooting specialist and carve out a role for himself on this team going forward.

7. George Hill (Indiana Pacers)

George Hill
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7. George Hill (Indiana Pacers)

George Hill
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When Hill was traded to the Pacers in 2011, he was thought to be the point guard who could help take them to the next level. He has played well at times, but has by no means produced like they expected him to. Now, with Lance Stephenson gone and Paul George out for the year, the Pacers will lean heavily on Hill to carry much of the load. This is his chance to prove he has what it takes to lead a team.

6. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Hornets)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
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6. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Hornets)

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
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MKG enters his third NBA season and will be playing for a contract extension. He has proven himself to be an elite defender, but he has failed to become the scoring threat the Hornets expected. He modified his jump shot mechanics this offseason and looks to establish himself as a two-way player. He can no longer lean on his potential as a crutch. This is the season he must show what he is made of.

5. Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)

Harrison Barnes
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5. Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors)

Harrison Barnes
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When the Warriors selected Barnes with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, they thought they were getting their small forward of the future, not an inconsistent role player coming off the bench. Iggy will continue to start, but this is the year the Warriors will need to see Barnes make the jump to the next level. His name has already been included in trade rumors this summer, and it’s clear the Warriors are running out of patience.

4. Evan Turner (Boston Celtics)

Evan Turner
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4. Evan Turner (Boston Celtics)

Evan Turner
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Turner was once thought to be one of the brightest young stars in the game, with almost unbounded potential. That is why he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2010 draft. Well, he has never fulfilled that potential, but he will get a chance with his third team to prove the doubters wrong. He will still have to battle for time with Jeff Green, but this could be Turner’s last realistic chance to become more than a mediocre NBA player.

3. JaVale McGee (Denver Nuggets)

JaVale McGee
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3. JaVale McGee (Denver Nuggets)

JaVale McGee
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McGee has been living off of the promise of untapped potential for several years now. Last season was supposed to be the one where he broke out, seeing more playing time under Brian Shaw’s system, but injury kept him out the entire season. This season will be McGee’s opportunity to show he can be a difference-making player. Otherwise, he could see the Nuggets shopping his massive salary around to teams interested in gaining cap relief in 2016.

2. Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat)

Mario Chalmers
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2. Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat)

Mario Chalmers
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Chalmers has been one of the more frustrating players to watch over the past few years. At times, he looks like he could be on the precipice of being a top 10 point guard in the NBA, but other times he simply looks washed up. Without LeBron on the team, Chalmers will be expected to step up and help carry the new faces back to respectability. If not, Shabazz Napier is waiting in the wings.

1. Jeremy Lin (Los Angeles Lakers)

Jeremy Lin
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1. Jeremy Lin (Los Angeles Lakers)

Jeremy Lin
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This could be Lin’s last chance to prove that “Linsanity” wasn’t simply a two-month stretch back in 2011 and that he can realistically be counted on to be a starting point guard in the league. He will certainly be given every opportunity to do so in L.A., where all eyes will be on him to prevail or fall flat on his face.

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