'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Jeremy Lamb
We have seen the effect of a contract season on Jeremy Lamb before. With one year remaining headed into the 2018-19 season, Lamb proceeded to average a career-high in points (15.3), rebounds (5.5), and field-goal attempts (12.4) which led to him being offered a three-year $31.5-million deal from the Indiana Pacers.
During his first season in Indiana, Lamb unfortunately went down with a torn ACL. His recovery rate was impressive, and he participated in 36 games for the Pacers last season. With health now on his side and a full offseason removed from his injury, Lamb will look to get back into the swing of things.
Don't be surprised to see Jeremy Lamb come out of the gates with a different level of aggression in an attempt to gain the trust of new head coach Rick Carlisle.
There's potential for the guard to break into the Pacers' starting lineup and prove that he can be a difference maker on a playoff roster prior to his free agency.
#2 Dennis Schroder
Dennis Schroder must have been massively disappointed with the way this offseason went for him financially. He reportedly rejected a four-year $84-million extension offer that was put on the table by the Los Angeles Lakers mid-season.
With limited amounts of cap space available to NBA teams, the available money dried up fast. Teams with clear holes at the point guard position looked in other directions, and Schroder was quickly one of the last sizeable names available on the market before eventually inking a one-year $5.8-million deal with the Boston Celtics.
The logic here is re-entering free-agecy in the 2022 off-season for the chance of an increased payday. Schroder impressed in his 61 starts for the Los Angeles Lakers averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 43.7 percent from the field and 33.5 percent from three.
If the German guard can up those percentages and tally a few more points per night as a starter in Boston, the market may be kinder to him in the 2022 NBA offseason. The chip on his shoulder this season should be massive, and the league should expect a highly motivated Dennis Schroder this year.
#1 Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell has always been someone who plays with an edge. Supplying him with even more motivation could lead to a big year for the 6'7" big man. We have seen the impact of a contract year on Harrell before, when he was bound for free-agency after the 2019-20 NBA season.
That year, Harrell averaged a career-high in points (18.6) and rebounds (7.1) for the Los Angeles Clippers while en route to securing the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Harrell disappointed during his time with the Lakers, particularly in the playoffs.
With his looming defensive concerns primarily influenced by his unideal size for a center, Harrell needs to be extremely impactful and efficient on the offensive end of the floor to frequently be a positive contributor.
As if more motivation was needed, Montrezl Harrell was recently traded to the Washington Wizards in the Russell Westbrook deal. The Wizards have been unable to find a consistent answer at the center position, and Harrell may be eyeing that role.
Don't be surprised to see Montrezl Harrell turn his usual fiery self up a notch alongside Bradley Beal in the capital.
