The NBA season is getting closer to starting now that the calendar has turned to September and the NFL and with training camps and the preseason coming up, there are a number of players looking to have big seasons as they head into contract years, including names like Luol Deng, Andrew Bogut, Eric Bledsoe, Danny Granger, Mario Chalmers and Avery Bradley.
Bleacher Report posed the question and threw out some names and Deng is one of the top ones on the list. The Chicago Bulls are entering into a pivotal season for the future of the franchise, as Derrick Rose will be returning from his season long injury and after losing Nate Robinson in free agency, Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler will be relied on even more than they were last season. Deng was one of the most integral players for the team last season and now that he is entering his contract season, eve more pressure will be on him to perform well.
Deng was very good last season when he was on the court and averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists and while the Bulls want to sign him, they won't go crazy when it comes to money, so this season will be crucial on both sides. Deng is a very good player and if he plays well enough he could set himself up for a big pay day. Danny Granger is coming back from an injury and his play this season will dictate his money on the market as well.
Andrew Bogut on the Warriors is entering a contract year and the biggest issue for him will be staying on the court and after playing in just 32 games and averaging 5.8 points and 7.7 rebounds he could be a target for many teams, but it'll depend how he plays this year. If Bogut can stay healthy for the Warriors, he will be a prime option for teams looking for big men. Avery Bradley is another player that has some pressure on him heading into the season after Rajon Rondo was hurt and Mario Chalmers is also a player that is entering a contract year and after starring with LeBron James, he could get some money after averaging nearly 10 points per game last season.
Bledsoe was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Phoenix Suns this offseason after he was mentioned in trade talks to the Boston Celtics and now that he has been traded, the team is wondering whether he will be worth it to keep long term. He averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists last season and as a 23-year-old he still is very young with tons of potential and if he can show that he is an every game starter that can produce consistently, the Suns or another team may try and lock him up long-term on an extension.
Bledsoe was moved in the deal that brought JJ Redick to the Clippers and he went to the Suns with Caron Butler, who is now with the Bucks after being traded there late in the summer. Bledsoe played in 76 games last season and the Suns will be relying on him as well as young talent like Kendall Marshall, Alex Len and Archie Goodwin.