NBA PM: Players Share 2016-17 Expectations

Ah, September is here. The dog days of August are behind us, and the 2016-17 NBA season is rapidly approaching. Around this time of year, there is plenty of optimism around the NBA. Every team is undefeated and full of hope, so players, coaches, executives and fans dream big about the upcoming campaign.

For the most part, we have a good idea of what each team will look like on opening night. Because rosters are pretty close to being finalized, this is typically when players start getting excited about their squad and setting lofty team goals.

Basketball Insiders has talked to a ton of players this summer and their expectations for the 2016-17 NBA season inevitably come up in conversation, so we decided to put all of those quotes in one place:

Courtney Lee, New York Knicks: “We’re contenders, man. They didn’t make the playoffs last year, but we’re looking to change that and win big. The ring is the ultimate goal for everybody on the team; I know it is for me. When they talked to me and told me about the pieces they were adding alongside the players who were already there, I didn’t think anything less than a championship [was the goal]. We’re trying to get the Knicks back into the playoffs and win big. … Everybody is hungry and everybody has their own motivation or chip on their shoulder. We just need to come together, get that chemistry and see it click. Once everybody is together and everybody is hungry, I think we can be very scary.”

Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers: “As a team, we want to finish top three in the East and I feel like we’re very capable of doing so. On paper, we’re very talented, but it’s about how we put stuff together. I do feel like the East will be a lot stronger next year with some of the moves that have been made in our conference, but I feel like we can go out there and get the job done and finish in the top three. That’s the goal, and then we want to go make a deep playoff run. And obviously, we’re all chasing rings; that’s a big goal of mine. I don’t see why we can’t do it next year. I know that ‘sounds good’ and anybody can just say that, but I’m a very confident player and with that confidence comes ambition.”

C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers: “I think the organization is heading in the right direction. We have a good roster and a good group of guys. We are continuing to build for now and the future. … We’re extremely hungry. Team success is how you leave an impression and mark on the game. Our motivation is proving to people that last year wasn’t a fluke. Many of us are out there to prove that our team can be even better this season than last.”

Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks: “Cleveland is a great team and what they did last year was amazing, beating a team that many people thought would walk away with the regular season and the postseason. You have to give a ton of credit to them because they’ve done a great job putting themselves in position to win and be successful. I think we took notes from losing to them eight straight games in the postseason. There’s definitely a fire lit under us for next season and we want to come back better than ever – individually and collectively as well. We’re taking steps in the right direction, adding Dwight Howard, adding Jarrett Jack, re-signing Kris Humphries and things like that. I think we’re moving in the right direction this year and that we’re poised to do some damage this season. … We have a good team all around. There’s a solid mix of young guys and veterans, so it’s going to be a good year.”

Serge Ibaka, Orlando Magic: “It feels good to be here. It feels like my first year in the league again; I’m that excited. … This is a young team and they’re hungry. Like Coach [Frank Vogel] has said, we want to have a defensive mindset. And my goal with this team is to make the playoffs in the next season that is upcoming. That’s what I’m looking for.”

Garrett Temple, Sacramento Kings: “As far as expectations, I envision us playing a more up-tempo game with the pieces that we have, and I see us being able to win a lot more games than people think. Our division has obviously gotten competitive with a certain Warriors move (laughs), but I envision us being able to win games with the veterans we’ve brought in plus the guys already on the team like DeMarcus [Cousins], who is the best center in the game, Rudy [Gay], D.C. [Darren Collison] and Kosta Koufos… I think we have a chance to push for a playoff spot, man. That’s definitely going to be the goal.”

Jeff Teague, Indiana Pacers: “Well, definitely being in the playoffs [is expected]. I haven’t missed them in any year yet, so I expect to be in the playoffs. Once we get around each other and all of the guys start to gel, we’ll know [more]. But on paper, this team has a chance to be really, really good. If we can bring it all together, gel and be one big unit like we need to be, it could be a really special year for Indiana.”

Terrence Jones, New Orleans Pelicans: “Our goal is to be better than we were last year, make some noise out West and compete in the playoffs. That’s always the goal and I think we have a group that can do it. They had a lot of injuries last year and I think people forgot they were in the playoffs the year before.”

John Jenkins, Phoenix Suns: “[The playoffs are] the goal and nobody should count us out as long as we stay healthy. We’re so hungry. And we have a coach, Earl Watson, who is really hungry too. The organization as a whole just really wants to get back to that level again. We’re going to do the best we can. I had no idea what to expect when Coach Watson became the coach, but I’ve just been so impressed by him. What he’s already started to do has been great and I think everybody is just going to latch on and give it all that we’ve got. Health was a big issue last year, but we want to make sure that you have to respect Phoenix every time you play us. For anyone who thinks, ‘Oh, it’s going to be an easy win,’ it’s not going to be like that all. We have a good mix of veteran and young pieces, and we can be scary.”

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers: “I think chemistry is underrated. If you look at the really, really great teams, most of them have been together for years. And not just in this era either, I’m talking even going back and looking at the great teams in NBA history. I think we’re right there in terms of contending. We’re not far away whatsoever. Sometimes you have to keep knocking on that door until you break it down. It may take time and it may not be the easiest process, but that’s the way I kind of look at it.”

Kyle O’Quinn, New York Knicks: “When I saw the [offseason] moves, I was thinking, ‘Man, we’re really trying to make a push, we’re not trying to develop’. I think this is one of the first teams I’ve been on where it’s pretty clear-cut that they went after guys who they think could help win now. In the past, it’s been, ‘Okay, we’ll give this guy a chance,’ or we were signing guys who were trying to find their way into the league. Now, I think if we stay healthy, everyone feels [the playoffs] are possible. When I saw the moves, of course I was excited. Playing with Carmelo [Anthony] is exciting enough, but then you add guys like D-Rose and Joakim Noah and Courtney Lee? That’s so exciting. Now, we’ll just try to create a strong locker room with those guys and enjoy the process.”

Larry Nance Jr., Los Angeles Lakers: “Since Luke [Walton] has gotten here, the culture has kind of changed. … We’ve got really good pieces that we brought in like Luol Deng, Jose Calderon and Timofey Mozgov. Those guys are just pro’s pros. All of us saw that ESPN came out and said, ‘Oh, you guys are supposed to finish last in the Western Conference.’ We all kind of scoffed at that because I think we’re going to be better than people think we are. So we take stuff like that and use it is motivation. I don’t know if there’s an exact number [of wins] that we want to hit, but it’s going to be higher than what most people think.”