5 NBA Players Who Will Come out of Nowhere in 2012

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Honestly, I don't think I'm going to last all summer without the NBA. I certainly do miss it, as do many other NBA fans. 

We have, oh, three months or so until the 2011-2012 NBA season tips off and it's safe to say that this season is a very anticipated NBA season. Especially with the likes of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash in Los Angeles and a superteam forming in Brooklyn.

But, just like every year, there will be a few NBA players who burst on to the scene—a la Jeremy Lin—and start contributing out of nowhere.

Here are five candidates who will do just that this next season. 

Jimmer Fredette

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Call me a homer all you want (I live next to Brigham Young University), but I still have faith in Jimmer Fredette. The poor guy hasn't grown up in the best situation in Sacramento. 

I consider him to be one of the biggest candidates likely to break out next season and start contributing. He just needs to find his confidence and a brand new start/team. Fredette is already on the outs in Sacramento with Isaiah Thomas emerging and Aaron Brooks hopping onboard, plus it's not like that front office has any faith at all in him. He won't be able to succeed in that type of environment.

If he gets a brand new start and quality role-player minutes somewhere else, we may see the return of Jimmertime and a Jeremy Lin-like emergence. 

Andray Blatche

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Sure, he may not have a team yet, but I also have faith in Mr. Blatche. The guy was in a very dysfunctional situation in Washington. He needed out. 

And he is out. But now he just needs a team.

The best situation for him would be suiting up in a system that makes the most of their players. San Antonio would be absolutely PERFECT for Blatche. Look what happened to under-achieving Boris Diaw when he went there. Or remember the emergence of Danny Green?

Suiting up for a championship contender and a quality franchise could do wonders for Blatche, and we'll all see what he truly has to offer. 

JaVale McGee

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The brunt of every joke in the NBA last year, JaVale McGee really impressed a lot of people in Denver's playoff appearance last year. 

The guy has all the talent in the world and could be a top-five center in the NBA. He just needs to get out of his own head. In Denver, expect McGee to become a top-five center. It's the perfect place for him to do so. 

I could easily see him averaging a double-double on a deep Denver team that makes lots of noise in the playoffs next year. Especially if they happen to pull in Andre Iguodala...

Marvin Williams

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Marvin Williams is another victim of a bad situation and wrong team for his talents. Primarily an isolation offense, Williams never excelled to the point that he was expected to in Atlanta. But really how could he? He was drafted way too high in the first place. It's not like he's been a bust. 

Now getting a new start on a Utah Jazz team desperate for defensive wings and athleticism, Williams could finally come into his own and have a Most Improved Player type of season. 

Lamar Odom

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While Lamar Odom may have already had a number of quality NBA seasons, he ended last season as a pretty big nobody in the sporting world. His reality-TV exploits have been widely joked about in the media and many believe Odom really doesn't care as much about basketball anymore.

A new start, just like many on this list, was exactly what the guy needed. And Los Angeles is definitely gearing up for a playoff run, with Odom as a key to that run. 

Being back in Los Angeles will help the guy loads and playing alongside elite point Chris Paul will boost his confidence to crazy awesome levels.

By the end of next year, we'll all have forgotten about this past fluke of a season for Lamar. 

 

Did I miss somebody? Do you not agree with a player being on the list? Sound off in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @andrewwallock8.