12 Surprise NBA Breakout Candidates for the 2011-12 Regular Season

Every season, the NBA has a number of players deemed breakout candidates, but not all of those players were pegged for success from the onset of the campaign.

While it's slightly easier to project progression for some athletes than for others, there's no doubt that with every passing year, the league embraces new faces into the circle of production.

With a combination that involves a little bit of luck and a lot of taking the most of the opportunity presented, these 12 guys could, and should, become far more recognizable as time moves forward.

12. Gary Neal, SG San Antonio Spurs

Neal surprised a fair amount of people during his rookie season, and as a 26-year-old free agent who went undrafted, most weren't counting on him for much.

Now firmly entrenched as a capable backup at both guard positions, Neal is going to play a sizable role in the San Antonio rotation moving forward.

He averaged more than 20 minutes per game last season, and he clearly proved his worth to a team that's going to need him to step up when his number is called.

11. Kemba Walker, PG Charlotte Bobcats

Walker inexplicably fell to ninth overall in the 2011 draft, and the teams that decided to pass him up may very well be regretting the decision to do so.

While there are legitimate concerns about Walker's smallish stature, he is a proven winner and has displayed the affinity to score at will in a variety of ways.

The Bobcats will have to find a way to run with a backcourt combination of D.J. Augustin and Walker, but there's no doubt that the UConn product is going to be given every opportunity to play a major role during his rookie season.

10. J.J. Redick, SG Orlando Magic

I'm the first one to admit that Redick struggled immensely with his transition from the collegiate ranks to the professional level, but it's time to move past that.

Now with five seasons under his belt, Redick is in line to take over the starting shooting guard spot as Jason Richardson is an unrestricted free agent and not expected to be back with the the Magic.

Orlando didn't retain him for three years and $19 million to have him sit on the bench, and with his current backups at the position being Gilbert Arenas and Quentin Richardson, Redick is going to be featured regularly on the court.

9. Timofey Mozgov, C Denver Nuggets

Mozgov was considered an essential piece for the Nuggets to have in any trade for Carmelo Anthony, and his freakish athleticism combined with his unbelievable size are two big reasons for that.

New York handed Mozgov a three-year deal prior to the beginning of the 2010-11 season straight out of the Russian ranks, as the club was clearly impressed with his potential to succeed in the middle.

At 7'1" and 250 lbs, Mozgov is going to be relied upon to man the middle with Kenyon Martin and Wilson Chandler both having signed in China, as well as Nene opting out of his contract and possibly departing for a new team.

8. Jared Dudley, SG Phoenix Suns

Dudley would rank higher on this list had he not enjoyed somewhat of a coming out party last season, but this season could be a full-fledged display of his talent.

After never averaging double-digit scoring in his career, Dudley posted an impressive 10.6 points per game for the Suns last season despite averaging just 26 minutes on the floor.

However, Dudley was most impressive as a starter, where in 15 games he averaged 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.

7. Gordon Hayward, SG Utah Jazz

Utah took a heap of criticism for its inability to execute on the perimeter last season, but the future is bright at the wing position if the talent is utilized properly.

After playing a highly limited role for most of the season, Hayward exploded when given the opportunity late in the year as he averaged 16.4 points in 36 minutes over the final seven regular-season games.

Even if he starts next season on the bench, Hayward should certainly find his way into the starting five sooner rather than later, and there's no doubting his ability to find the bottom of the net.

6. Jeff Teague, PG Atlanta Hawks

Teague waited until the postseason to have his coming out party, and he finally looked like the point guard Atlanta had hopes of him becoming when the team drafted him out of Wake Forest.

During the playoff series against Chicago, Teague scored 21 points in three of the six games, and he definitely made his presence felt in large part because of his uncanny speed.

He'll definitely see his role increased as time goes on, and with Kirk Hinrich's contract expiring at the conclusion of the campaign, he could soon have the job all to himself.

5. Anthony Morrow, SG New Jersey Nets

Too many people are reading into the Nets drafting of Marshon Brooks as a sign of displeasure with Anthony Morrow, but that couldn't be further from the case.

Brooks was an absolute steal that late in the draft, and the Nets rarely got any scoring contribution from the second unit last season, an area that the team had to address.

Morrow's ability to drain the ball from deep is second to none, and his offense should be embraced by a team that's desperate to generate production.

4. Paul George, SG Indiana Pacers

George's athleticism is absolutely outstanding, and it's not hard to see why the Pacers felt more than comfortable when tabbing him as the No. 10 overall pick in 2010.

Although some were unfamiliar with him leading up to his inaugural campaign, George flashed his potential on several occasions.

His role will continue to grow as he becomes more familiar with the game at the NBA level, as the competition he faced during his time at Fresno State looked a little different.

3. Thaddeus Young, SF Philadelphia 76ers

Young would top this list if he hadn't already illustrated what he was capable of doing, but his breakout campaign is highly dependent on playing time.

He's been stuck behind Andre Iguodala with the Sixers for quite some time, and his ceiling will remain largely limited as long as his playing time remains capped.

His overall versatility and ability to contribute across the stat sheet is incredible, and Young's athletic abilities could very well catapult his stock around the league.

2. Marcus Thornton, SG Free Agent

Thornton wasn't a player that garnered any attention from casual fans during his time in New Orleans last season, but he quickly made himself into a household name after his time with the Kings.

His scoring abilities were on full display with his new team, and Thornton showed impressive abilities to find the bottom of the hoop from several areas all over the court.

While his defense is still very much a work in progress, there's no doubting Thornton's offensive capabilities to contribute to any unit that lacks a scoring spark.

1. Greg Monroe, PF/C Detroit Pistons

Monroe was one of the lone bright spots for the Detroit Pistons last season, and his rookie campaign really inspired some fans who were looking for an answer along the front line.

He's not all that flashy, but he is extremely productive and plays with an inordinate amount of basketball knowledge that most his age simply don't possess.

Monroe possesses outstanding passing abilities for someone of his size, and he established himself as a double-double candidate on a nightly basis after earning increased playing time down the stretch.

As a sign of things to come, Monroe put up 12.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor over his team's final eight games of the regular season.