NBA: Ranking the top 10 small forwards entering 2017-18

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 30: Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Washington Wizards looks on during the fourth quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Cetics defeat the Wizards 123-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

9. Otto Porter, Washington Wizards

Out of nowhere! Otto Porter, during his contract year, upped his game to another dimension. Making about $4.8 million a year, Porter felt like it was now or never to prove himself as a next level role player and did just that in 2016-17.

The key to playing alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal was to knock down open 3’s. Otto led the league in 3-point shooting for the majority of the season, and ended up with a final mark of 43.4 percent from distance. That’s a boost of 6.7 percent, shooting 74 more 3’s and making 50 more than the previous season.

While his long-range shooting was the biggest contributor to his developement, Otto also upped his scoring to 13.4 points per game (up 1.8 from 2016) and rebounding to 6.4 per game (up 1.2 from 2016). This offensive outburst helped the Wizards legitimately contend for an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and got Porter a max contract ($26.6 M) from Brooklyn that Washington had to match.