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Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies

Marc Gasol adds new wrinkles to his game every year, but this type of offensive breakthrough was impossible to see coming. The 32-year-old big man has carried a substantial scoring load for the Memphis Grizzlies, often taking it upon himself to function as a primary option and sacrificing nothing in the process.

Heading into 2015-16, Gasol had gone 12-of-66 (18.2 percent) from three-point territory throughout his eight-year NBA career. This season alone, he's hit 96 of his 252 tries (38.1 percent) while still finding plenty of time to attack out of the post and rip defenses apart with his passing chops. So much for progress being a slow climb rather than an all-in-one-year endeavor.

JaMychal Green, PF, Memphis Grizzlies

Aside from his penchant for racking up fouls, JaMychal Green has improved in every facet of the game for the Grizzlies, who now trust him to handle the ball on the perimeter and either create his own offense or find teammates without turning the rock over too frequently. The power forward can score from the low post, knock down mid-range jumpers and space out the floor alongside Gasol.

Green has grown the most on defense, though. He was overmatched by stronger opponents in 2015-16, but he's had no such trouble during the current campaign. Regardless of the situations he's thrust into, Green has been capable of slowing down the opposition. He's even looked like a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate at times, but he often shows his youth and gets into foul trouble.

Ty Lawson, PG, Sacramento Kings

Last year was a disaster for Ty Lawson, whose off-court troubles and declining role pushed him away from the Denver Nuggets. He couldn't stick with the Houston Rockets due to his miserable shooting, and he didn't find much more success once he landed with the Indiana Pacers.

But the Sacramento Kings have given him an opportunity to fill a major role as the primary backup at the point (and a spot starter when injuries strike), and he's taken advantage by remembering how to finish plays inside the three-point arc. Lawson is still far from the level he reached in his prime, but functioning as an average offensive player and atrocious defender is far better than looking like one of the Association's worst contributors on both ends.

Jabari Parker, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks

Jabari Parker was tracking toward legitimate Most Improved Player consideration early in the year. He looked far more confident on offense, supplementing his athletic bursts to the basket with an improved three-point stroke that allowed him to drain 36.5 percent of his deep looks. During the two seasons prior, he shot only 25.0 and 25.7 percent from beyond the arc, respectively.

But those hopes were dashed during a Feb. 8 game against the Miami Heat. Parker tore his ACL for the second time in his career, knocking him out for the season and throwing a new shadow on his future growth. Even though he seemed to add explosiveness following the return from the first ACL tear, that's no guarantee this time around.

D'Angelo Russell, PG, Los Angeles Lakers

The struggles that normally plague young guards continue to haunt D'Angelo Russell. He can go through poor shooting stretches in which he forces up an excessive number of attempts in the face of tight defense. More experienced players often expose his defensive limitations. Turnovers can occasionally run rampant.

But Russell has counteracted those problems by growing more confident as an offensive generator. While turning the ball over on a lower percentage of his possessions and improving his true shooting percentage, he's averaged an additional 2.9 points and 1.9 assists per 36 minutes.