25-under-25: Biggest disappointments

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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 11: Nik Stauskas #2 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during a game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 11, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

4. Nik Stauskas

As I researched this piece, I had to double check and make sure that Stauskas, entering his fifth season, was still on an NBA roster somewhere, which says pretty much everything about how his career has gone so far. After being selected No. 8 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 Draft, Stauskas has failed to live up to even the most reasonable of expectations. At Michigan, he established himself as a very good scorer and shooter, making over 44 percent of his 3s in both seasons with the Wolverines. However, his ability to score has not translated to the NBA. After a very underwhelming rookie season, he was traded to the Sixers where he got solid minutes on a rebuilding team, but still failed to distinguish himself and was a throw in when they traded Jahlil Okafor to the Nets.

He’s not great at creating his own shots, and is therefore forced to rely on others to get good looks. Even worse, he has failed to convert the shots he has taken, failing to make even 40 percent of his shots in any full season thus far or even garner a double-digit PER. It’s not merely that Stauskas isn’t very good at what was supposed to be his calling card, but that there’s just so many other players in the NBA right now that are so much better at it. Nevertheless, considering how important shooters are in the league, it’s unsurprising that Portland signed him to a deal this offseason in the hopes that he can fulfill the promise he showed at Michigan.

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