RealGM

There are surely ongoing discussions related to this spread around multiple threads, but I wanted to open one spot just to talk about rookies and their development, highlights, disappointments and anything else throughout the season. To kick it off...

Super Mario is just plain fun to watch! This kid has no fear. He follows an air ball up with a no hesitation, 3-pt dagger. I'm excited!

Being in the Dallas area, I have been following Emmanuel Mudiay for a few years now as we all through for a while he would be here at SMU. His stock dropped a bit for some, but I still think this kid will be fantastic. Last night's 17 pts on 6-13 shooting (3-5 from deep) with 9 ast and 5 reb didn't cool my excitement on him one bit. This is a big PG with superb talent.

Myles Turner is another Texas linked favorite of mine. 8 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl and 1 blk in backup minutes wasn't a bad first game. I don't see him as a star, but I think he can be a great contributor if he avoids the injury bug.

Not sure if I just missed this last year or if it's new, but they have a whole rookie page on nba.com. http://www.nba.com/nbarooks/


Also on opening night they had a link to all the rookie stats on nba.com. You can adjust the date in the url, so here is the current listing (a few guys have 2 games). http://stats.nba.com/league/player/#!/?Season=2015-16&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&PlayerExperience=Rookie&DateFrom=10%2F28%2F2015&DateTo=10%2F30%2F2015&sort=PTS&dir=1

Mudiay is going to be good, but he also had 11 turnovers in his debut.

Devin Booker may be much better than I thought. He played well in the preseason and it carried over into his first game.

Great idea for the thread.

This class has looked really good through the first couple games. Granted most have only played 1 or 2, but there's been some solid play.

Hezonja was great at times and shaky in others, but overall great signs.
Mudiay looked great, minus the 11 turnovers.
Okafor dominated.
Towns looks fantastic
Porzingis has had two solid games though he hasn't shot the ball particularly well, but he's gotten to the line a lot.
Devin Booker and Stanley Johnson both had solid first games as well.

These rookies can score, so far.

Quite a few of them are logging starter minutes, which helps them play through their mistakes (TOs).
Should be really fun to watch this class this year vs. the IR list of last year.

Did anyone catch the second half of Minny - Denver tonight!!?

Good god KAT is a monster! A big man who can score, rebound, block shots... and hit free throws!?

I'm really excited about Hezonja, but boy I wanted KAT.

That's why they call it a lottery!

WCS looking good also.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81p5czLWIig[/youtube]

KAT is dominating.....

Hezonja is 9th in MPG at this early stage. Wings ahead of him are Winslow and Hollis-Jefferson. Stanley Johnson is probably the only wing that so far looks clearly better.

This is a very good class overall.

Edited so ezzzp doesn't have to start another 10 page debate with people.

Bensational wrote:Would anyone trade Vucevic + Oladipo for KAT?

It's hard to consider such a deal when it considers two of your top three players, but we've got so much depth we could probably afford to do it.

Not that I think either us or Minnesota would make such a deal.

Can't this just be the rookie watch thread instead of yet another speculation thread ...already plenty of threads discussing how other teams players would be better than the Magic players

[tweet]https://twitter.com/SHowardCooper/status/661957291936116736[/tweet]

6. Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic (6)

Hezonja shooting 35.3 percent is a slow start, but not as much of an issue as averaging 14.8 minutes. The longer the relatively minor role continues, the greater the chances of a drop in the rankings, even if his shooting improves. Carving out a role in the Magic rotation was always going to be the issue, a good problem for Orlando to have as it builds depth with real possibilities, just not for Hezonja.

That looks like the worst rookie ladder ever created, and I refuse to click on it.

Tonight is a great look at Myles Turner. League pass is showing me the Pacers broadcast tonight and they are talking about him quite a bit. He isn't going to earn Anthony Davis comparisons, but I still really like this guy. From the interviews and behind the scenes looks they are showing, it seems as though he is also a good kid who really wants to learn and get better.

11 games in, Hezonja's defense showing promise...4th best Defensive Rating amongst rookies



NBA.com

Porzingis just want bonkers tonight. 29 and 11 in 31 minutes. I was hopping he would do well to shove it in those fans that boo'ed. Easy kid to root for.

Yea Porzingis looks like a stud in the making so long as he can stay healthy.

I think most here agreed even back at draft time that KAT was going to be a stud, but did you guys think he would be THIS good already?

We won last night but he was special...