rookies: best, sleeper, bust

[HotelVitale]

Napier isn't on the Heat?

Im obviously talking about Lebron. Kind of funny how he went out of his way to compliment Napier to the point of MIA trading to draft him. a parting gift maybe?

I guess I didn't understand your "ship has sailed" comment. The fact that LeBron lobbied for Napier and then left, will make Miami look even more foolish if (when?) Napier proves to be a huge bust. That guy had no business being drafted anywhere near the first round. Not that I'm rooting against the guy. I loved his heart and balls in college. But I don't see anything resembling an NBA player there at all.

He was drafted what, 24th overall? That means he'd have to be washed out of the league by the end of his rookie contract to be a 'bust.' You can't even expect a guy taken at that position to be a rotation guy on your team, let alone a starter.

Also, I'm not big on Napier but many people are acting like LeBron forced the Heat to pluck him from obscurity. He was a consensus late first-round pick, if anything the Heat reached a few picks for him. He's quick, he can shoot, makes good decisions. Guys with his profile have been okay NBA players before.

[HotelVitale]

Best: Wiggins, and Lavine
Sleeper: Payton and Anderson
Bust: Vonleh and McBuckets

I respect your opinion but I would put up a lot of money against almost all of those being wrong (except Payton, and you can't be a 'sleeper' if you're a top-10 pick. Your stock is high enough that no one's sleeping on you.)

I would basically bet anything against Lavine being one of the best 2-3 players in this draft, not because he doesn't have the potential but because it's much less likely he realizes it. And to be useful, McDermott only has to stand in the corner and shoot and post up small guys--two things he can definitely do. I can't see any way he doesn't at least become a vaguely helpful rotation player, and that would prevent him from being a 'bust.' (I get that some people overrate him but failing to live up to inflated fan boy fantasies doesn't equal bust.)

I think Vonleh should be a rotation player in 3-4 years, too, even if he struggles for a full two years before that. If he was like the 3rd or 4th pick then he'd be a good potential bust player, but at #9 his expectation are lower and I think he manages to put it together enough to be pretty good within that 4-5 year span.

[heat4life]

Best: Jabari Parker (Bucks)
Sleeper: Dario Saric (76ers)
Bust:James Ennis (Heat)

Fixed it for you.

Ehh, James Ennis was the 50th pick in 2013 draft. You can't call the 50th pick a bust. ANYTHING you can get from a pick in the 2nd round is gravy.

FAIL

[DuckIII]

Im obviously talking about Lebron. Kind of funny how he went out of his way to compliment Napier to the point of MIA trading to draft him. a parting gift maybe?

I guess I didn't understand your "ship has sailed" comment. The fact that LeBron lobbied for Napier and then left, will make Miami look even more foolish if (when?) Napier proves to be a huge bust. That guy had no business being drafted anywhere near the first round. Not that I'm rooting against the guy. I loved his heart and balls in college. But I don't see anything resembling an NBA player there at all.

He was drafted what, 24th overall? That means he'd have to be washed out of the league by the end of his rookie contract to be a 'bust.'

That's basically what I expect to happen, yes.

[blind prophet]

Noah Vonleh for the bust.

Sleeper is Stauskas, I think he will fit in nicely with his pick and roll game with Cousins and roaming all around talented Rudy Gay. I can see him doing all sorts of wonderful things offensively, and his work ethic seems legit. Gonna be top 5 from the draft class when it's all said and done.

[MilotheSlayer]

Sleepers: Stokes, TJ Warren, KJ McDaniels.

[brackdan70]

clearly Biased Post here
Best - Smart
Sleeper - Young
Bust - Gordon

unbiased -
Best - Embiid if injuries not a problem (Smart, Wiggins, Parker will all be solid)
Sleeper - Napier, Anderson...still like Young
Bust is still Gordon

[zronv7]

Best: Parker
Sleeper: Warren
Bust: Embiid

[BlackKnight]

Best: Embiid (if healthy), Smart
Sleeper: TJ Warren, Caboclo (srs)
Bust: Randle, McDermott

[High0ctane21]

Best: Jabari Parker
SLeeper: Doug McDermott
Bust: Dante Exum

[ceremony816]

Best: Jabari Parker (Bucks)
Sleeper: James Ennis (Heat)
Bust: Dario Saric (76ers)

Wasn't James Ennis a rookie last year?

[heat4life]

Best: Jabari Parker (Bucks)
Sleeper: James Ennis (Heat)
Bust: Dario Saric (76ers)

Wasn't James Ennis a rookie last year?

He was drafted last season but played overseas so this would be his rookie season in the NBA.

[Notanoob]

Someone should make a count, so we can see the general feel of the GB and compare it to reality down the line.

[elBJ]

Someone should make a count, so we can see the general feel of the GB and compare it to reality down the line.

so how are the rankingss noob?

[BNelley24]

Best: Jabari Parker/Embiid close.
Sleeper: Nerlens Noel (he's a rookie this year), Dario Saric. It seems like everyone is hating on him all of a sudden. I don't think people realize how fast 2 years goes by. The kid is the real deal, and he'll eventually show it.
Bust: Aaron Gordon

[breatnach]

Not sure of the odds, but wouldn't it be ironic, if in one of the deepest drafts in recent history a rookie from last year (Noel), which is considered one of the worst in recent history, won ROTY honors?

I'm going to say:
Best: Mirotic
Sleeper: Robinson
Bust: Embiid (based on ability to stay healthy, not talent)

[JasonStern]

I think the biggest sleeper could be Deonte Burton. he went undrafted, and I could totally see him, to a lesser extent, replicating Isaiah Thomas' role of "undersized shooting guard playing point guard with a high usage rate putting up respectable numbers on a bad team" if he ultimately makes the Kings' roster.

Russ Smith also looks like a journeyman third string point guard. low ceiling, but the potential to be solid value for a 47th pick.

not that I would put money on it or anything... honestly, I didn't do my homework this draft due to the Blazers not having a pick.

[Litany]

Best - Embiid.

He will be the best Center in the NBA in 3/4 years.

Bust - Exum

A combo guard with a score-first mentality that can't shoot. The only reason he was a top 5 pick is because he was labeled as a young 6'6 PG, when he is in fact a 6'6 SGthat can't shoot.

Sleeper - Mitch McGary

Don't be surprised if this guy starts for the Thunder once Perkins is gone. He does all the little things that helps you to win in the right way.

How did you come to this conclusion?:Anyone who actually watched him thinks the opposite.

Watching him. Exum was the nice unknown of this draft. Scoring a lot against under-19 means nothing. I'll say this: If he played 1 single year in an American College, he wouldn't have been a lottery pick in the NBA draft. He would be exposed big time.

2013 FIFA u19 stats
18.2ppg/3.8apg @ 33% from 3p 60% FT

Summer League

7.2ppg/2.8apg/3.0 TOs @ 30%FG / 64% FT / 16% 3P.

There's a pattern here. Low amount of assists, high amount of TOs, very poor shooting from deep and at the FT line (and that's especially worrisome for a guard). The only difference is that he could score a lot against under-19 player, while he struggled against grown men in the Summer League.

I know I am a minority among realgm fans but I don't mind. That's my opinion. He is very young and he could obviously improve, but people saying that the Magic screwed up passing on him to take Gordon will eat their words in a few years. Magic fans won't miss Exum a bit with Efrid Payton and I actually think that he will end up better than Exum.

I think he's talking about you're "score first mentality" comment which is basically you talking out your ass. His mentality is actually the exact opposite of that. Have a different opinion that's fine, but that comment was completely asinine.

[TDotsfinest97]

Best: Jabari Parker
Sleeper: Tyler Ennis
Bust: Zach LaVine

[Illmatic12]

I think the biggest sleeper could be Deonte Burton. he went undrafted, and I could totally see him, to a lesser extent, replicating Isaiah Thomas' role of "undersized shooting guard playing point guard with a high usage rate putting up respectable numbers on a bad team" if he ultimately makes the Kings' roster.

Russ Smith also looks like a journeyman third string point guard. low ceiling, but the potential to be solid value for a 47th pick.

not that I would put money on it or anything... honestly, I didn't do my homework this draft due to the Blazers not having a pick.

Deonte Burton was a running joke for Wiz fans during SL, he was comically bad. Based on what I saw (and many of us were excited that the team brought him in and thought he'd be a steal), he can't play at the NBA level.