Rookie Discussion Thread

[brutalitops]

Kentucky on Kentucky crime...

Trey Lyles continues to look awesome, offensively. He needs to get stronger because right now he looks better defending SF's on the perimeter than big men in the paint, but I think he can get there he's still pretty young.

He had 15 pts, 4 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal in only 19 minutes he continues to show he can be a stretch four as he went 3/5 from three point land.

If I'm Minnesota, I seriously consider outright offering the #5 for Lyles and wonder if Utah would take it.

I'ld do it without blinking. Lyles has been excellent off the bench.

[Qwigglez]

That's one if his main problems. no consistency. It's like he disappears for half's at a time. I mean 6 boards? He's 7 foot tall dude can't double double by halftime? I'd say cut your losses now he won't pan out at this rate. What is he like the 2nd or 3rd best player at his position? For a number one pick? He's almost done with his rookie season for crying out loud. Turn the corner already.

5 points and 4 boards in the 2nd half. Talk about non-existent.

I think (hope) that was sarcasm. Towns was in a zone, he had a little foul trouble and that coach is a moron. Wiggins, did force the issue a little too. I had no idea (best game he has played against us) he was so quick and nimble, and explosive. He has the ugliest set shot though. He has a little bully in him and fire......that I did not know and it is very dangerous for opposing teams. Happy for the league and the pups. I am tired of watching boring as James and Cleveland.

Super sarcasm.
The Wolves look legit. The only thing they need is more time together and experience. Maybe a deeper bench, but they got their squad set for the next half decade at least. Wiggins is still iffy to me, but KAT is the man. Seriously, I wouldn't trade him for AD, Curry, or anyone (unless it's to the Suns ).

[F N 11]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_kx-tMpFP0[/youtube]

KP shows a move to the baseline with the fad away that we have never seen before. Also a no look around the defender pass and a monster block on Gee. Love this rookie class. We are looking at the future with all these guys.
People said KP would get hurt fast. But he is tough and has been durable all season. Only missed a few games. Thats a god start.

[JellosJigglin]

D'Angelo Russell has stunk since Lou Williams returned to the lineup, and the Lakers got even worse if that's possible. Byron's odd love affair with Ronnie Price has been transferred to Lou Williams. The guy kills any and all ball movement. A super massive black hole.

[Quentin]

Jon Krawczynski ‏@APkrawczynski 13h13 hours ago
Towns scored 18 of his 27 in the first. Got poked in the eye and had trouble after that. 10-18 FG, 10 boards, 5 assists

[saintEscaton]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

[islanders11040]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

Has Stanley Johnson had a good season beyond the numbers? Cause i just looked up his stats and they were underwhelming and without much improvement throughout the season. While getting plenty of minutes

[Revived]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIatszoU32c[/youtube]

He scored over Lavine mostly with ease but he had some against Wiggins and Towns as well. Good to see him score against Towns because even though Towns is a big man, he moves like a guard and has length so it's a big challenge....even Beal couldn't get open against him in their last game vs Wizards.

I love Booker showing no hesitation in driving to the rim on the 2 on 1 fast break where it was Booker vs Wiggins/Lavine. So excited for this kid.

[saintEscaton]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

Has Stanley Johnson had a good season beyond the numbers? Cause i just looked up his stats and they were underwhelming and without much improvement throughout the season. While getting plenty of minutes

Yeah he 's definitely dropped off lately, Winslow has made more of an impact as a lockdown defender and is rounding out his skillset , I still think Stanley has more two way upside even if he doesn't excel at any one thing in particular . Peeps are sleeping on Jah, if he finds the right home he will flourish, he was posting a 60% TS on high volume for this year with inconsistent guard play and bad spacing

[dalton749]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

I have a hard time seeing either of them become allstar caliber players. Just really solid guys IMO. Russell plays the point and is a great shooter so it's pretty easy to see him become an allstar, and Powell looks like he can be a jimmy butler type guy.

[ensergiog]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

I have a hard time seeing either of them become allstar caliber players. Just really solid guys IMO. Russell plays the point and is a great shooter so it's pretty easy to see him become an allstar, and Powell looks like he can be a jimmy butler type guy.

Really? One good month for Powell and you see a Jimmy Butler all star type in him, and put it over Okafor, Jokic, Turner, Manimal, Mudiay, Winslow, Richardson and Lyles? You can't see the potential in them too?

[dalton749]

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

I have a hard time seeing either of them become allstar caliber players. Just really solid guys IMO. Russell plays the point and is a great shooter so it's pretty easy to see him become an allstar, and Powell looks like he can be a jimmy butler type guy.

Really? One good month for Powell and you see a Jimmy Butler all star type in him, and put it over Okafor, Jokic, Turner, Manimal, Mudiay, Winslow, Richardson and Lyles? You can't see the potential in them too?

I see it, I'm just valuing strong 2 way play more when it comes to most of them, and I've watched Powell more.
Powell looks to be a lockdown defender from 1-3, has the mentality that makes a great nba player, and has Westbrook-like athletic ability. If he can maintain the three point shooting, nobody will be able to stay in front of him at that end.

[dwade3]

I have a hard time seeing either of them become allstar caliber players. Just really solid guys IMO. Russell plays the point and is a great shooter so it's pretty easy to see him become an allstar, and Powell looks like he can be a jimmy butler type guy.

Really? One good month for Powell and you see a Jimmy Butler all star type in him, and put it over Okafor, Jokic, Turner, Manimal, Mudiay, Winslow, Richardson and Lyles? You can't see the potential in them too?

I see it, I'm just valuing strong 2 way play more when it comes to most of them, and I've watched Powell more.
Powell looks to be a lockdown defender from 1-3, has the mentality that makes a great nba player, and has Westbrook-like athletic ability. If he can maintain the three point shooting, nobody will be able to stay in front of him at that end.

But Winslow and Stanley are 19 years old compare to Powell at 22. They still have time to grow. Also, i would addJosh Richardson who is actually playing better than Powell (my opinion), and plays awesome D.

[ensergiog]

I have a hard time seeing either of them become allstar caliber players. Just really solid guys IMO. Russell plays the point and is a great shooter so it's pretty easy to see him become an allstar, and Powell looks like he can be a jimmy butler type guy.

Really? One good month for Powell and you see a Jimmy Butler all star type in him, and put it over Okafor, Jokic, Turner, Manimal, Mudiay, Winslow, Richardson and Lyles? You can't see the potential in them too?

I see it, I'm just valuing strong 2 way play more when it comes to most of them, and I've watched Powell more.
Powell looks to be a lockdown defender from 1-3, has the mentality that makes a great nba player, and has Westbrook-like athletic ability. If he can maintain the three point shooting, nobody will be able to stay in front of him at that end.

Turner will have a strong 2 way play in time. Let him adjust and get stronger and watch out.

[E-Balla]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

Nah? Say what you want but the kid can score and he should be one of the GOAT post/paint scorers (his FG% in the paint after the Ish trade was better than anyone other than Lebron in 2014 iirc and he was 64% in the paint but outside of the restricted area which would be the single season record since 01 by 8%). Not hard to see him hitting prime Amare level (where he's one of the top 5 scorers in the league and below average in all other ways).

[saintEscaton]

this draft class is going to be very good in a few years
my guess at the top 5 guys to come out of it

towns
porzingis
booker
russell
powell

Replace Russell/Powell with Turner and either Winslow/ Stanimal

Nah? Say what you want but the kid can score and he should be one of the GOAT post/paint scorers (his FG% in the paint after the Ish trade was better than anyone other than Lebron in 2014 iirc and he was 64% in the paint but outside of the restricted area which would be the single season record since 01 by 8%). Not hard to see him hitting prime Amare level (where he's one of the top 5 scorers in the league and below average in all other ways).

Yeah I mentioned Jah in my previous post, he deserves consideration as well. He's a decent one on one defender with a respectable contest rate, lower opponent eFG% at the rim, doesn't get blocks weakside but alters shots. He's an atrocious team defender against the PnR tho, can't hedge the screener and lacks the lateral agility to stay in front of smaller players, looks lost on switches

[cyclix]

Josh Richardson 1 of only 2 players in NBA history to shoot 60%+ 3P for a whole month (minimum 50 attempts)

[Dkillanyk4lyf]

Booker with his 5th 30-point game of the season, most by a rookie since Lillard (5 in 2012-13).

Towns is at 4, but has another 15 games with 25+ (19 total), while Booker has 9 total with 25+.

And Towns has been starting since day one. Booker is balling out.

Towns is clearly the number one rookie and Booker has surpassed Kristaps as the number two rookie. That J Rich dude in Miami is really impressive though.

Booker is not a better prospect than kristaps, he leaves a lot to be desired on defense ,but he has definitely impressed me and is easily the number 3 rookie imo.

[Domejandro]

Jahlil is being criminally underrated in this thread, haha. Don't allow for distaste towards Philadelphia skew your perception of him, he is a terrific young player.

[PeteW]

Okafor definitely is being underrated. Booker is being a bit overrated IMO, he only has a PER of 12.47, his defense and stats other than scoring is suspect. Obviously a lot of time to fix that, but wouldn't put him second in current rookie rankings like some has suggested.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics/_/position/rookies