ESPN writers ranks 10 best sophomores in this NBA season

[pistontr]

nobody mentions stanley johnson.
http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17335360/ranking-karl-anthony-towns-kristaps-porzingis-top-nba-sophomores-nba

[Johnstarks]

Well, yeah... I mean there were a ton of really good rookies last year and he wasn't one of them.

I can't read the article as I'm not an insider but I imagine they lauded it as the best rookie crop in a decade

[Snakebites]

Yeah, tough to complain about this one. Stanley showed flashes of being good at various parts but he was all kinds of awful down the stretch.

[Kilo]

If Booker was drafted we wouldn't be talking about having to pay KCP $20M a season, we'd have Booker at $2.5M.

[Snakebites]

Yeah, it looks like we got outdrafted last year, just not in the way some people thought.

Its understandable that we didn't go for Booker, but in the perfect lenses of hindsight, I certainly wish we had. He'll be one of the best twos in the league within a few years.

[Redeemed]

nobody mentions stanley johnson.
http://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/17335360/ranking-karl-anthony-towns-kristaps-porzingis-top-nba-sophomores-nba

When you take into consideration he was left off all the all rookie selections, it makes sense that they I didn't mention him on the sophmores' list.

When you look at the work he's put in over the summer improving his footwork, fixing his jumper, and developing his left, I like his chances against ANY of the rookies in the league. The kid was downright dominant against his peers in the USA Basketball Select team workouts. He's been going out of his way all summer to show how confident he is in his new and improved jumper. Stan's going to be a problem all season.

I look forward to him demonstrating his improved game during the season.

[MotownMadness]

I'm still happy with him. I just watched the playoff games again the other day and he looked awesome. He did have a rough year and he comes off the bench so he won't be getting a lot of attention. His skill set just needs to catchup with his competitiveness now at the next level. This kid is about as hard of worker and hungrier then just about anyone who has stepped on a basketball court.

[theBigLip]

I have insider and didn't have a problem with the rankings. ANd Stanley was mentioned on the fringe for the top 10. He will certainly get a chance to prove himself this year.

[Alexander]

I don't see Stanley having a better career than Towns, Russell, Okafor, or Porzingis, but I don't have any remorse for having selected him.
Devin Booker was on my radar, but he was a consolation prize. The choice was between Johnson and Winslow for many of us, once Justise *fell*. It's like being upset at passing on Bosh or Wade for Darko-we're abusing hindsight, because that wasn't the choice at the time.
Maybe Booker is better, maybe Myles Turner turns out better, but Stanley at 8 was and will always be a strong pick in a strong draft.

[DCintheD]

this will only motivate Stanley

[zeebneeb]

What's all this talk of Booker all of a sudden? Did I miss the memo or did everyone forget he only plays half the game?

His defense was abysmal even by rookie standards.

People give Jackson crap because of his poor defense can you even imagine how bad it would be with Booker?

*shudder*

Same reason I despise James Harden. In any event, Johnson needs to tighten his handles, and just make better decisions when he gets the ball and he will be just fine.

[Alexander]

What's all this talk of Booker all of a sudden? Did I miss the memo or did everyone forget he only plays half the game?

His defense was abysmal even by rookie standards.

People give Jackson crap because of his poor defense can you even imagine how bad it would be with Booker?

*shudder*

Same reason I despise James Harden. In any event, Johnson needs to tighten his handles, and just make better decisions when he gets the ball and he will be just fine.

I really can't stand Harden and I wince whenever I hear that he's the best SG in the game, or people get upset that he was left off All-NBA teams, or that he's going to be an MVP candidate this year.
I hate how he plays the game, his stats don't matter because I don't respect how he gets them.

[MrBigShot]

What's all this talk of Booker all of a sudden? Did I miss the memo or did everyone forget he only plays half the game?

His defense was abysmal even by rookie standards.

People give Jackson crap because of his poor defense can you even imagine how bad it would be with Booker?

*shudder*

Same reason I despise James Harden. In any event, Johnson needs to tighten his handles, and just make better decisions when he gets the ball and he will be just fine.

Eh most rookies suck at defense. Booker's physical tools are nothing special, but with some experience and effort I don't see any reason why he can't become at least somewhat serviceable on the defensive end. His offensive potential is really impressive though, he probably had the highest highs of any rookie last year save for maybe KAT. I'm not a fan of Harden because he flops his way to the line all night and his effort is absolutely pathetic defensively. Can't say the same for Booker.

Anyway, I think these are the only rookies with any legitimate case to be ranked over Stanley from what we've seen: KAT, Porzingis, Okafor, Russell, Turner, Jokic, Mudiay, Hezonja

And personally I am not a huge believer in Mudiay & Okafor. Who are the other 2 they list?

[kurtis48239]

Didn't know rookies were a done product after rookie seasons.Fact of the matter is we won't know who's better than who until they hit their primes.

You can speculate on rookie futures,but the way it sounds , everyone is already saying these guys are are finished products and Stanley just isn't on par with the rest.I think Stanley has a hell of a shot of being one of the best rookies from that class.I stood by him as the pick befor and after the draft,and nothing has changed my mind yet.

[tmorgan]

Booker has gotten some love for a couple of breakout games and a good month or two in general, but he's now getting overrated.

Yes, he's super young, and yes, he has a pretty stroke, but there's a lot more to basketball than shooting form. He still only shot 34% from three and 42% overall. He's a decent passer, but he has a long way to go physically, doesn't defend and doesn't rebound.

I still wouldn't trade SJ for Booker. Turner I'd probably do, but that's my only regret in terms of lottery picks.

[zeebneeb]

What's all this talk of Booker all of a sudden? Did I miss the memo or did everyone forget he only plays half the game?

His defense was abysmal even by rookie standards.

People give Jackson crap because of his poor defense can you even imagine how bad it would be with Booker?

*shudder*

Same reason I despise James Harden. In any event, Johnson needs to tighten his handles, and just make better decisions when he gets the ball and he will be just fine.

Eh most rookies suck at defense. Booker's physical tools are nothing special, but with some experience and effort I don't see any reason why he can't become at least somewhat serviceable on the defensive end. His offensive potential is really impressive though, he probably had the highest highs of any rookie last year save for maybe KAT. I'm not a fan of Harden because he flops his way to the line all night and his effort is absolutely pathetic defensively. Can't say the same for Booker.

Anyway, I think these are the only rookies with any legitimate case to be ranked over Stanley from what we've seen: KAT, Porzingis, Okafor, Russell, Turner, Jokic, Mudiay, Hezonja

And personally I am not a huge believer in Mudiay & Okafor. Who are the other 2 they list?

My concern, and the reason why I italicized he was abysmal even for a rookie is because he was near (really near) the bottom of the league.

I can understand having rough spots here and there but to be as bad as he was tells me that he doesn't care.

Now seeing as how he is a rookie I'll wait to judge his defense until year three overall, but history shows us that rookies that are bad defensively, generally don't improve all that much.

It's an effort thing. He has the lateral quickness as well, as he was #1or#2 in lateral quickness in the draft tests if I remember correctly.

His shot is silk, but he is a massive liability on the court for his team.

Oh and my pick? Porzingis. He was supposed to fall to detroit in the draft remember? Can you even imagine him next to Andre? Good grief...

[DBC10]

I wanted all the Euros if it were possible in that draft. I remember gushing over Hezonja and being really low on the Winslow and SJ train. I wanted Winslow when he dropped but I've been ok with SJ since he's still young and has a good mental makeup.

But that ranking seems decently appropriate atm.

[coordinator0]

Booker has gotten some love for a couple of breakout games and a good month or two in general, but he's now getting overrated.

Yes, he's super young, and yes, he has a pretty stroke, but there's a lot more to basketball than shooting form. He still only shot 34% from three and 42% overall. He's a decent passer, but he has a long way to go physically, doesn't defend and doesn't rebound.

I still wouldn't trade SJ for Booker. Turner I'd probably do, but that's my only regret in terms of lottery picks.

Agree. Still wouldn't take Booker over Johnson or trade the former for the latter. Hard to see Devin as a possible replacement for Caldwell-Pope since his defense, now and projected, is pretty bad. Pairing him and Jackson wouldn't work. And it's not like Stanley is a bad player himself. He's still the best small forward on the team looking ahead assuming at least some of his potential is reached. I know Morris has become a favorite of the board but he's just a nice player, nothing more. I'm big on Harris but he's kind of a combo forward (Morris should be too) and has obvious issues on defense.

Turner getting those tests done to see how he runs and how his form could be improved did a ton for him. He really put in the work to improve what he could there and it definitely helped out. I still think his best position in the NBA by far is center, but with him not moving around like my grandma out there some sets with Myles at power forward isn't an awful concept (and it happened in Indiana last season).

[Blkbrd671]

I think in the next 3-5 drafts, there will be another D. Booker. I highly doubt in the next 3-5 drafts there will be another SJ. Not many players , in the history of the league, bring the physical attributes, mentality and versatility that SJ brings at such a young age.

[In SVG We Trust]

Time will tell, but I'm pretty sure we drafted the right guy.