This was an off-year for the draft with basically no LeBron or CP3 type player in the draft. But, come on now; how often does that happen? Here, I plan on giving my predictions of who will be a future impact player, not to be confused with how they are playing right now, but potential. Let us start with number 10.
10. A tough choice between Marshon Brooks of the Nets or Chris Singleton of the Wizards. I want to pick Singleton but, unfortunately, this is not a defensive league. Scoring is the name of the game so I’m going with Marshon Brooks. Brooks has been a reliable scorer for the Nets when star PG Deron Williams has had off nights. He’s averaging about 14 points a game, but doesn’t produce much more. Only 4 boards a game and an assist per game isn’t to impressive for the minutes he’s getting. I see Brooks continuing to get better as a shooter and, at 6′5,” I see him turning into a slightly smaller Danny Granger type of player.
9. Tristan Thompson is a long 6′9″ forward in his rookie season with the Cavs, but I believe he is incredibly undersized for his position. He has somewhat proven me wrong, averaging about 5 boards per game in his 18 minutes of work, but, at 225 pounds, you’re not gonna be moving the Dwight Howards or Andrew Bynums out of the way anytime soon. His size and build remind me of another long player from the college of Texas. You might have heard of the guy: Kevin Durant? One difference, though, is that Thompson can’t shoot. He is just a rebounder and a defensive player and that I think is going to be his downfall. I see him somewhat having a Tyrus Thomas-esk career, but not much more.
8. Derrick Williams is another solid build player at 240 pounds, but is a little small to be a PF at only 6′8″. He has done a good job, getting 4 boards a game in under 20 minutes of action. I know that doesn’t sound impressive, but he is fighting for rebounds with Kevin Love. Unfortunately, Williams should have stayed at Arizona another year to fine tune his skills. He is not shooting the ball particularly well for a big man at only 40%, and while he dominated at Arizona, Williams was still a pretty raw player. He isn’t blocking many shots as a big man, either, so I don’t see him becoming a true star player in the future. In my eyes, I see him as a “Sean May at his best” type of player: 12 points, 8 boards average
7. Next we have Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs. He’s perfect size, at 6′7″ 225, for the small forward position. He’s shooting a blistering 50%, and although he’s only 29% from downtown, he’s still shooting amazing from his position. At the beginning of the season, I probably wouldn’t have put Leonard in the top ten, but it’s incredible how the Spurs can make such good use of their picks and turn them into true team players. Yes, his outside shooting is a little iffey, but he is doing a great job just about everywhere else. He’s averaging over 5 boards a game and a steal as well. I see Leonard turning into a Gerald Wallace kind of impact player.
6. At 6, I’m gonna go with Iman Shumpert. Shumpart has already proven his worth with the new upstart Knicks, but he’s playing out of position and it’s really hurting him. At 6′5″ and 220 pounds, he is a great size for the SG. Unfortunately for Shumpert, he is playing at the point and trying to run the show. A 3 assists average in over 32 minutes of action is not a good statistic. He has wonderful upside and can shoot, rebound, and be a defensive guy you can rely on in the future. I just don’t see his future in NY playing point. If he can switch to the 2 guard, he can be a top 10 SG in the league in a couple years, but with Amare and Melo on that team, I can’t see him doing that. He reminds me of, and with work could turn into another, Andre Iguodala.
5. Brandon Knight comes in 5th for rookie potential. Knight is the future PG of the Detroit Pistons and has shown he can score. He is 6′3,” quick, and a good scoring PG. The weakness I see in him is that he is not much of a facilitator. Only averaging 3 assists per game, he averages just as many turnovers. That scares me for the future, but what I like about him is his knack for fighting for the ball as he posts almost 4 boards a game. No one else on the Pistons can score, so why pass? I see Knight turning into a Mo Williams kind of player but, if he keeps shooting, he could turn into Monta Ellis if given a few years.
4. At 4, I’m giving the slight edge to Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Bobcats. Walker is already one of the fastest players in the league and, while only at 6′1,” he does well at chasing down loose balls and pushing it up the court. He does need to do a better job at getting his teammates involved, but that will come as he tries to take the starting PG spot from D.J. Augustine. Walker does struggle shooting right now, but I’ll let him use the “Rookie Wall” Card. Once the game slows down to him, Kemba will be a very good starting PG in this league and maybe a premier player if the Bobcats can sign a good free agent for support. Walker will evolve one day because of his speed into a Ty Lawson kind of impact player.
3. Markieff Morris is a prototypical PF with his size and power. At 6′10 and 250lbs, Morris is already at a good stage to be playing every day in the NBA. He’s playing around 20 minutes per game and posting almost 10 points and 6 boards a game. If you take into account the fact that an average starting PF/C plays about 35 minutes a game, it shows that Morris has major potential. We’re talking about 18 and 10 from your big man down low, not to mention his threat from outside. Markieff is also averaging a 3 per game while shooting over 50%. While he still is in transition from college to pros, he’s shown improvement. In a couple of years, Morris will be a 20-10 guy in Phoenix. This is a stretch, but I can see him maybe as a future Elton Brand with a little more range.
2. Everyone knew this was going to come down to the lights-out Kyrie Irving and the phenom from overseas; Ricky Rubio. In the number 2 spot for Rookie of the Future, I’m gonna have to go with Ricky Rubio. I thought it was all false hype and I really just didn’t like the guy when he opted to stay overseas rather than make the jump to the NBA. I was wrong and probably a fool in thinking so. After watching him play, I have to think he is the most pure of the PG’s drafted this year. Rubio is improving game by game and is a prolific passer. He has also shown that he can hit the mid-range jumper regularly and, surprisingly, he has been able to overcome his “weakness” and shoot the 3. Ricky has incredible potential and will have a successful career while trying to be, and having the potential to be, Steve Nash. The way he gets everyone in the game is just amazing.
1. The number 1 rookie, and with no hesitation, is Kyrie Irving. The Duke star, who played in 4 college games, is fast, smart, shoots well, and plays decent defense. Right now, Irving is averaging 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds per game. That’s impressive, given that he was forced into the starting role at PG with no one else on the roster of note. Kyrie has done a great job at being able to score and get everyone else involved and will just get better and better. He will be one the best PG’s in the league, and in just a matter of years and being a true scorer, Irving will still average around 8 assists a game. I see him molding into a Deron Williams in the future.
Kansas embarrassed #3 Baylor last night. Syracuse and Murray State now stand as the only undefeated men’s basketball teams.