Honorable Mentions
D’Angelo Russell (PG, Lakers): Russell was the second overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft and is being billed as Kobe Bryant‘s successor in Lakerland. However, that’s the very reason he won’t be one of the rookies putting up gaudy numbers this season. He’s next in line to carry the torch for one of the league’s most storied franchises, but at the moment someone else is still holding that torch.
Kobe will return this season, and barring his appearances this season being decimated by injury again he will be looking to be as aggressive and efficient as ever. Despite his standing as the team’s two-guard, he generally works best with the ball in his hands. Russell has had questions raised about his ability to play off the ball. Another factor that will impede his production this year is the fact that he’ll be splitting a lot of minutes with last year’s rookie standout, Jordan Clarkson.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Russell can and will be something special in this league one day, but this year doesn’t appear to be the one where he becomes the next star in LA.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF, Knicks): Kristaps Porzingis was almost immediately written off upon being drafted by the New York Knicks. Now, I don’t know if it’s because I believe he has the tools to be a versatile player in the future, or simply because he lit me up for 31 points in 2K16 last night, but I’m not ready to close the book on a man who hasn’t stepped on to an NBA court yet.
That being said, I don’t think that this is the year he proves the doubters wrong. If anything, the bumpy season he’s bound for will just add fuel to the proverbial fire that fans of the Knicks have set over the team’s roster moves this offseason. He’s going to take his lumps this year, as will most of the team. In the future though, I think he has the chance to be a legitimate two-way forward who can contribute in this league.
Willie Cauley-Stein (C, Kings): The Sacramento Kings came away with arguably the most underrated player in this draft. I realize that it’s hard to call someone underrated when they’re the 6th overall pick in a talented draft class, but the fact of the matter is that he was frequently overlooked when talking about capable bigs this year.
He has the potential to be a nightly-double-double threat, and if he can develop as a low post defender/shot blocker he can be a force in this league. Right now though, Cauley-Stein is stuck in the rotation behind the franchise’s centerpiece, DeMarcus Cousins. So barring Cousins shifting over to play the 4 when Stein is in the game, the rookie won’t be seeing too many opportunities to shine this season.
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