NBA SCIC Roundtable: 2015-16 Rookie Update Edition
What rookie is most likely to be traded before being given a fair opportunity to prove themselves?
Jason Coldiron: Try Lyles isn’t getting time or opportunity in Utah. I can see them moving on from him before he ever gets a real chance.
Clevis Murray: Joseph Young
Evan Caulfield: Frank Kaminsky. The Hornets have shown they’re willing to ship young talent for veterans, as evident by the decision to trade rookie Noah Vonleh for Nicholas Batum last summer. My theory is, if Kaminsky struggles to adapt to the NBA in the next 2 seasons, Charlotte will ship him out to the highest bidder.
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John Armstrong: Willie Cauley-Stein. Why? Thomas Robinson. Jimmer Fredette. Nik Stauskas. Isaiah Thomas. Tyreke Evans. Hassan Whiteside. That’s a brief list of recent Sacramento Kings players who were traded before or by the end of their rookie contracts. I like Cauley-Stein though and think that he could eventually grow into a lethal defensive weapon and pick and roll threat if he’s coached well and matches the investment with the necessary work.
His projection can be anywhere from JaVale McGee to prime-Tyson Chandler, if not better, considering his ability to switch onto guards and wing players. I just hope the Kings don’t rush to cast him off as a McGee and watch him blow up on another team.
Brandon Osborne: Sam Dekker: it’s not his fault but the Rockets are terrible and if they make a trade the other team may ask for Dekker to be thrown in.
Nicholas Hughes: When the Sacramento Kings drafted Willie Cauley-Stein, it was bait of a head scratcher for me. He is already a great rebounder, and his interior defense is something that gives him an immediate use for many teams in the league. Unfortunately he’s stuck behind one of the better Centers in the league, in DeMarcus Cousins. Should the right opportunity present itself, Cauley-Stein could be moved in an effort to bring in a more seasoned big man that might fit better alongside Boogie.
Next: Favorite Rookie Moment