With this year’s NBA Summer Leagues in Orlando and Las Vegas kicking of this week, it’s time to start to focus on some of the game’s best rising young stars for the ‘10-’11 season, like this year’s outstanding rookie class. Last year’s crop of NBA newcomers were exceptionally good at the top, with Top 10 lottery picks like Brandon Jennings, Steph Curry, and Tyreke Evans battling it out for All Rookie Team honors withEvans named as unanimous ROY. Who will be the best of this year’s outstanding class? Should we just hand the award to #1 pick John Wall in Washington or will Philadelphia’s newest swingman Evan Turner shine, or will Kings’ dominating big man DeMarcus Cousins make it back-to-back ROY Awards for the Sacramento franchise? But also don’t forget about last year’s #1 pick Blake Griffin of the Clippers, who is technically still a rookie, and is poised to have a breakout first season in LA, after fully re-cooperating from a devastating knee injury sustained last pre-season.
Here are my initial 2010 NBA Rookie Rankings based on potential:
1) Evan Turner, Philadelphia 76ers
SG/SF 6‘7 220lbs
NCAA Stats: 20.4 ppg, 9.2 rebs, 6 ast, 1.7 stl, 36% 3 PT
2010 Draft Position – #2
As the most NBA ready player in this year’s draft, Turner holds down our #1 spot. After all, he was the first collegiate player to average 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists for an entire season since Oscar Robertson did it back in 1960 with the University of Cincinnati. Not just selected as the best player available, Turner is also a good fit for Philly, and should be their starting 2 guard from game one. In addition, the Sixers leading scorer last season was Andre Iguodala, who outright struggled to put up just over 18 ppg, which is a number that Turner has the ability to surpass in his sleep this rookie season. Look for his offensive numbers to go through the roof if Iguodala is traded.
2) John Wall, Washington Wizards
PG 6‘4 185lbs
NCAA Stats: 16.6 ppg, 6.5 ast, 4.3 rebs, 1.8 stl, 33% 3 PT
2010 Draft Position – #1 overall
As arguably the most upside of any player to come out of the collegiate ranks in nearly a decade, Wall has the potential to be an instant success story. Possessing a quickness and high gear that only a handful of other NBA players have, he should blow past man defenders and force opposing teams to double team, and opening up his impressive court vision. One stumbling block to Wall’s early success could be his early relationship with Wizards incumbent superstar Gilbert Arenas. Washington plans are for Gil to slide to the 2 guard, with Wall as the new floor general. Early reports are that Arenas is already bristling at all of the hoopla surrounding John Wall mania. After making more news off the court rather than on it lately, no doubt the Wiz would like to move Arenas to start fresh with Wall, but the 3 years and $80+ million left on his monster contract won’t allow it. We are all pretty certain that Wall will be good, possibly real good, but Turner has less obstacles to overcome early on in Philly.
3) Blake Griffin, LA Clippers
PF 6‘9 240lbs
NCAA Stats: 21 ppg, 14.3 rebs, 64 % FG
2009 Draft Position – #1 overall
Nearly everyone has forgotten about Griffin, who swept most of the ‘08-’09 collegiate season’s NCAA Player of the Year Awards similarly to Turner this past year. Blake was an unstoppable beast on the boards with a developing offensive game to boot. He was being touted as possibly revolutionizing the power forward position because of his amazing amount of athleticism that nary a few players have ever had coming out of the college ranks. He was so freakishly athletic that he regularly jumped so high on dunk attempts that his head hit on the backboard, giving himself a concussion. if 100% healthy, he should be good for 15 points and 9 boards per contest and best case scenario, could push Wall and Turner for ROY.
4) DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
C/PF 6’10 290 lbs
NCAA Stats: 15.1 ppg, 9.9 rebs, 1.8 blk, 56% FG
2010 Draft Position – 5
The man known as “Boogie” could either be a gigantic bust or All Star caliber player. After a few teams passed on Cousins because of weight and character issues, the Kings may have gotten a steal by pairing him with last year’s NBA ROY Tyreke Evans as franchise bookends for the next 10 years. Cousins along with Turner are the most NBA ready players in this rookie class, primarily because of his already extra large 6‘10 and 290 lb frame. He also has extra soft hands around the rim and although he isn’t overly athletic, he will be a defensive force because of an enormous 7‘4 wingspan and space eating body down low. Undoubtedly Cousins is already as skilled offensively as half of the starting big men in the league.
5) Wes Johnson, Minnesota Timberwolves
SF/SG 6‘7 200 lbs
NCAA Stats: 16.5 ppg, 8.5 rebs, 1.8 blk, 1.7 stl, 41% 3PT
2010 Draft Position – 4
Wes made the most of his one season at Syracuse by honing his all around game, and parlaying it into a 2010 NBA Lottery pick. Johnson fits nicely in Minnesota and should see playing time right away with the under-achieving Corey Brewer as last season’s starter at the SF position. Because of his improving jumper, Johnson could also see some time at SG as well, making an all Orange backcourt alongside Jonny Flynn. Wes has the potential in his rookie season to put up averages of 14 points and 6 rebs, while playing some pretty sweet man-on-man defense.
6) Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
PF/C 6‘11 250 lbs
NCAA Stats: 16.1 ppg, 9.6 rebs, 3.8 ast, 1.5 blk
2010 Draft Position – 7
Monroe brings his unique skill set as low post scorer and outstanding passing ability to the Pistons organization that is much laking of an identity. Monroe is the pore man’s Tim Duncan, who is as unselfish as they come, perhaps to a fault. If he puts his mind to it, he could be a 18 ppg scorer, but at times passes out of the post to frequently, albeit with amazing accuracy, as evidence of leading all college big men in assists at nearly 4 per game. Monroe should succeed immediately considering that last season’s free agent signee forward Charlie Villanueva was a bust and 2nd year man Jonas Jerebko is not as highly touted as Monroe.
7) Derrick Favors, NJ Nets
PF 6‘9 250 lbs
NCAA Stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.4 rebs, 2.1 blk, 61% FG
2010 Draft Position – 3
While Favors may wind up becoming the best player on this list in 5 years, he just isn’t as advanced as some other players in the rookie class. He will show flashes of some pretty amazing athleticism that we haven’t seen from a PF in some time, but Derrick will show that he is way ahead on the defensive side of the ball, with his offense a work in progress. Favors projects as an elite level rebounder and shot-blocker and should account for 10 ppg, 9 rebs, and 1.5 blocks as a rookie this season, if he gets major minutes.
8 ) Ekpe Udoh, Golden State Warriors
PF/C 6‘10 240 lbs
NCAA Stats: 13.9 ppg, 9.8 rebs, 2.7 ast, 3.7 blk
2010 Draft Position – 6
Some(or most) may say that the Warriors drafted Udoh a tad high with the #6 overall selection. But he fits a need for the club as a long needed defensively mobile big man who blocked shots at a record pace in college. Udoh can run in Don Nelson’s uptempo system while also protecting the paint on defense like few others did better at Baylor. His surprisingly improving offensive game is undoubtedly why he flew up draft boards days before the draft. Some people consider Udoh a possible bust but he should be a solid pro for a number of years and could start from day one in the Bay area. Look for Udoh to put up numbers consistent with 10 ppg, 10 rebs, and 2 blocks for the foreseeable future.
9) Xavier Henry, New Orleans Hornets
SG/SF 6‘6 220 lbs
NCAA Stats: 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rebs, 1.5 stl, 42% 3 PT
2010 Draft Position – 12
Similarly to Udoh, Henry has the sneaky potential to be very good. Henry already has a prototypical NBA body at the 2 and will provide instant all around support for the overloaded Chris Paul in New Orleans. Although sometimes inconsistent, Henry showed the ability to score the basketball at Kansas. He also rebounds well for a guard and could also become an excellent defender if he puts his mind to it. Henry needs to improve his ball-handling and shot selection but proved he can straight up shoot the rock from long range. Look for Xavier to put up 12 ppg, 4 rebs, and 1.5 steals with the Hornets.
10) James Anderson, San Antonio Spurs
SG/SF 6‘6 210 lbs
NCAA Stats: 22.3 ppg, 5.8 rebs, 1.4 stl, 34% 3 PT
2010 Draft Position – 20
The lights out scoring machine out of OK State could wind up being the steal of the entire draft because he may come in and play a decent amount of minutes in San Antonio. The Spurs desperately need to get younger and explosive and Anderson fits that bill. Possessing excellent size at the 2 guard, James should begin his NBA career as an instant offense 6th man in the role formerly held by Roger Mason Jr. If the oft injured Manu Ginobili goes down again, look for Anderson to attempt to fill his shoes as a more traditional shooting swingman. Although Anderson is nursing a nagging ankle injury right now, he should begin the year 100% and could average 8-10 ppg as a valuable role player in San Antonio.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches travel youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
