[valentine]

I saw a comment in a previous thread regarding Aaron Goron’s sub-par summer league play and it had me thinking. How many genuinely young rookies (i.e. outta HS or a young NCAA freshman) have been genuine contributors for their team. 

I’m not referring to Greek Freak (6ppg), Shawn Kemp (6ppg) or Tracey McGrady (7ppg) type rookies.  I’m talking Lebron James (20ppg/6/6), Moses Malone (19 +15) types who could of have been all-stars or at least top 5-10 players in their position. 

Therefore will we see any actual improvement next season in the teams that picked young guys like Wiggins, Exum, Gordon? Or will they just be 6ppg development players like those listed above next season.

 

[max23Participant]

 Wiggins,for all the incredible first step and 46 inch vertical,was a worse than average dribbler and finisher in the half court who rarely dunked.That had nothing to do with Bill Self…Hopefully the finishing problem gets solved with him bulking up,probably not his first year.Regardless Wiggins will start,so 6 ppg wont happen.Cant wait to see him against Parker friday!

Gordon probably wont start his rookie year,he needs to really improve his offense.6 ppg does seem low for a fourth pick,but woildnt be surprised.

Ill wait until summer league to have any opinion whatsoever on Exum.

[drpg913Participant]

Wiggins Problem with finishing at the rim in college wasn’t because of his lack of bulk, his problem was he always took his eyes off the rim. In the NBA its going to be both. He’s probably going to get stripped a lot on drives. If he Lebrin does come back and he stays then he needs to join Lebron in his off season workouts. 

[drpg913Participant]

Wiggins Problem with finishing at the rim in college wasn’t because of his lack of bulk, his problem was he always took his eyes off the rim. In the NBA its going to be both. He’s probably going to get stripped a lot on drives. If he Lebrin does come back and he stays then he needs to join Lebron in his off season workouts. 

[max23Participant]

 Wiggins,for all the incredible first step and 46 inch vertical,was a worse than average dribbler and finisher in the half court who rarely dunked.That had nothing to do with Bill Self…Hopefully the finishing problem gets solved with him bulking up,probably not his first year.Regardless Wiggins will start,so 6 ppg wont happen.Cant wait to see him against Parker friday!

Gordon probably wont start his rookie year,he needs to really improve his offense.6 ppg does seem low for a fourth pick,but woildnt be surprised.

Ill wait until summer league to have any opinion whatsoever on Exum.

[r377Participant]

Durant was only 19 in his first year and he put up 20ppg. Allen Iverson was a little older having played two years of college ball but he put up 23ppg as a rook.

I could see Jabari Parker getting very close to averaging 20ppg in his first season….

[r377Participant]

Durant was only 19 in his first year and he put up 20ppg. Allen Iverson was a little older having played two years of college ball but he put up 23ppg as a rook.

I could see Jabari Parker getting very close to averaging 20ppg in his first season….

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Aaron Gordon will start the season in a reserve role. He’s not better than Tobias Harris, but he gives Orlando a different look, and both guys can play the 3 spot so I could see Gordon getting 25 mpg or so.

If Aaron Gordon gets 25 mpg, I think he can be about a 8 ppg 6.5 rpg player, which I would count as a very solid rookie year for a young big man. He could even be a little lower, but either way…I think his rookie year should be judged more by improvement than flat out production.

All that being said….

Everyone was throwing MCW under the bus last year at this time because he wasn’t shooting a good percentage during summer league, same with Trey Burke. They ended up being top 4 rookies in this class despite being called busts by many reactionists because of 5 games played after 3 days of practice.

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Aaron Gordon will start the season in a reserve role. He’s not better than Tobias Harris, but he gives Orlando a different look, and both guys can play the 3 spot so I could see Gordon getting 25 mpg or so.

If Aaron Gordon gets 25 mpg, I think he can be about a 8 ppg 6.5 rpg player, which I would count as a very solid rookie year for a young big man. He could even be a little lower, but either way…I think his rookie year should be judged more by improvement than flat out production.

All that being said….

Everyone was throwing MCW under the bus last year at this time because he wasn’t shooting a good percentage during summer league, same with Trey Burke. They ended up being top 4 rookies in this class despite being called busts by many reactionists because of 5 games played after 3 days of practice.

 

 

[tuck243Participant]

You can’t get too high or too low on players…  Stats really don’t impress me here unless it’s god awful…  Remember it’s 82 games in a season with a gameplan and it’s only 5-10 in summer league without one…  I think you watch Summer League for clues to what a player will be able to do during the season…  Right now I think Gordon has a hard time finishing as well as shooting…  That’s his primary issue with me, he has to get better around the rim…

Elfrid has to get stronger with the ball…  It’s no way around it, he pick up his dribble too early…  

Obviously, Nerlens isn’t going to get those type of buckets he got in Summer League this year…  I just don’t see many big men being able to dribble their way in like that without having a jumper, being extremely strong, or extremely quick…  He doesn’t have any of those attributes so I’m still iffy on what type of production will come from him this season…

Marcus Smart really impressed me with his feel of the game though… He didn’t try to do too much IMO

 

 

 

[tuck243Participant]

You can’t get too high or too low on players…  Stats really don’t impress me here unless it’s god awful…  Remember it’s 82 games in a season with a gameplan and it’s only 5-10 in summer league without one…  I think you watch Summer League for clues to what a player will be able to do during the season…  Right now I think Gordon has a hard time finishing as well as shooting…  That’s his primary issue with me, he has to get better around the rim…

Elfrid has to get stronger with the ball…  It’s no way around it, he pick up his dribble too early…  

Obviously, Nerlens isn’t going to get those type of buckets he got in Summer League this year…  I just don’t see many big men being able to dribble their way in like that without having a jumper, being extremely strong, or extremely quick…  He doesn’t have any of those attributes so I’m still iffy on what type of production will come from him this season…

Marcus Smart really impressed me with his feel of the game though… He didn’t try to do too much IMO

 

 

 

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