Rookie Check In

I agree with the top 3. I think Deni Avdija, James Wiseman, Pat Williams and Tyrese Maxey have also been impressive so far. This looks to be a class that will end up with quite a few rotation players, guys that will have long careers.

Edwards, Wiseman and Ball are my top 3 so far in no particular order.
Haliburton and Patrick Williams not far behind.
Deni, Saddiq Bey, Pritchard, Achiuwa, and Maxey have shown some good game flashes but I don’t see as ROY players.

Enjoyed the listen, nice to get some NBA Draft/Rookie discussion. Certainly is early, sad about Hayes and other rookies. I personally think Ball has been better than expected but peaks and valleys because of his shot (when hot his stat line should pop, when not it is underwhelming) the focus on the triple-double is a bit misleading (cool “counting stats” achievement, but when you factor in the rate of play for rebounds and the way assists are just handed out its far easier to get the stats). Consistency (like most rookies) will be big for Ball, especially offensively.

For me, the discussion of rookies starts with Haliburton. While it is likely fair to question his true peak, he has already shown all the skills we expected, high-level IQ, crazy metrics (Shooting %, assist to turnover and PER) in fact, his PER already has him as a top 40 guy and that is while clearly playing off of other guys (he looks like the type of guy whose numbers dont fall off with a higher usage rate).

I appreciate the flashes and things I have seen from Edwards (could he be Lavine 2.0? Scorer who appears to not effect winning), Wiseman really needs to show his outside shot is legit, Ball it is about consistency, Williams is showing a lot and the flashes are there, Deni has been flashes too. Worth mentioning Maxey thus far, Bey has done some things (not sure if this is just pure opportunity on a dumpster fire team), I also look deeply into the Pokusevski stats to say he is a guy I like a lot, he desperately needs to eat a sandwich, but to average over 1 assist and block and over 4 rebounds in about 16 min a game speaks to the potential he has to effect the game on each side of the court and be a modern big (provide space, but also protect the rim and rebound)

For “disappointments” which is, again, super early: Okoro with Cavs, not that he doesn’t do positive things, but it is tough when a shooting guard doesn’t really shoot. I get shades of Justice Winslow (who I liked out of Duke). Naturally, injuries have put Obi on the shelf (someone I am not high on) and then Okongwu.

Mixed bag, as it always is, definitely a lot of flashes and it will be interesting as guys adjust and settle into roles.

I know the power went out so you couldn’t wrap it up but Achiuwa has been amazing for Miami. He comes in off the bench and theres no drop off in productivity between him and Adebayo. Sooner or later Miami’s gonna have to give him more minutes playing with Adebayo because hes been that good.

Haliburton is clearcut rookie of the year so far. There should be no debate. Everytime I watch him play he’s lights out, I’ve never watched this guy play a bad game even in college.

Ball, Edwards and Wiseman all look like 1st picks talent wise that are very raw. They should all develop into great players.

Haven’t seen Isaiah Joe or Ja’Sean Tate mentioned. Joe has filled in for the 76ers while they have had players sitting out for Covid precautions and played well. Tate has been filling that “Covington” role in Houston guarding the opposing teams best player while hes in the game.

I know he won’t win ROY, but shout out to Payton Prtichard, averaging 9 points and 3 assists in 23 minutes per game, while shooting 52/42/90. He’s actually playing more minutes than the Celtics’ big point-guard free-agent signing, Jeff Teague.

His minutes will probably go way down when Kemba returns. But Kemba will return to a team at or near first in the East, and Pritchard is a big part of the reason for that.