[Bison 49Participant]

every year a player previously written off as a rookie bust will emerge in their second year to have a big year (big improvement over their rookie year). Which 2nd year players who did nothing in their rookie year will emerge as viable players in their second years?

Note: To reduce confusion, lets say that they player has to have fewer than 5 pts, 4 rebs, and 3assists to classify … just so we don’t have people arguing that players such as DeRozan, Lawson, and Holliday will be back from the dead.

A few candidates include:

– Hasheem Thabeet – While it would be expected as a #2 pick playing in the post that he should play well, he has done a good job in summer league. The telling stats are his blocks (2.5) rebounding (8), and relatively few fouls (4 per game in 33 minutes) over the last 2 games. Randolph seems to be in some trouble, and should open up playing time for Thabeet.

– Jeff Teague – Bibby will not be playing big minutes for the hawks, and Teague is also doing well in SL. he is good on the break (the way that ATL plays). He could fit well with Johnson, as Johnson plays the 2, but passes like a 1. Teague plays the 1, but passes like a 2. The hawks supposedly want to give him some good run. Even if he still comes off the bench, expect him to fill make a good jump in socring. He is also rebounding/defending pretty well for a 1. His getting to the line well and filling it up.

– Derrick Brown – The cats want to play him more this year. He was a steal last year in the 2nd round. he is playing very well in SL (15 – at 52% – and 7 with good D and low fouls in 32 min). While the team has Wallace Daiw and Jackson, each of these guys will fill holes at C (Diaw), PF (Diaw and Wallace), and PG (Jackson). Brown should get minutes across the board, and has efficiency and good D written all over him. His 32 mpg over 5 games is a clear sign that Charlotte Brass wants to see what they have. His play shows that they have a player.

Other opinions???

[IknoBall12Participant]

i dont really think ppl wrote jeff teague off last year. when he got his chances he did okay. it was jus a matter of when he would get his chance.

[OhCanada-Participant]

Tony Douglas, Earl Clark…

[flybobbyflyParticipant]

maybe Hansbrough? Bj Mullens? both of those guys have room for their position on their team. thabeet is going to be the shit and all these people that wrote him off for going to the d league are going to feel stupid. he needs to develop still but i predict a much better year for him

[Bison 49Participant]

Mullens. Good pick. Came out a year or two early. He will be ready to play this year. I like the relatively low fouls (3.2 in 27.5 min), would like a few more rebounds and blocks. That is the area where he will help the Thunder the most with Green playing the 4. There is no way he is getting all the shots in the regular season.

Clark could improve, but Lawal could take his minutes at the 4, and he will have to battle Hedo and Childress at the 3 (maybe 4 as well). If he does play Nash should help his stats (hopefully his FG%)

Hansbrough should be good. he was pretty big for the pacers last year. McRoberts and Rolle could take some of his minutes though, as both played well. If he can rebound and shoot better than last year he should get some good opportunities.

Agreed on Douglas. he was showing some good playmaking (good a/t ratio for SL), and his D was great! needs to shoot better, but the Knicks played with Duhon chucking it for a few years.

[FDAPO]

Thabeet looks like the worst thing since Darko. I haven’t seen him play enough to know if he can be a good defensive center. You can never call the #2 pick a bust after one season though.

[Bison 49Participant]

David Kahn just put out a hit on you …

[joecheck88Participant]

i like the derrick brown pick i think, i mean who are their forwards this year other than gerald wallace and ty thomas?

[Bison 49Participant]

They have Diaw and Jackson (PG/SG, but can play SF). Brown could easily take henderson’s minutes at the 2/3.

[PlatypusParticipant]

Austin Daye, but only if the pistons start Monroe at center and Jerebko at the 4

[joecheck88Participant]

ya i forgot diaw didnt get traded, i dont expect brown to ever be a star but i think he could get 8 and 5 next year but with energy and effort.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

Gerad Henderson? Brown is notorious for not playing rookies.

[TRC1991Participant]

im gonna go with James Johnson I think he’ll be a very important piece to Chicago’s puzzle he can play the 3 or the 4

[Bison 49Participant]

Yeah, I wanted to choose him as well. Unfortunately the “its only summer league” excuse only works if a guy is doing really well. If not, they everyone wants to know whether he is just not very good, or if he is not trying. Either way, Johnson is not playing up to the potential in summer league. He should be shooting a much better %.

If the Bulls are in the playoff hunt, I could see them trading him if he does not play well for them. In that case, he could do really well. Right now, the Bulls have guys ahead of him at the 3 (Deng and Korver) and 4 (Boozer, and Gibson).

He will play before Joe Alexander.

[zha123Participant]

As a knick fan, i hate to say it, but i think it will be jordan hill. I think with a full season on the rockets he will prove to be not just some scrub and actually a role player for a playoff contender.

[SlimParticipant]

Hasheem Thabeet

I was hyping him up b4… Kendrick Perkins 2.0

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