The NBA Rookie of the Year award is always given to the most outstanding rookie in the league. Past winners of the award are LeBron James, Blake Griffin, and most recently, Michael Carter-Williams. Today, we are going to be looking at the rookies with the best chance to go home with some hardware in 2014-2015.
1. Jabari Parker: Milwaukee Bucks
Parker was drafted with the 2nd overall pick to the Bucks, a team that was ravaged by injuries and inconsistent play. Joining O.J Mayo, Brandon Knight, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Larry Sanders, the Bucks have a decent young core that they hope to build with. Jabari is a master shot creator for his age, despite having average athleticism. Parker also has the ability to play the 3 and the 4, something not many people can actually accomplish in his league. Look for Parker to average around 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in his first year.
2. Elfrid Payton: Orlando Magic
While Payton doesn’t have a reliable outside jumper yet, he still has terrific playmaking and defensive skills. Boasting good size at 6’4 190 pounds, Payton has terrific length for playing on-the-ball defense. Payton also has great lateral quickness and quick hands, everything you need to record a bevy of steals. Playing with Nikola Vucevic, Channing Frye, and Tobias Harris, Payton has a decent crew to record a ton of assists. Remember, Michael Carter-Williams had a shady offensive game coming out of Syracuse, but he won the award last year.
3. Andrew Wiggins: Minnesota Timberwolves
Wiggins is possibly the most athletic top prospect to come into the league since LeBron James. Boasting otherworldly leaping, length, and speed, Wiggins will step into the league and already be a high quality perimeter defender. Wiggins can also expect to get a hefty amount of lobs from Ricky Rubio, one of the best passers in the league. Wiggins will have some growing pains and may not have a stellar rookie campaign, but he has the tools to be a superstar in this league.
4. Cleanthony Early: New York Knicks
This pick may come as a shock to some, but the Knicks are rebuilding, and it’s feasible they may want to give their young pieces some serious minutes. The team could, at one point, start a lineup of: Shane Larkin, Tim Hardaway Jr., Early, Carmelo Anthony, and Sam Dalembert. This will allow the team to show off its assets for a possible trade down the line. Anthony is a 4-year college player, and 4-year college players are almost always the most NBA ready non-lottery selections. Anthony has the skill to hit the NBA three and to attack off the dribble, and he can also leap as well as any rookie in the field. Anthony can look to have a Tim Hardaway Jr. impact for the Knicks.
5. Julius Randle: Los Angeles Lakers
Randle may be the most NBA ready player in the entire draft, but due to the Lakers stacking up on power forwards this offseason, Randle will not see as much time as he needs to. Carlos Boozer and Ed Davis are most likely to start and even when Randle is on the floor, he will still have to compete with Kobe Bryant, Nick Young, and Boozer to get shots up. Randle has a dominant left hand, but his right hand is severely lacking. If NBA teams force him to go right, Randle will be in for some trouble, come November.
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