With the NBA Draft in our rearview mirror, I suppose it's not too early to speculate on the frontrunners for next season's Rookie of the Year in the league.
The obvious choices as frontrunners are the top three picks: Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo, though someone could come out of nowhere to win the award.
For our purposes, I will briefly outline the factors for and against each of the top three picks and then give my early pick for 2008-2009 NBA Rookie of the Year.
First up is first overall pick Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.
One of the things that works for Rose is the simple fact that he was drafted number one overall.
It seems obvious he will get a chance to play, and being from the Chicago area doesn't hurt either.
The fact that the Bulls are only one season removed from being in the playoffs bodes well for Rose's initial success as well. Working against Rose is the glut of guards the Bulls seems to have.
Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and others seem to be fighting for playing time right alongside Rose.
It would seem likely that the Bulls would attempt to move someone from their existing guard rotation to make room for Rose.
I say Kirk Hinrich is the most likely to go.
Michael Beasley was drafted second overall by the Miami Heat.
It seems he plays the same position as Heat forward Shawn Marion, assuming Marion stays put and doesn't opt out of his contract.
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5 months ago
Two words: Greg Oden.
5 months ago
Yeah, I guess I never thought of Oden. But his scoring won't be good enough to get ROY. If the vote was "Most Valuable Rookie To His Team", then Oden might be at the top of the list. He will give Portland another big man to go with LaMarcus Aldridge.
5 months ago
Beasley.
4 months ago
beasley all day my second choices o.j. mayo or greg oden.
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