5 NBA Rookies Who Are Proving Draft Experts Wrong

People are always ready to label draft prospects as "sleepers" or "busts" before they even set foot on the court.

But with the league now being through about one-third of the regular season, some conclusions can be drawn as to whether players were picked where they were supposed to be or whether they've outplayed their draft stock.

Some players have surpassed expectations this year. Portland's Damian Lillard was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, and he's been sensational so far this season as the front-runner for NBA Rookie of the Year.

On the other hand, there are players that have spent more time in the D-League than in an actual NBA arena.

Let's take a look at five players that are proving expects wrong, for better or worse, from this 2012 NBA draft class.

5) PF Perry Jones III, Oklahoma City

Rookie meter: Disappointment.

Perry Jones has all the physical tools to be a good player in this league. He's got the size, athleticism and the capability to score inside and outside.

So when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Jones with the 28th pick in the draft, many thought it was a steal. But as it turns out, Jones's biggest impact has been with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League.

It's too early to write him off completely, but Jones hasn't even sniffed the court yet for the Thunder. Oklahoma City simply has better options than Jones right now, so he's better off refining his skills in the D-League than sitting on the bench for the Thunder.

4) SF Jae Crowder, Dallas

Rookie meter: Pleasant surprise.

Jae Crowder was the classic "do-everything" player at Marquette. He's not the tallest guy on the court, but he was physical enough to out-muscle people down by the bucket.

But at just 6'6", many wondered whether Crowder would ever make a significant impact at the professional level. Not only has Crowder made the most of his minutes, but he's been a mainstay in the Mavericks' rotation.

Crowder averages 19.0 minutes per game, scoring 6.0 points and grabbing 2.7 rebounds per game. His offensive impact may be surpassed by his hustle on the defensive end, as head coach Rick Carlisle even trusted him guarding LeBron James when the Mavericks played the Miami Heat.

3) SG Jeremy Lamb, Oklahoma City

Rookie meter: Disappointment.

When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets, many saw the move as a lopsided trade. The Rockets were getting a potential NBA All-Star, while the Thunder were getting "a bunch of guys."

The most attractive asset that Oklahoma City received was thought to be first-round pick Jeremy Lamb from Connecticut. Lamb was a tremendous scorer collegiately with the UConn Huskies, but he has yet to make a significant impact in the NBA.

Lamb has already spent some time in the D-League this year, and he's appeared in just 10 games. Granted, much like Perry Jones III, the Thunder are one of the league's best teams, so it's naturally hard for rookies to crack the lineup, but Lamb simply doesn't seem ready for the NBA level right now.

2) PF Tyler Zeller, Cleveland

Rookie meter: Pleasant surprise.

North Carolina big men haven't went on to enjoy much NBA success in recent years, so when the Cleveland Cavaliers took Tyler Zeller with the No. 17 pick in 2012, there wasn't much excitement from NBA fans or talent evaluators.

But through the first quarter-plus of his rookie season, Zeller is averaging a respectable 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in just 24.2 minutes of action. Those are respectable numbers from any post player, much less an unproven rookie with low expectations coming into the year.

The Cavs continue to struggle as a team, but if they can continue to add players around sensational point guard Kyrie Irving, this team could compete in the near future.

1) PG Damian Lillard, Portland

Rookie meter: Pleasant surprise.

Coming into the season, the race for NBA Rookie of the Year was thought to be all but settled. Anthony Davis was perhaps the most coveted No. 1 overall pick since LeBron James entered the league, and many thought the New Orleans Hornets hit the a home-run when they selected Davis with the top pick.

But while Davis has been terrific as a rookie, he's not even sitting at Damian Lillard's lunch table right now. Lillard is far and away the Rookie of the Year right now, averaging 18.6 points, 6.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

An argument could be made that the 22-year-old point guard from Weber State is Portland's best player at this point of the season. He has the Blazers at 14-13 right now, slotted for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Some others from the 2012 draft class have been great, but right now, Lillard looks like the best of the bunch.

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