Updated Grades for Every NBA Impact Rookie: Report Cards for Season's First Half

As we dish out updated grades for every impact 2012-13 NBA rookie, we're doing more than just handing out overall grades.

Every player is getting a full report card, stocked with grades for each major hoops category. 

We assessed their offensive output, rebounding and passing skills, defense, efficiency and impact.

Only one rookie received all his marks in the "A" range, and it's not Damian Lillard. How did the rest of the lottery picks fare? What about second-round role players and undrafted foreigners?

Find out as each rookie opens up his first-half report card.

* An "impact rookie" is a player who is averaging at least 16 minutes per game in 2012-13.

* Guards will not be graded for rebounding skills, and post players will not be graded for passing skills. Small forwards will be assessed in both categories.

Jonas Valanciunas, Toronto Raptors C

His numbers (7.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG) don't turn heads, but Toronto Raptors forward/center Jonas Valanciunas gives the club solid production for a 20-year-old rookie.

In addition to finishing pick-and-rolls and thriving on the offensive glass, the Lithuanian shows confidence on his 12-foot jumper from the elbow and baseline.

Once he works on his defensive discipline and fills out his frame, he'll be a dangerous power forward in the Atlantic Division.

Shooting/Scoring: B

Rebounding: A-

Defense: C+

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: B-

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Kyle Singler, Detroit Pistons SF

The greatest contribution Kyle Singler made to the Detroit Pistons in the first half of the season was his ability to influence the game without the ball.

His shifting and off-ball adjustments stretched defenses, and his cuts created shots for himself and his teammates.

When he did get the rock, he shot 44 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the charity stripe. February has been his best month yet, and the Pistons hope he continues to rise.

Shooting/Scoring: B

Rebounding: B

Passing: B

Defense: C+

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: B

FIRST HALF GRADE: B

Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons C

Before his back sidelined him, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond was dominating the paint unlike any other rookie.

His rebounding skills are already at an elite level. According to Basketball-Reference.com, he's fifth in the NBA in rebounds per minute, with only players like Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love ahead of him.

We're not going to have to wait long before he's a double-double machine.

Shooting/Scoring: B+

Rebounding: A

Defense: A-

Efficiency: A-

Impact to Team: B+

FIRST HALF GRADE: A-

Jeffery Taylor, Charlotte Bobcats SF

Jeff Taylor isn't able to create offense for himself in the NBA as effectively as he did in college, and it's hurting his role with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Fortunately, he's knocking down open triples (40 percent on spot-ups according to Synergy Sports) and asserting himself defensively.

Although he earned a B- overall for his first half, Taylor was still one of the best rookies from the late first round/early second round of the 2012 draft. 

Shooting/Scoring: B-

Passing: B-

Rebounding: C

Defense: A-

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: B

FIRST HALF GRADE: B-

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers PG

It is rare that a rookie is so vital and so valuable to a team.

How important is Damian Lillard to the Portland Trail Blazers attack? When he's in the game, the team scores 108.5 points per 100 possessions, and when he's not, they muster 96.2 according to 82games.com.

When he limits the turnovers and maintains a good balance of shooting and distributing the ball, Lillard is more than a standout rookie. He's one of the best guards in the entire league.

Shooting/Scoring: A

Passing: A

Defense: B

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: A

FIRST HALF GRADE: A

Alexey Shved, Minnesota Timberwolves SG

For a rookie 6'6" combo guard, Minnesota Timberwolves newbie Alexey Shved can dish the rock extremely well.

In fact, he's dishing more assists per 36 minutes (5.8) than America's favorite rising floor general Kyrie Irving (5.7).

Underwhelming defense and 30 percent three-point shooting brings his first-half grade down a notch, but those are both areas he will improve on over the next couple years.

Shooting/Scoring: B+

Passing: A

Defense: C+

Efficiency: C

Impact to Team: B+

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Jae Crowder, Dallas Mavericks SF

In February, Jae Crowder is finally chipping in like he did back in early November.

An increase in minutes and touches has allowed him to impact the game for the Dallas Mavericks on both ends of the court, not just defense.

There's a limit to Crowder's potential because he lacks shot-creation skills, but his passing and defense could be crucial assets for the Mavs in future playoff runs.

Shooting/Scoring: C+

Rebounding: C+

Passing: B-

Defense: A-

Efficiency: B-

Impact to Team: C

FIRST HALF GRADE: C+

Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers SG

When the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Dion Waiters fourth overall, I was one of the doubters who thought they made a huge mistake.

It turns out I was wrong, and it wasn't such a bad move.

Yes, he's shooting 31 percent from distance and his ambitiousness frequently makes Cavs fans nervous. But 14 points and three assists per night is a nice supplement to Kyrie Irving, and Waiters also has loads of untapped potential.

Shooting/Scoring: A-

Passing: B+

Defense: C+

Efficiency: C

Impact to Team: A-

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Maurice Harkless, Orlando Magic SF

Moe Harkless' skill set mostly reflects that of an ill-fated 'tweener combo forward, but he occasionally has games that indicate he could be a great small forward down the road.

The Orlando Magic have leaned on him heavily lately, with mixed results offensively. His 7-of-38 shooting from beyond the arc and 59 percent free-throw shooting certainly hurt his efficiency grades.

The only thing salvaging his overall grade is that he's rebounding well for a small forward (7.0 per 36 minutes).

Shooting/Scoring: C

Rebounding: B+

Passing: C

Defense: B-

Efficiency: C

Impact to Team: C+

FIRST HALF GRADE: C+

Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards SG

The pre-All Star break portion of Bradley Beal's rookie season didn't go as scripted.

Nevertheless, he cranked out more than 13 points per night and was a key offensive piece to a team battling injuries. His three-point percentage went from horrible to 37 percent, which is a good sign for the future.

For those who think he'll fall way short of the Ray Allen comparison, keep in mind Allen wasn't an ultra-efficient shooter early on. He shot 37 percent from distance over his first three years in the league.  

Shooting/Scoring: B+

Passing: B

Defense: C+

Efficiency: B

Impact to Team: A-

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets PF/C

All of Anthony Davis' marks are in the "A"range, and that's a testament to his versatility and value as a young pro.

Once he overcame his early-season injuries, he proved to be one of the best young power forwards in the league. New Orleans Hornets fans are glad he's living up to the Kentucky-based hype.

His court sense, mobility and defensive prowess indicate that he'll be the type of pro who routinely gets double-doubles along with a handful of blocks.

Shooting/Scoring: A-

Rebounding: A-

Defense: A

Efficiency: A-

Impact to Team: A-

FIRST HALF GRADE: A-

Andrew Nicholson, Orlando Magic PF

In just 16 minutes per contest, Orlando Magic forward Andrew Nicholson notches nearly eight points and four rebounds on 53 percent shooting.

Entering the draft, he was an upperclassman from a mid-major school, unlike the flood of one-and-dones from marquee programs. So far, he's showing up most of the youngsters, as his age and experience are evident.

You can see the difference in his game, because it's all substance and not reliant on athleticism.

Shooting/Scoring: A-

Rebounding: B+

Defense: B

Efficiency: A

Impact to Team: B

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Austin Rivers, New Orleans Hornets SG

Who would have thought "passing" and "defense" would be Austin Rivers' best grades?

After a disappointing first few months as a rookie, it's clear that Rivers either came out of college too soon or was never destined to be a productive pro.

Even free throws, a seemingly controllable part of any players game, are a sore spot for Rivers. He's 55-of-100 from the charity stripe, which is 20 percent worse than he should be.

Shooting/Scoring: D

Passing: C

Defense: C+

Efficiency: D

Impact to Team: D

FIRST HALF GRADE: D+

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats SF

His offense has been ineffectual for the past month, but Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist receives good grades because he influences the game in many other ways.

With countless turnovers forced and "bad shots forced," Kidd-Gilchrist's relentless defense keeps him in the game.

He's also an exceedingly successful rebounder considering he's a small forward. According to Basketball-Reference.com, he has the third-highest rebounds per minute rate out of all NBA small forwards. 

Shooting/Scoring: B

Rebounding: A

Passing: B

Defense: A-

Efficiency: B-

Impact to Team: B

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

Terrence Ross, Toronto Raptors SG

Unfortunately for Toronto Raptors slasher Terrence Ross, Slam Dunk Contest results don't factor into our midseason report cards.

As electrifying as the 2013 contest winner was, it doesn't count towards our assessment of him as a rookie shooting guard.

While he made several plays in the open court and enjoyed bursts of scoring, Ross' inconsistency and inefficiency on the perimeter hindered him from earning better marks. Until he truly becomes multi-dimensional, he won't be a feared NBA wing.

Shooting/Scoring: B

Passing: C

Defense: C+

Efficiency: C

Impact to Team: C

FIRST HALF GRADE: C+

Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics PF

Although he's out for the remainder of the 2012-13 campaign due to back surgery, we decided to hand Boston Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger a first-half report card.

It's a collection of grades he should be proud to bring home, as he did the most with the playing time he was given. Averaging 5.9 boards in less than 20 minutes per night isn't easy, especially for an undersized forward who's a below-average athlete.

Defensively, he fouled much too frequently, but that's a side effect of his tenacity, effort and lack of length.

Shooting/Scoring: B

Rebounding: A

Defense: B+

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: B+

FIRST HALF GRADE: A-

Tyler Zeller, Cleveland Cavaliers C

Cleveland Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller became an important piece of the roster when Anderson Varejao left the lineup for good.

He's held his own in the jungle otherwise known as the NBA paint, but there are two numbers from Synergy Sports that indicate he has a lot of room for improvement: Zeller is 3-of-13 (23 percent) on post-ups and 36-of-92 (39 percent) on pick-and-roll finishes.

Improving in these two areas will go a long way in becoming a well-rounded professional post player.

Shooting/Scoring: C+

Rebounding: B-

Defense: C+

Efficiency: B-

Impact to Team: C+

FIRST HALF GRADE: C+

Harrison Barnes, Golden State Warriors SF

Some nights Harrison Barnes is a key component in the Golden State Warriors offense, and some nights he's not assertive enough.

No matter what his night-to-night status is on offense, he faces tough tests frequently defensively. As a well-built small forward, Barnes is often tasked with guarding the NBA's best swingmen.

A 45 percent shooter as a rookie, Barnes had better be prepared to shoulder a substantial weight on both sides of the ball for the rest of his career.

Shooting/Scoring: B

Rebounding: B

Passing: C+

Defense: B+

Efficiency: B+

Impact to Team: B+

FIRST HALF GRADE: B+

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