NBA Rookies 2014-15: 5 Players Who Will Make Teams Regret Passing on Them
Every year we see prospects in the draft slip a little bit too far.
Coincidentally, most of the top rookies early on in 2014-15 are guys who weren't drafted that high.
These are the rookies who are going to make teams pay for passing on them. And two of them actually came from different drafts prior to 2014.
Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
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Drafted: No. 6 overall, 2013
Five teams passed on Nerlens Noel in the 2013 NBA draft just over four months after he tore his ACL.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of them, but they turned Anthony Bennett into Kevin Love, so I'm not sure they care too much.
I'd imagine the Washington Wizards, who took Otto Porter, the Charlotte Hornets, who took Cody Zeller, and the Phoenix Suns, who took Alex Len, might be interested in re-dos.
Having missed all of last season in recovery, this is Noel's first action in a while, and it's with a lineup that offers minimal talent to play off. We're not going to see much efficiency or consistency from Noel this season.
But we will see the upside flashed in sporadic spurts and isolated plays, whether it's on a monster turn-away rejection on James Harden, a showtime alley-oop or a 16-foot jumper nobody knew he had in the arsenal.
Noel's offensive skill set is clearly a work in progress, but he's got the tools and some special athleticism that will eventually allow him to impact games in more ways than one.
He would have probably been a top-three pick last year had he not injured his knee. As long as he can stay healthy, that's the type of value he could produce long term as a versatile rim protector.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Detroit Pistons
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Drafted: No. 38 overall, 2014
"I'm back to regular basketball," Spencer Dinwiddie told Brian Howell of Buffzone.com.
After tearing his ACL last January, Dinwiddie has already returned to the floor, and that should make a number of teams regret having let him slide to the second round.
He was viewed as a first-round talent prior to the injury. A savvy 6'5" combo guard who can shoot, attack and facilitate, Dinwiddie was having a career junior season at Colorado, where his assists were up, turnovers down and three-point mark at 41.3 percent.
Dinwiddie looked good as new for Detroit in his first game action since the injury, picking up six assists and two three-pointers in 16 minutes during preseason.
He isn't likely to get much playing time as a rookie, but neither are most of the others.
There's going to be a whole bunch of general managers that regret letting the injury affect their thinking, even if takes them a few years to realize it. Dinwiddie is a legitimate NBA guard.
K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers
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Drafted: No. 31 overall, 2014
The Philadelphia 76ers caught a break when K.J. McDaniels fell into their lap at No. 31.
He was one of the most unique prospects heading in, having led the ACC in blocked shots despite his role as a 6'6" wing.
It's only been a handful of games, but McDaniels' incredible defensive instincts, along some solid technique out on the perimeter, have translated quite well early on.
Derek Bodner of Libertyballers.com noted McDaniels recently held James Harden to just 2-of-7 shooting when guarding him. He's also got five blocks in four games while flashing that mesmerizing defensive playmaking ability.
Though not a great shot creator, he's looked comfortable spotting up so far—he's now hit six of his first 11 shots from behind the arc. And he's shown just how dangerous he can be in the open floor or attacking a lane to the rim.
McDaniels might project more as a defensive and energy specialist than a scorer, but that still doesn't excuse teams from letting him slide to No. 31.
Kyle Anderson, San Antonio Spurs
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Drafted: No. 30 overall, 2014
Maybe he didn't offer that NBA All-Star upside, but Kyle Anderson shouldn't have been passed on 29 different times. That's just too many.
There will be a number of general managers who look back and question their decision to go in another direction.
Anderson probably won't play many minutes this year, but he sure looked like he belonged in preseason (17.1 Player Efficiency Rating).
He's just one of those guys who makes the right decisions on the floor and one who can also capitalize as a scorer, whether he's got the mismatch in the post or he's left open as a shooter outside.
Teams most likely passed on Anderson not knowing his natural position. But quite frankly, if you can't find a way to tap into his passing instincts, shot-making ability and ball-handling skills for a 6'9" forward (or guard), then you're probably doing something wrong.
Look for the Spurs to make the rest of the league foolish once again.
Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls
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Drafted: No. 23 overall, 2011 (draft-and-stash)
Nikola Mirotic's rights have been owned by three teams since he was drafted and stashed abroad. The Rockets took him and traded him to the Timberwolves who shipped him to the Bulls, who are now laughing.
He's currently got the top Player Efficiency Rating (17.14) of any rookie averaging 15 minutes a game.
After playing and producing big time in the competitive Spanish ACB overseas the past few seasons, Mirotic is clearly one of the more seasoned rookies in the NBA this year.
Standing 6'10", he's currently 5 of 11 from downtown while sporting a solid 16.75 rebounding percentage (5.3 rebounds in 17.3 minutes).
With the ability to knock down shots from deep, attack close outs off the dribble and hold his own on the glass, Mirotic projects and looks like your textbook stretch 4.
In 2011, The Portland Trail Blazers went with Nolan Smith at No. 21 overall, the Houston Rockets went with Donatas Motiejunas at No. 20 and the Washington Wizards took Chris Singleton at No. 18.
Mirotic went No. 23. All it would have taken was a little bit of patience.
