5 2014-15 NBA Rookies Who Need More Minutes
Only a handful of 2014 NBA rookies have actually found regular roles in their respective rotations. Most are riding the bench—and for good reasons.
But there are five first-year players out there who deserve a little more time and bigger opportunities.
In a few cases, it's just a matter of getting these guys on the floor so they can build up confidence and experience. But some of them might also be able to contribute based on their core strengths and particular skill sets.
Look for the following five rookies' roles to expand as the season progresses.
Dante Exum, Utah Jazz, Point Guard
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Playing just 18.3 minutes a game while being used in a lonely 15.1 percent of Utah's possessions during his time on the floor, Dante Exum is being brought along rather slowly by the Utah Jazz.
It's time to speed up the process.
Exum needs more playmaking reps on the ball and fewer standing around the arc. Now is the time to let him plow through the trial-and-error process as a ball-handler in terms of seeing what works versus what doesn't.
It hurts to say, given the strides made by Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors, but the Jazz aren't playing for wins this year anyway.
Quite frankly, the Jazz may need to explore trading point guard Trey Burke in order to maximize their backcourt situation. For the Jazz to keep and ultimately play Burke 30-plus minutes will only delay Exum's development, and he's the better prospect in the first place.
Shooting just 37.1 percent as a second-year starter, Burke's limitations are clear. Meanwhile, Exum's upside is through the roof, thanks to his size (6'6", 190 lbs) and athleticism for the position, along with the mindset and basketball IQ it requires.
Through 16 games, Exum's numbers aren't crazy, but he's picked up at least five assists five different times, he's shown promising shooting potential, and he's currently 12-of-15 as a finisher at the rim, per NBA.com. He's also had a number of standout defensive stretches.
Burke might help the Jazz win a few more games this season, and they'd probably hurt his overall value by reducing his role, but the future in Utah's backcourt revolves around Exum, and he needs to be the priority.
Jordan Clarkson, Los Angeles Lakers, Point Guard/Shooting Guard
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After playing 20 minutes on opening night and 15 the following contest, Jordan Clarkson saw his role reduced to six minutes or fewer for a string of four straight games.
And then he played at least 14 minutes for three straight—a stretch that saw Clarkson combine to shoot 8-of-16 and total 26 points.
His reward? He did not play in four of the team's next five games.
With the Lakers looking at a losing season, it's time to start thinking a little bit about the future. And outside of Julius Randle, who's out for the year, Clarkson is really the only young guy on the team with any upside worth developing.
A 6'5" combo guard who can handle the ball or score from the wing, Clarkson would benefit greatly from regular backcourt reps as a decision-maker.
In two D-League games so far, he has combined for 47 points and 15 assists. It's time to get the kid a little more involved.
K.J. McDaniels, Philadelphia 76ers, Shooting Guard/Small Forward
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He's been arguably the only positive storyline out of Philadelphia. K.J. McDaniels, whom the Sixers grabbed in June's second round, has looked like a steal through the first month of the season.
However, his playing time has fluctuated early on, though he broke 30 minutes Wednesday against Brooklyn for the first time this year.
"It is frustrating," McDaniels told CSNPhilly.com's Dei Lynam. "But the minutes I do get, I have to go out and play as hard as I can. I can't determine the playing time, I just have to stay humble about it and keep grinding."
McDaniels is ultimately losing minutes to more "win-now" guys like Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Hollis Thompson, who aren't helping the team win now.
So far, McDaniels is averaging 9.5 points on 46.4 percent shooting and 38.6 percent from downtown in 23.4 minutes a night.
He's also blocking 1.2 shots a game, a unique specialty skill of his that's carried over from college.
At the very least, play McDaniels for the suffering fans, who, as Lynam points out, have embraced his exciting above-the-rim athleticism.
Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets, Shooting Guard
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Gary Harris has only gotten into three games on the year, but with Randy Foye tearing his quad, there's an opening in the backcourt rotation.
In a season-high 18 minutes against the Indiana Pacers on November 14, Harris ended up scoring 13 points on six made shots.
He's certainly one of the more polished guards in the rookie class, having played two years at Michigan State for Tom Izzo in the Big Ten.
Harris' game revolves around perimeter offense, whether he's stretching the floor as a three-point threat or creating his own jumper in the mid-range. He's also a smart, disciplined defender.
The Nuggets could end up expanding Nate Robinson's role in Foye's absence, or they could give some minutes to Harris, who's yet to really taste much action 15 games in.
Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls, Power Forward
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Having been seasoning his game abroad over the past couple of years, Nikola Mirotic, 23 years old, has looked like an NBA-ready contributor in the time he's been given. Only that time just hasn't been enough.
He's played less than 10 minutes on six different occasions this season. Twice more he's played 16 or less.
In the other seven games where he's played at least 18 minutes, Mirotic has averaged 11 points while shooting 12-of-29 from downtown.
He's a textbook stretch 4 who can shoot the three and hold his own under the boards. But he also offers a little more versatility, with the ability to attack closeouts off the dribble and finish plays on the move.
Mirotic ultimately gives the Bulls a unique dimension of frontcourt offense they don't get from their core group of big men.
With Pau Gasol having already missed a few games with calf issues and Taj Gibson currently out due to an ankle injury, it's time to rev up Mirotic's workload.
