Philadelphia 76ers Rookie Report Cards: Grading 1st-Year Players' 2014-15 so Far

Although Joel Embiid and Dario Saric won't be hitting the hardwood this year, the Philadelphia 76ers have accumulated enough talent over the past two drafts to compile the league's most intriguing troupe of youngsters. 

From a lottery pick like Nerlens Noel to a couple of second-round selections in K.J. McDaniels and Jerami Grant, the Sixers have attempted to implement several unique skill sets into a rotation that's constantly in flux. 

So with the first quarter of the season in the rearview mirror, it's time to explore which rookies have earned passing grades and which are close to failing. 

Throughout the following slideshow, keep in mind that grades function on a classic A-F scale with pluses and minuses doled out where appropriate.

Honorable Mention: Robert Covington

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Technically, Robert Covington isn't a rookie. After appearing in seven games with the Houston Rockets last season, he lost that designation.

However, Covington's arrival from the D-League has been a stunning revelation for a Philadelphia 76ers team that's been crying out for dependability on the perimeter.  

Shooting 47.5 percent from three while averaging 11.2 points, Covington has rapidly entrenched himself into Philadelphia's rotation, averaging 20.6 minutes through 14 appearances. 

Among players who have attempted at least 50 threes, Covington ranks behind only Kyle Korver, Courtney Lee, Rasual Butler, Bradley Beal and Kevin Martin in terms of conversion rate, according to Basketball-Reference.com. 

"Covington is giving us something," head coach Brett Brown told reporters following the team's 88-70 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, according to CSNPhilly.com's Dei Lynam. "He is really coming along. Michael [Carter-Williams] has a new toy, trying to learn how to find him. They have a good thing going on. We were up at halftime, down three at the end of the third period, and you are in the game."

Over his last six games, Covington has scored in double figures five times, including a 25-point outing against the Detroit Pistons and 24-point performance in a 120-115 overtime loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

What's more important, though, is that the Sixers are strikingly more productive with Covington on the floor. According to NBA.com, the Sixers are 12.7 points better per 100 offensive possessions and 14.7 points better per 100 possessions overall when Covington's not on the bench.  

While the Sixers rank dead last in three-point field-goal percentage (30.5), Covington and his sweet stroke should remain an integral piece of the team's second unit for the duration of the season. 

Grade: A-

Jerami Grant

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Jerami Grant is still attempting to carve out a niche in the Philadelphia 76ers' rotation after missing the season's first 13 games due to a sprained right ankle.   

Although Grant figured to transition from the 3 to the 4, he's played the bulk of his minutes at small forward thus far, according to Basketball-Reference.com.

With a limited offensive repertoire, Grant has been left to use his raw physical tools and attack the basket with a head of steam. And while he's attempted to operate as a pick-and-pop three-point shooter in very limited spots, Grant's stroke is still a dysfunctional work in progress. 

Through eight appearances, Grant is shooting 1-of-13 on jump shots and 4-of-5 on driving layups, according to NBA.com. 

Too small to post up conventionally and not skilled enough to consistently stretch defenses out to the three-point line, Grant will continue to make minor gains as a second-chance finisher and energetic body in the paint. 

Grade: D

K.J. McDaniels

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Let's forget the lackluster scoring (9.6 points per game) and rebounding (3.9 per game) numbers for a moment and focus on what has made K.J. McDaniels one of the NBA's most polarizing rookies. 

Following Saturday's 120-115 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, McDaniels is averaging 1.5 blocks, which is a rather staggering number for a 6'6'' wing. 

According to NBA.com's Doug Ammon, "if he continues at his current pace, he would join Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, Gar Heard and Vince Carter as the only players 6’6” or shorter to average 1.5 blocks per game in a season."

However, McDaniels has hardly been reliable as a shooter, which was a main reason why he dropped out of the first round on draft night. 

According to NBA.com's player tracking data, McDaniels is knocking down 34.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point jumpers and 25.9 percent of his pull-up attempts, including a puny 22.2 percent of his pull-up triples. 

A little more dependability from beyond the arc would have bumped McDaniels up to to an A-, but his length and pure athleticism have helped gloss over those inefficiencies nicely.   

Grade: B+

Nerlens Noel

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Relative to expectations, Nerlens Noel has underwhelmed.  

While he wasn't expected to have anything resembling a complete offensive arsenal at this young stage in his career, Noel has struggled mightily to find his identity as a scorer. 

Case in point: Noel is shooting 16.7 percent on jump shots, 21.4 percent on hook shots and 33.3 percent on layups, according to NBA.com. Despite jump hooks representing a small avenue of success, the Sixers are still 6.8 points better per 100 offensive possessions with Noel off the floor.  

However, Noel's grade is saved by the raw physical tools that have already made him a defensive stalwart. 

So far, the Sixers are three points better per 100 defensive possessions with Noel on the floor, per NBA.com. But what's more encouraging is that Noel's length is seriously forcing opponents to reconsider their shot selection at the rim. 

An intimidating presence whose wingspan has swallowed up shots in the paint, Noel is holding opponents to 53.2 percent shooting inside of six feet, which is 7.5 percent better than the league average, per NBA.com. 

Now a presumed outsider in the Rookie of the Year conversation, Noel will need to find some semblance of offensive rhythm to complement his intimidating defensive skill set. 

Grade: C+

JaKarr Sampson

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JaKarr Sampson hasn't provided many moments worth writing home about, but his pure athleticism and leaping ability have turned heads very briefly.

Like so many of the Philadelphia 76ers' youngsters, Sampson relies on his physical gifts to do most of the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, that means heavier doses of ugly jump shots clanging off the front and back iron.  

Shooting 6.3 percent on all jump shots and 28.6 percent on layups, per NBA.com, it's no wonder the St. John's product has already made a trip down to Delaware for a D-League assignment. 

And while he may not be long for a roster that's constantly in a state of flux, there is some good news for Sampson and his pro prospects. 

If he is ultimately waived, the Sixers could retain Sampson's D-League rights via the in-season affiliate rule. Essentially, that clause will allow Philadelphia to directly add Sampson to the Delaware 87ers roster after he made the team's opening-day roster, thus circumventing the NBA waiver process. 

Grade: D-

All statistics courtesy of NBA.com and current as of Dec. 14 unless noted otherwise.