Nobody's Perfect: Every Top NBA Rookie's Biggest Flaw
It won't take long for the NBA to expose every rookie's biggest flaw.
They each have one defining weakness that could keep them from breaking through their ceilings.
Shooting and shot selection are popular issues. In most cases, these flaws are all correctable, but they'll show up early in these rookies' careers.
The knock on each player was determined from studying their habits over the years and analyzing statistics in college.
Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers, PG/PF)
1 of 14
Biggest flaw: Doesn't score shooting off two feet
Ben Simmons will score, but don't count on a ton of 20-point games anytime soon without the ability to shoot off two feet.
Defenses are going to pick up on the fact that Simmons is either driving right or left into a layup or runner. He doesn't have a pull-up or step-back for one-on-one offense. Rarely will he even attempt a spot-up jump shot.
Simmons leans almost exclusively on transition, his quickness and ball-handling and dexterity/coordination around the basket. Except for a pair of half-court heaves to beat the clock, every shot he's taken has come inside the paint through three games.
Between the strong rim protectors and Simmons' predictability, there are going to be games where he can't reach double figures.
Markelle Fultz (Philadelphia 76ers, PG/SG)
2 of 14
Biggest flaw: Unraveling shooting mechanics
Shoulder discomfort appears to be throwing off Markelle Fultz, who's changed his free-throw form, tweaked his jumper and suddenly looks hesitant to shoot from outside.
It's concerning, given how important perimeter skills are to his All-Star scoring potential, which was ultimately Fultz's selling point over every other prospect in the draft.
He hasn't taken a three-pointer in 59 regular-season minutes.
Fultz obviously becomes a lot easier to guard if he isn't as big of a threat to pull up, step back or spot up.
Lonzo Ball (Los Angeles Lakers, PG)
3 of 14
Biggest flaw: Two-point scoring in half court
Lonzo Ball lacks both the skills and explosiveness to score in volume inside the arc during half-court possessions.
He's missing a reliable pull-up and floater, having made just 12 shots all season last year that weren't layups, dunks or threes. And between his skinny, 190-pound frame and lack of jets around the basket, finishing at the rim could be far more challenging than it was at UCLA.
His 29-point effort against the Phoenix Suns may wind up being a season high.
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics, SF)
4 of 14
Biggest flaw: One-on-one mentality
Jayson Tatum separates himself from other forward prospects with his footwork and shot-creating skills. But to showcase and use them, he typically needs to hold the ball and calculate his move while others stand and watch.
Tatum will have to adjust from being a top-scoring option to a role player early in his career. And that means finding ways to generate offense off the ball, without being featured in isolation or having the freedom to take too many dribbles or tough shots.
Don't bet on Tatum shooting a high percentage this year without a consistent three-ball or experience playing a complementary role.
Josh Jackson (Phoenix Suns, SF)
5 of 14
Biggest flaw: Shooting touch
One of the draft's top athletes, Josh Jackson relies heavily on transition, drives and cuts. He'll have a tough time scoring consistently without a reliable shooting touch, though.
There are moving parts with his mechanics. And though he is a capable shot-maker from all over the floor, his jumper won't be dependable over an 82-game season, which will likely result in streaks and slumps offensively.
Jackson could also wind up leaving too many points at the line, where he shot 56.6 percent last year, another troublesome indicator.
Hot to start the year, having hit five of his first 11 three-point attempts, don't be shocked once he falls back to earth.
De'Aaron Fox (Sacramento Kings, PG)
6 of 14
Biggest flaw: Shooting range
Every scouting report on De'Aaron Fox shows the same flaw. He isn't a major shooting threat from distance, and given how fast and explosive he is getting to the basket, defenses will quickly look to sag and go under screens to eliminate lanes and force jumpers.
The good news: Fox's big flaw looks correctable. He shows encouraging balance and mechanics on his mid-range pull-ups and shot a respectable 73.6 percent on 212 free-throw attempts at Kentucky.
But until he's more consistent outside and relatively capable from three, Fox's scoring will be up and down with so many of his field-goal attempts expected to come in traffic around the basket.
Jonathan Isaac (Orlando Magic, SF/PF)
7 of 14
Biggest flaw: Creating offense
Jonathan Isaac has impressive tools and a unique skill set for a 6'10" forward. But at this stage, the set's skills aren't sharp enough, particularly the ones used for shot creation.
He plays the role of a finisher, putback machine and spot-up shooter. Occasionally, he shows the ability to stop-and-pop off the dribble or hit a tough fallaway. But he hasn't proved he can get you a basket in isolation or make a play for a teammate using a screen.
The upside kicks in with Isaac if he can improve his perimeter scoring. At 210 pounds, he won't bang for buckets down low. He'll need to become a bigger scoring and playmaking threat against a set defense to maximize his potential as a mismatch.
Lauri Markkanen (Chicago Bulls, PF)
8 of 14
Biggest flaw: Scoring or nothing
Lights-out from three and skilled off the dribble, Lauri Markkanen scores with unique versatility for a big man. He also leans almost exclusively on his jumper for value.
More of a finesse forward than a power one, Markkanen put up below-average rebounding and shot-blocking numbers at Arizona. He's not a physical presence around the basket, and he totaled just 32 assists in 37 games.
Will he add anything on nights his shot isn't falling?
Frank Ntilikina (New York Knicks, PG/SG)
9 of 14
Biggest flaw: Creating
Frank Ntilikina isn't an elusive creator for himself or teammates. And that's problematic for a guard, particularly one the New York Knicks will eventually want running the point.
He struggles to get himself quality looks off the dribble. Ntilikina isn't an isolation scorer and lacks an explosive first step, needing a screen to make things happen.
Defensive and shooting potential point to a high floor and future role player. But Ntilikina won't ever blow up unless he becomes more dangerous with the ball.
Dennis Smith Jr. (Dallas Mavericks, PG)
10 of 14
Biggest flaw: Decision-making
The only thing keeping Dennis Smith Jr. from stardom rests on his shoulders.
Decision-making wasn't a strength of his at North Carolina State, where he showed a tendency to make lazy passes and take low-percentage hero shots, either early in the clock or late after over-dribbling.
We may find this flaw is overstated based on a poor situation in college. Smith didn't have shooters or much talent around him. Either way, accumulating stats won't be a major challenge. It will be efficiently running the Dallas Mavericks offense, balancing scoring with playmaking, that will determine his true value and effectiveness.
Malik Monk (Charlotte Hornets, SG)
11 of 14
Biggest flaw: Shot selection
Malik Monk's most valuable strength is also tied to his biggest flaw. He's an elite shot-maker, but also a tough shot-taker.
His game is predicated on jump-shooting. And the ones he creates for himself are typically lower percentage and contested.
Monk shot 40 percent or worse in 18 of 38 games at Kentucky. His overall shot selection could lead to streakiness possibly better suited to coming off the bench.
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz, SG)
12 of 14
Biggest flaw: Shot selection
Potent but streaky, Donovan Mitchell leans on the ability to hit difficult shots to score in volume.
He's a capable shot-maker from all over, both off the dribble or catch. Consistently converting them will be the challenge.
Mitchell only shot 40.8 percent from the floor his last season at Louisville. He took 13.1 shots to average 15.6 points.
He'll sporadically explode, scoring in bunches resulting in 20-25-point outbursts. But he'll also be vulnerable to the 1-of-7 games we've already seen against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kyle Kuzma (Los Angeles Lakers, F)
13 of 14
Biggest flaw: Defensive consistency/playmaking
Kyle Kuzma flashes defensive potential when engaged, but he hasn't always looked fully alert or active.
He's seemingly done everything right since being drafted, but at Utah, Kuzma's awareness and intensity were both questioned. He also rarely made plays on the ball, having left college with career totals of 31 steals and 35 blocks in 96 college games.
Kuzma certainly has the chance to develop into a defensive asset given his size and lateral quickness. Raising his IQ and competitiveness should be priorities.
John Collins (Atlanta Hawks, PF)
14 of 14
Biggest flaw: Defense
John Collins would likely see more rookie minutes if he defended. It's not for a lack of effort—Collins just doesn't have a great defensive IQ or awareness in terms of anticipating moves or when to rotate.
It could bring down his overall value and neutralize all the positives he brings as a scorer in the paint and rebounder.
He's going to struggle guarding in space and making reads in pick-and-roll coverage.
Until he starts to pick things up defensively, the Atlanta Hawks could see Collins as more of an energizer off the bench.
Advanced college stats courtesy of Hoop-Math.com
