NBA Draft 2011: 12 Slow-Starting Stars That Will Impress Us All in 2011
There's a scarcity of legitimate NBA talent entering in the 2011 draft.
With three freshman tentatively looking like the top three picks in the 2011 draft (Perry Jones, Harrison Barnes and Jared Sullinger), it's clear that those teams that finish in the lottery are going to need help from some young studs that are currently on the roster as well.
While the Clippers are certainly happy with their emerging superstar in Blake Griffin, other squads haven't received quite the impact that he's made as a rookie.
So which teams can expect more from their young bucks next season? That's why we're here.
12. Derrick Caracter, PF/C Los Angeles Lakers
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Despite being selected just two slots before the final pick in the draft, Caracter's NBA potential is absolutely undeniable.
After finishing third on the rookie ladder (rookie rankings for performance in the summer league), Caracter's name became a popular one among rival coaches and executives.
Although the Lakers are currently stacked at the big man position with studs Gasol, Bynum, and Odom patrolling the paint and crafty veterans Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff on the bench, Caracter won't see much game action.
But next year? Caracter should be able to thrive in a role off the bench backing up both the power forward and center spots, and should have a game similar to San Antonio's DeJuan Blair.
11. Paul George, SF/PF Indiana Pacers
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When the Pacers bypassed guys like Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, and Ed Davis to roll the dice on the Fresno State product, many fans immediately raised an eyebrow.
Undoubtedly an intriguing prospect, George's combination of size and quickness make him a very attractive player in today's NBA. Unfortunately, after getting some legitimate burn very early in the season, it seems that the rookie is in Coach Jim O'Brien's doghouse.
Thankfully, the future is bright for George, whose skills are very unique. Capable of connecting on the long ball, deflecting the rock away from opponents, and absolutely stuffing anyone that tries to take him to the hole, George has the potential to be a phenomenal all-around talent that many fantasy basketball owners crave.
Let's just hope that he gets off the bench sooner rather than later, otherwise his confidence could begin to plummet, which is never a good thing for such a young, developing player.
10. Patrick Patterson, PF Houston Rockets
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Patterson never really got his fair share of attention during his collegiate days as he was overshadowed by John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and even Eric Bledsoe, but that didn't stop the Rockets from making him a lottery pick.
After being drafted 14th overall, No. 54 has spent most of the season in the NBA D-League, where he's impressed many with his readiness to contribute at the big boy level. Averaging 18.3 points, 10.3 boards, and shooting an insane 55 percent from the field, Patterson clearly did not need to spend any more time "developing his game", and the Rockets recently brought him back from Rio Grade because of it.
With the coaching staff looking for Patterson to get back to his roots as a "dirty work" type of player, he will be expected to be a banger down low, collecting rebounds and dominating the low post area.
Rockets fans who are clamoring for Carl Landry to come back into town should take a long look at Patterson, as he is a similar type of player with much more potential.
9. James Anderson, SG San Antonio Spurs
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One of the most prolific scorers in college basketball last season, Anderson has seen his NBA career get off to a tough start.
After almost immediately carving out a role on Gregg Popovich's bench to begin the year, Anderson suffered a fractured foot in mid-November that has sidelined him ever since.
Although he's only expected to be out until mid-January, he's going to have a tough time cracking the rotation and finding minutes for a surging Spurs team that many are considering the current favorites for the title.
However, with Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili only getting older, Anderson should see his role grow exponentially in 2011, as he could be the second man off the bench behind spark plug George Hill.
8. Ed Davis, PF Toronto Raptors
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Raptors fans saw perennial all-star Chris Bosh move on to Miami only to get replaced by an overpaid Amir Johnson. Fortunately, the future is brighter for the lone Canadian NBA franchise.
Although he began the season on the shelf, Davis has begun to make his presence felt in the wake of some injuries to the Toronto team. A banger underneath the rim, Davis' ability to get on the boards and produce results in limited minutes is a testament to his athleticism.
While he is somewhat undersized in the weight department at just 215lbs, Davis will only get stronger as his career in the league moves forward, and he has the ability to be a double-double machine on a nightly basis.
7. Ekpe Udoh, PF/C Golden State Warriors
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After wrist surgery that had sidelined him for the entirety of the season, Udoh finally made his much anticipated debut on December 10th.
Although he has played in only four games this season, it's easy to see that the product from Baylor is still rather raw on both ends of the floor.
With a clear future in the league as a rebounder and shot-blocker, Udoh's impressive athleticism and freakish wing span make him a prime candidate to lead the league in the aforementioned categories in the future, but he's going to have to work hard to put on more weight if he wants to play with any success around the rim.
6. Larry Sanders, F/C Milwaukee Bucks
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Larry Sanders is going to be a name to know for a very long time.
After putting the rest of the NBA on notice when he registered eight blocks in a single game, the pride of VCU looks to be an early favorite of his ephemeral head coach Scott Skiles.
While Sanders most likely won't ever be a prolific scorer, his defensive prowess makes him a very valuable asset off of the bench. Capable of playing all three positions across the front line, the rookie's productivity should continue to increase as the season moves forward.
Playing as a backup to oft-injured Andrew Bogut ensures him plenty of playing time both now and into the future, and that defensive intensity he's already displayed will keep him in the league for a long time.
5. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF Los Angeles Clippers
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With Aminu and BG the frontcourt of the future for the Clippers, this team could have arguably the most athletic SF-PF combination in the entire NBA.
Having already hit the 20-point plateau once in his brief career, Aminu's ability to score has never been in question, but it's his consistency that he will need to work on if he hopes to sustain solid minutes.
While he's seen his playing time wane of late, if Aminu continues to progress on his fundamentals with shot selection and rebounding, the no. eight overall pick could very well begin to see 30+ minutes per night in the not too distant future.
4. Greg Monroe, C Detroit Pistons
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Much like the aforementioned Aminu, consistency is the biggest issue for Monroe in his rookie season.
Showing brief flashes of insane potential as a a legitimate force on the offensive glass, Monroe does most of his work near the rim where he can best showcase his strong skill set. At just 20 years old, this rookie has plenty of time to grow into a very successful contributor for his Motor City team.
With an aging Ben Wallace, an ineffective Chris Wilcox, and Jason Maxiell continuing to underwhelm, Monroe has a clear path to playing time that he is capable of taking full advantage of.
It wouldn't surprise anyone to see Monroe win the gig sooner rather than later, and if GM Joe Dumars was actually capable of surrounding him with any real talent, Monroe could find himself as a very popular commodity in the very near future.
3. Evan Turner, SG Philadelphia 76ers
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It hasn't exactly been the Greg Oden-Kevin Durant scenario from a few seasons ago, but Turner has really disappointed thus far.
After an extremely lackluster effort in summer league, the Ohio State product hasn't fared much better in the early part of the regular season. The good news is that Turner has shown a proclivity to contribute across the board, but the bad news is that he's not doing much in any particular category.
With just eight games in double-figures through the first third of the year, Turner will have to "turn" it around in a big way if the team hopes to receive the ROI desired from the second overall pick.
While it's way too early to call him a bust, the Sixers had better hope he starts devoting the necessary work ethic to make it as a legitimate NBA star.
2. Wesley Johnson, SF Minnesota Timberwolves
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He's not the infamous Worldwide Wes, but if he continues to play like he has in recent weeks, it will be sooner rather than later that his name is a household commodity.
Shooting a very respectable 36 percent from beyond the arc while averaging 28 minutes per contest, Johnson has provided a dynamic scoring punch to a desperate Timberwolves team. Furthermore, his insane length has become a challenge for the opposition to deal with when they attempt to take it to the hole.
While he will need to contribute in some more peripheral categories to establish his long-term value, his skill set should only grow during his tenure in the league, and he's going to get all the burn he can handle in the short-term for the less than inspiring Minnesota team.
Hopefully, he doesn't get on Kurt Rambis' bad side, because we've all seen how that can turn out.
1. Derrick Favors, PF New Jersey Nets
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Many thought that Favors would be unable to contribute in his rookie season, but perhaps the young man from Georgia Tech is more ready than most thought.
After already tallying a couple double-doubles off the bench in his brief tenure, it's clear that Favors is capable of contributing in a big way. Furthermore, he's just 19 years old and isn't quite done growing yet.
With Kris Humphries playing over his head and Troy Murphy squarely in the dog house of coach Avery Johnson, Favors has the path clear for significant playing time should the Nets infuse a youth movement in the near future.
As for next season? Favors is set to explode. If he finds himself donning Denver blue and yellow in a potential Carmelo Anthony deal, it will be extremely soon that he finds himself at the epicenter of highlight reels on SportsCenter.
