NBA Rookie Report 2008-09: Who Will Make the Biggest Impact?

With the NBA season ready to tip off, I thought it would be a good idea to look back at the draft and provide an update on how all of this year's picks are doing.

I have included all of the first-rounders and some second-round players who might impress, and their current teams. Let me know what you think of this year's rookies.

First Rounders

1a. Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers

Oden has been fantastic this preseason. There are some injury concerns after missing what should have been his rookie year, 2007-08, but he will produce on "O" and "D." The only question is how much Nate McMillan will use the potential ROY.


1b. Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

Rose should provide the Bulls with an electric boost off the bench as the seventh man this year. He could see some starting time, too, but will have to watch his assists-to-turnover ratio if he wants serious playing time.


2. Michael Beasley, Miami Heat

Beasley will need to take advantage of mismatches in order to average 15-plus points per game. Fifteen and eight would be a successful rookie year for the young forward.


3. OJ Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies

In six preseason starts, Mayo has averaged 14.2 points and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 40.7 percent from behind the arc. He is NBA-ready, but needs to boost assist numbers.


4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Playing the NBA point guard will present its learning curve for Westbrook. You can expect solid defense from him, but his 2.3 assists and 4.5 turnovers per game in three preseason contests is not a favorable ratio.


5. Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

Love has had limited success coming off the bench in the preseason. As the T-Wolves loss total goes up, expect his PT to go up, as well. He should assume the starting role from Mark Madsen sometime soon.

6. Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks

A bad back has kept him on the bench. Gallinari could have a very slow start to the season; sorry, Knicks fans.


7. Eric Gordon, Los Angles Clippers

Gordon will come into the season hot. He can shoot the NBA three with ease and seems comfortable gunning off the bench for the Clippers. He will quickly silence the critics. 


8. Joe Alexander, Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks brought in Jefferson to play ahead of Alexander. He will get his chances, and will impress with his athletic ability.


9. D.J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats

Augustin has limited his mistakes in preseason, but needs to improve his percentages from the floor. His 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio will earn him PT for the struggling Bobcats.


10. Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets

The Stanford big man has an NBA-ready body and will make an impact for the Nets right away. Lopez can block and board, but he needs to watch his fouls if he wants to make an impact when it counts.


11. Jerryd Bayless, Portland Trail Blazers

Bayless will come off the bench a little earlier now that Martell Webster is hurt. He will give the Blazers a quick scoring boost, but expect an assist-to-turnover ratio around 1-to-1.


12. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings

There is lots of potential in Thompson, but his high ceiling also comes with a low floor. Shooting 31.6 percent from the field is not impressive and should have coaches concerned.


13. Brandon Rush, Indiana Pacers

Rush will be a key contributor for the Pacers this season. He will be the first wing off the bench, and has shot 8-for-17 from behind the arc this preseason. Rush is a sleeper for Rookie of the Year.


14. Anthony Randolph, Golden State Warriors

Randolph needs to work to find his game in the NBA. He has a very thin frame and will have trouble getting to the hoop as a rookie. Don't be surprised if he takes a trip to the D-League.


15. Robin Lopez, Phoenix Suns

In 25 minutes of play this preseason, Lopez has averaged 2.2 blocks per game. He is not a scorer at this point in his career, but, like his brother, he has an NBA body and will be able to back up Shaq nicely.

16. Marreese Speights, Philadelphia 76ers

In the old Sixers jersey, Speights may have Philly fans reminiscing of Darryl Dawkins at times this season. He dunks with authority and keeps the ball high in the post. If he listens to Elton Brand's wisdom, this kid could be a force down low.


17. Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers

Hibbert may not have a high ceiling, but he has a very good chance of being a successful NBA center. The Pacers will love his blocks, something Jeff Foster cannot do, and he takes quality shots. He needs to practice free throws, however.


18. JaVale McGee, Washington Wizards

McGee is young, but has a fabulous basketball pedigree. He is surprisingly strong, and is extremely active. Expect him to be a starter by this time next year.


19. J.J. Hickson, Cleveland Cavilers

Aside from struggles at the stripe, Hickson has played a solid preseason. He will be the second big off the bench, and should have a positive impact on the Cavs' season.


20. Alexis Ajinca, Charlotte Bobcats

Ajinca is a bigtime project; good luck in the D-League, and I hope to see you next year.


21. Ryan Anderson, New Jersey Nets

Anderson will be ready to play when the season tips off. The Nets had a low-risk draft; Anderson will not wow anybody, but he can hit his shots and board up. 


22. Courtney Lee, Orlando Magic

Lee has found it difficult to efficiently score in the preseason and will have to adjust to facing NBA defenders every night. He was a fantastic scorer in college, but has some very capable guards in front of him right now. He will have to adjust his game from primary scorer to capable bench player.


23. Kosta Koufos, Utah Jazz

Preseason playing time has been limited for Koufos, but his game suits Jerry Sloan’s style of play. He should be successful in spot minutes, or may flourish in the D-League.


24. Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder

As the former Sonics stay committed to not winning, Ibaka will not make the trip to America this year.


25. Nicolas Batum, Portland Trail Blazers

Batum has shown his ability to score, pass, block shots, and get steals this preseason. He can knock down the open three, but needs to hit the glass a little harder. With Webster out, he will see the floor in his No. 88 jersey.


26. George Hill, San Antonio Spurs

Hill has been impressive with steals and accurate shooting this preseason. He had us saying IUPUI last March and will have fair-weather fans saying "who is this guy?" in the playoffs.


27. Darrell Arthur, Memphis Grizzlies

Arthur will only get spot minutes, but he has good potential. With 10-to-15 more pounds of muscle, he could be a legit power forward for the Griz.


28. Donte Greene, Sacramento Kings

Green has a very high ceiling, but should join Thompson in the D-League to start the season. His 31.0 percent shooting from the floor will not get the job done.


29. D.J. White, Oklahoma City Thunder

White has the NBA body, but won't play much this season because he is out with a broken jaw. The Thunder could use him.


30. J.R. Giddens, Boston Celtics

He is best-suited for the D-League this season. The Celtics have too many young contributors for Giddens to get a shot. 

Second Rounders

33. Joey Dorsey, Houston Rockets

Dorsey will not play every night, but as the season progresses he should earn playing time as an energetic big man who likes to mix it up.


34. Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat

Chalmers has the intangibles you look for in a point guard. If he can shoot over 40 percent from the field, he should play as the third point.


35. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angles Clippers

Jordan really slipped in the draft. The D-League is calling his name, but maybe Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby will ignite a fire inside him. He needs to keep the ball high in the post to limit turnovers.


37. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee Bucks

Luc played a lot of high-level basketball at UCLA and practiced with pro-level players every day. The Bucks will use him as a defensive stopper.


40. Chris Douglas-Roberts, New Jersey Nets

CDR will have 29 owners asking their GMs why they didn't draft this guy. He can score from anywhere inside the three-point line and is a long defender who knows how to poke the ball away. He is the steal of the draft.


42. Sean Singletary, Phoenix Suns

In limited time, Singletary has been extremely efficient and effective. If anything happens to Steve Nash, or Goran Dragic (see below) doesn't pan-out, Singletary will fill the role nicely.


43. Patrick Ewing Jr., New York Knicks

Knicks fans will be experiencing déjà vu, but don't expect junior to fill the shoes of his old man.


45. Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns

Dragic has coach Terry Porter on his side. He hasn't shot well from the field of behind the arc this preseason, but he has a knack for passing the rock. He should see over 15 minutes a game to start the season.


47. Bill Walker, Boston Celtics

Walker is explosive, but hasn't been overly impressive in limited preseason action. He needs to find his go-to moves in the D-League.