Predicting the Stats for Every NBA Team's Rookie Prospect
Who doesn't love rookies?
Coaches love the added potential to their teams. Other players love having fresh meat to pick on while forming new friendships on and off the court. We fans love having new players to invest our hopes in.
Everyone loves rookies.
So, how will each NBA team's top rookie perform during the 2011-2012 NBA season (assuming of course that it actually happens)?
Read on to find out.
Atlanta Hawks: Keith Benson
1 of 35Playing Time
While Al Horford mans the center position right now, the Atlanta Hawks would love to move the All-Star to his more natural power forward position. That would leave some combination of Jason Collins, Zaza Pachulia, Keith Benson and a few other players at the center position.
By the end of the season, Benson could have a stranglehold on the spot.
Skill Set
Although he needs to bulk up to endure the rigors of the NBA game, Benson is equally talented on both offense and defense. He has a great knack for scoring the ball and he was his conference's defensive player of the year.
That said, he played in the Summit League so there will be a difficult transition to the NBA.
Projected Stats
6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game
Boston Celtics: JaJuan Johnson
2 of 35Playing Time
During his first season with the Boston Celtics, I really can't see JaJuan Johnson getting much time on the court at all. After all, he's blocked by both Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis at the power forward spot and Jeff Green is more likely to come on the court if Boston decides to go small.
Johnson may be used exclusively in mop-up duty during the first year of his professional career.
Skill Set
Johnson is a very well-rounded player whose 6'10" frame will undoubtedly help him. He's the unique big man who possesses both a diverse set of low-post moves and the ability to drop jumpers from the outside.
Projected Stats
4.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game
Charlotte Bobcats: Kemba Walker
3 of 35Playing Time
Even with D.J. Augustin serving as the established point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats, there is no way that Michael Jordan's team doesn't get this talented small guy out on the court as much as possible. With Augustin seeming to have worn out his welcome in Bobcat country, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Walker starting sooner rather than later.
Skill Set
Walker simply knows how to put the ball in the hoop and will his team to victory. With tremendous speed and athleticism, Walker makes up for his lack of height with his agility and ease at getting to the basket.
But more than anything else, Walker has a huge heart. I bet against him during the Big East Conference Tournament and again during the NCAA Tournament. Both times he proved me wrong.
I don't want to make that mistake again.
Projected Stats
15.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists per game
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
4 of 35Playing Time
Getting consistent minutes is going to prove to be a huge problem for Jimmy Butler. As a shooting guard and small forward, the former Marquette standout is competing with Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Rasual Butler, Kyle Korver and Luol Deng for playing time. And that's before the Bulls bring in a better two-guard during free agency as many expect them to do.
Skill Set
Butler, the owner of an inspiring and literal rags-to-riches story, is blessed with tremendous athleticism but his actual basketball skills are still works in progress.
At Marquette he was a dual threat, just as capable of hitting a big shot as he was crashing the boards and pulling down an important rebound. He has the size and hops to continue doing so in the NBA, but he'll need the minutes to come first.
Projected Stats
3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists per game
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving
5 of 35Playing Time
Do you really think that the rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers are going to sit the No. 1 overall pick for too long each game?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
Skill Set
Kyrie Irving may not have the explosiveness of Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook, but he's still a threat to score whenever he wants to because of his confidence, pure shooting ability and driving skills. Irving also has great court vision and should be able to hit open men on the court while squeezing the ball into the tight spaces that he needs to.
The only question is how many shots his teammates can hit for him.
Projected Stats
12.3 points, 3.8 assists, 2.0 rebounds per game
Dallas Mavericks: None
6 of 35The Dallas Mavericks did not draft anyone.
I guarantee I project the statistics right on this slide.
Projected Stats
0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assist per game
Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried
7 of 35Playing Time
With Kenyon Martin looking likely to leave the team via free agency, Kenneth Faried should be a member of a power forward rotation that includes Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington.
While the former Morehead State superstar won't get starter's minutes, he'll be on the court quite a bit.
Skill Set
Although he's not quite as much of a specialist as someone like Reggie Evans, Faried's calling card is definitely rebounding. There is no doubt about that for college basketball's all-time leading board-grabber.
Faried's offensive game is as raw as an uncooked steak. He scored primarily through put-back dunks and alley-oops. While that flew at Morehead State, it won't to the same extent in the NBA.
Fortunately for the undersized big man, rebounding is one skill that translates very well from one level to another.
Projected Stats
6.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game
Detroit Pistons: Brandon Knight
8 of 35Playing Time
I wouldn't be that surprised to see Brandon Knight starting for the Detroit Pistons on day one. A better question is what position he'll be lining up at.
But most likely, he and fellow combo-guard Rodney Stuckey will comprise the Pistons' starting backcourt for the vast majority of the season.
Skill Set
Knight is a talented scorer with a knack for knocking down shots in the clutch, as he proved during his breakout performance in this past edition of March Madness. While his decision making skills leave a little bit to be desired, the former Kentucky Wildcat has many of the skills that you look for in a successful guard.
Projected Stats
11.8 points, 3.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds per game
Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson
9 of 35Playing Time
I have no idea how Klay Thompson is going to make it onto the court regularly unless the Golden State Warriors make a trade prior to the start of the season. After all, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry have the starting guard spots on lockdown.
Thompson will probably serve as the backup shooting guard, but Ellis plays a whole lot of minutes on a nightly basis. In fact, his 40.3 minutes per game was tops in the league for a second straight season.
Skill Set
Klay Thompson is a sharp-shooting big guard with limited athleticism. In other words, he's the prototypical Warrior. And that right there is exactly why they shouldn't have drafted him.
Not exactly known for his defensive prowess, Thompson may not even get a chance to fully utilize his skills. There just aren't enough shots to go around in Golden State.
Projected Stats
4.3 points, 1.1 assists, 0.8 rebounds per game
Houston Rockets: Marcus Morris
10 of 35Playing Time
Marcus Morris is NBA-ready enough that he should be able to log some quality minutes during his rookie season, despite the Houston Rockets' logjam in the frontcourt.
Morris can capably play either small forward or power forward, which will help him as he competes with Chase Budinger, Terrence Williams, Luis Scola, Patrick Patterson and fellow rookie Chandler Parsons for playing time.
Skill Set
Morris is a very tough, physical player with an extremely well-rounded game that should translate well to the professional level. He needs to add some post moves, but his ability to shoot from mid-range and downtown should scare his opponents.
Projected Stats
9.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game
Indiana Pacers: None
11 of 35The Indiana Pacers did not draft anyone.
I guarantee I project the statistics right on this slide.
Projected Stats
0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assist per game
Los Angeles Clippers: Trey Thompkins
12 of 35Playing Time
As a Georgia boy, it pains me to say this, but Trey Thompkins simply isn't going to be able to stay on the court long enough to make a lasting impression on Los Angeles Clippers fans this season.
It's not like he's going to start over Blake Griffin anytime soon.
Skill Set
Thompkins has one of the most diverse skill sets I've seen in a 6'10" power forward in quite some time. At Georgia, Thompkins had a bevy of post moves, didn't hesitate to spot up from behind the three-point line, played solid but not spectacular defense and even handled the ball against the full-court press on some occasions.
My only two knocks on his game are that he doesn't possess even average NBA athleticism (which is strange for a member of the current Clippers) and he doesn't always play with intensity and drive to win.
Projected Stats
4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game
Los Angeles Lakers: Darius Morris
13 of 35Playing Time
Darius Morris was one of my favorite prospects going into the draft and he landed in a perfect situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, unless the purple and gold wearing team decides to bring in a more experienced floor general during the offseason.
With Derek Fisher way past his prime, Morris may actually get to start right off the bat. He should.
Skill Set
One of the best pure point guards in this year's draft class, Morris is definitely a pass-first guard. There's a good reason for that since his court vision and ability to put the ball where he wants to is quite impressive.
His shot selection at Michigan was also good and should continue to be at the NBA level.
Projected Stats
8.4 points, 5.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds per game
Memphis Grizzlies: Josh Selby
14 of 35Playing Time
The Memphis Grizzlies need to get Josh Selby on the court. His athleticism demands it.
A lot depends on how healthy Rudy Gay stays, but the Grizzlies will struggle to fulfill that demand. They're loaded at the guard spots with Gay, Mike Conley, Tony Allen, O.J. Mayo and a few other young players.
Skill Set
Josh Selby can jump. Really, really high.
His athleticism is absolutely staggering, but so too is his immaturity and rawness. After what can only be considered an incomplete freshman year at Kansas, Selby is going to attempt to make the jump to the NBA. It's the only type of jump he may have trouble with.
Projected Stats
2.1 points, 0.4 assists, 0.4 rebounds per game
Miami Heat: Norris Cole
15 of 35Playing Time
It's slightly confusing to me why the Miami Heat seem so desperate to add a point guard to their roster when they have talented young Mario Chalmers currently running the show and a tantalizing prospect in Norris Cole waiting in the wings.
I'd like to see the Heat give Cole a shot at running the offense, but I don't really see that coming anytime this next season.
Skill Set
One of the reasons that playing time may not be so forthcoming is that Cole's skill set does not mesh will with the Miami team's needs.
Cole is a scorer who needs to have the ball in his hands. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade both on the court most of the time, that simply isn't possible.
Projected Stats
5.1 points, 1.6 assists, 1.2 rebounds per game
Milwaukee Bucks: Tobias Harris
16 of 35Playing Time
Tobias Harris found himself in a great situation as the Milwaukee Bucks needed a forward and drafted one. I'd expect for him to log solid minutes from the start.
Skill Set
A hard-working gym rat, Harris is going to listen to whatever his coach has to tell him and strive to become the best player he can possibly be. I know that's technically what we say about every NBA player, but I really and truly mean it with Harris.
The former Tennessee Volunteer is a very cerebral player with great versatility from the forward spot. I like his chances of succeeding at the next level.
Projected Stats
9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists per game
Minnesota Timberwolves: Derrick Williams
17 of 35Playing Time
The Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves in a very interesting position on draft day. They couldn't manage to trade down and were "stuck" taking the ultra-talented Arizona Wildcats forward, despite already having a lot of talent at the position already.
Derrick Williams is too good to keep on the bench but he plays a very similar game to Michael Beasley and the glut of forwards on the roster will limit his minutes.
Skill Set
Williams is a bit of a twiner, but his athleticism and shooting ability should allow him to succeed at the small forward position that he has made quite clear he wants to play. Efficiency is the word that I most associate with Williams after he shot 59.5 percent from the field and 56.8 percent from downtown during his sophomore season.
He's as NBA ready as they come.
Projected Stats
13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists per game
New Jersey Nets: Marshon Brooks
18 of 35Playing Time
Personally, I'd like to see Marshon Brooks starting from the get-go for the New Jersey Nets.
With only Anthony Morrow, Sasha Vujacic and Mario West in the way at the shooting guard position, there's a strong chance that the former Providence star finds his name announced more often than not during his rookie season.
Skill Set
I almost feel as though I have a personal attachment to Marshon Brooks after calling him tremendously underrated going into his senior season and then watching as he shot up the draft boards. He's still underrated.
Why? Well Brooks has an incredible knack for scoring, as he proved by averaging 24.6 points per game during his senior season. With his 6'5" frame, he also manages to pull down a whole lot of rebounds for someone his size.
There's a lot to love and not a lot to dislike about Brooks' game, especially now that he has Deron Williams feeding the ball to him.
Projected Stats
14.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game
New Orleans Hornets: None
19 of 35The New Orleans Hornets did not draft anyone.
I guarantee I project the statistics right on this slide.
Projected Stats
0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assist per game
New York Knicks: Iman Shumpert
20 of 35Playing Time
Iman Shumpert was a very interesting selection for the New York Knicks. David Stern relished the opportunity to announce that Shumpert was not in attendance as the entire fanbase tried to decide whether or not this was a giant "Eff you" from Donnie Walsh, who was serving his last days as the President of the organization.
Now that he's on the team though, Shumpert is going to have to struggle for playing time. With Toney Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker and Roger Mason all already comprising the shooting guard rotation and Chauncey Billups entrenched as the starting point guard, Shumpert is going to have to make a huge impression to earn his minutes.
Skill Set
Shumpert posted a 42" vertical leap at the NBA draft combine, a number that was unmatched in this year's draft class and only topped by Nate Robinson and Vince Carter in recent memory.
He's tremendously athletic and his 6'5" frame helps him make his living on defense, but Shumpert is a poor shooter and quite prone to making bad decisions on the court. That's a problem for a point guard.
It wouldn't surprise me to see the former Georgia Tech guard to wind up in the D-League for at least part of the season.
Projected Stats
2.6 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game
Oklahoma City Thunder: Reggie Jackson
21 of 35Playing Time
I didn't understand this pick at all when it was made. The Oklahoma City Thunder are absolutely loaded at the guard position.
Russell Westbrook is an All-Star-caliber point guard while the defensive skills of Thabo Sefolosha and offensive talents of James Harden combine to form a great duo at shooting guard. With Nate Robinson and others already coming off the bench, there really isn't much of a place for Reggie Jackson to fit in.
Skill Set
A very quick and athletic guard, Jackson has gotten by thus far based solely on his physical attributes. His ball-handling, shooting and passing skills are all sub-par.
Essentially, Jackson is a slightly worse clone of Westbrook when he was first coming out of UCLA.
Projected Stats
1.6 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game
Orlando Magic: Justin Harper
22 of 35Playing Time
With Hedo Turkoglu, Daniel Orton, Earl Clark, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass and Malik Allen all already on the roster at the forward positions, it's going to be hard for Justin Harper to earn much playing time during his rookie season.
That said, if Dwight Howard is traded away, as many expect he will be, that previous sentence will change drastically and I will have no clue how much playing time Harper will receive.
Skill Set
Because he played for the Richmond Spiders, Harper got nowhere near as much recognition as he deserved during his impressive senior season.
A tremendous shooter who picks his spots carefully and makes more than he misses, Harper has a very versatile skill set and should be able to help his new team in a bevy of ways.
Projected Stats
4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game
Philadelphia 76ers: Nikola Vucevic
23 of 35Playing Time
When your starting center is the incredibly soft Spencer Hawes and you draft a legitimate seven-footer with talent, you should probably play the new guy.
Such is the case for the Philadelphia 76ers and Nikola Vucevic.
Skill Set
Although he lacks athleticism and lateral speed, Vucevic has the size and skill necessary to be a standout center down the road.
He averaged a double-double at USC during his junior season and really doesn't do anything poorly. He's just not that great at anything either.
Projected Stats
8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists per game
Phoenix Suns: Markieff Morris
24 of 35Playing Time
The Phoenix Suns need to find a way to get Channing Frye on the court, even if it means shifting him away from his natural spot at center to power forward. Other than that, no one really stands in the way of Markieff Morris, who is already ready to make an impact in the NBA.
Skill Set
Morris was one of the safest picks in this year's draft because of that NBA-readiness and the fact that Phoenix knew exactly what they were getting when they selected him.
The forward from Kansas possesses skills in every single aspect of the game and should eventually settle in as either a mediocre starter or valuable bench contributor.
He's not someone you'll ever want on your fantasy team, but he's going to prove himself quite worthy of a spot in any lineup.
Projected Stats
7.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists per game
Portland Trail Blazers: Nolan Smith
25 of 35Playing Time
The Portland Trail Blazers knew what they were doing when they drafted Nolan Smith, and I have to assume they are banking on him being a consistent player of the bench for the duration of his time with the team.
Smith should begin his days in Portland filling that exact role. He can play at either guard spot, as he proved when Kyrie Irving went down with an injured toe, and he'll likely back up both starting guards.
Skill Set
Smith is more reliable than anything else. His build and lack of elite athleticism will prevent him from becoming a star, but he does too many things well to fail in the NBA.
His crossover borders on nasty and he can create shots competently for both himself and his teammates. Smith, who I believe was the most impressive player in the nation during last year's regular season at the collegiate level, proved that he can play both on and off the ball.
Projected Stats
7.2 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds per game
Sacramento Kings: Jimmer Fredette
26 of 35Playing Time
He's Jimmer Fredette.
The Sacramento Kings will find time to see if his success in college can carry over to the professional level. He's too much of a cult hero to avoid doing so.
Skill Set
I feel like everyone knows this by now, but here we go anyway.
Jimmer can shoot. And by that I mean Jimmer can shoot as well as anyone we've seen come out of college in the last decade.
Questions remain about his defensive ability and athleticism, but no one denies that he's a talented scorer. No player is more divisive than Fredette in this year's draft class. Some expect him to completely flame out and others expect him to become a superstar.
Because he'll be competing with Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton (both basketball black holes) for shots and he won't be able to eat away at the shot clock like he did at BYU, I have to temper my expectations. But I still believe that Jimmer will succeed.
Projected Stats
14.1 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds per game
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
27 of 35Playing Time
I don't ever question anything that the San Antonio Spurs choose to do, so I have to assume that the team will find some way to use Kawhi Leonard in its rotation.
He'll likely be about the eighth man in the rotation when the season begins, possibly working his way slightly up in the order off the bench.
Skill Set
I was quite sour on Leonard before the draft, but when the Spurs traded for him I had to start reevaluating. Leonard's best feature is the size of his hands, but that may also come back to bite him as some think they're too big for him to ever develop a consistent shot.
With great athleticism and a versatile game, Leonard does everything well and nothing spectacularly.
Projected Stats
6.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game
Toronto Raptors: Jonas Valanciunas
28 of 35Jonas Valanciunas will not be joining the Toronto Raptors until the 2012-2013 NBA season.
I guarantee I project the statistics right on this slide.
Projected Stats
0.0 points, 0.0 rebounds, 0.0 assist per game
Utah Jazz: Enes Kanter
29 of 35Playing Time
The Utah Jazz didn't use the No. 3 pick on Enes Kanter to watch him rot on the bench. They will likely find multiple ways to insert him into the lineup by letting him serve as backup to Al Jefferson at the center position and co-backup to Paul Millsap at power forward along with Derrick Favors.
Skill Set
We didn't get to see Kanter ply his trade at the collegiate level at all thanks to the NCAA ruling him ineligible and taking him off the Kentucky Wildcats roster.
But Kanter is a strong center with good footwork and quality moves and shooting skills. He doesn't have elite athleticism or any go-to moves in the post, so he'll struggle to score at times, but Kanter is still very talented.
Projected Stats
7.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists per game
Washington Wizards: Jan Vesely
30 of 35Playing Time
Their is a sharp dichotomy at the small forward position for the Washington Wizards. Some of the players on the roster are old and are on the tail ends of their careers (Josh Howard and Maurice Evans) while the rest (Kevin Seraphin, Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton) are quite young and just beginning their professional lives.
Because of that, and the fact that the Wizards seem to want to be the NBA's most exciting team, I expect Vesely to get a good portion of the available minutes.
Skill Set
The Czech version of Blake Griffin according to some, Vesely has enough athleticism and dunking ability (and flair) to earn the moniker "The Dunking Ninja" before every playing on American soil.
He's well known for his fiery intensity but needs to add some strength so he can bang around with the NBA's big boys as much as he'd like to. With a smooth shooting stroke and a 6'11" frame, he could be a very successful small forward down the road.
Projected Stats
8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists per game
Scoring Leaders
31 of 35Please remember that this doesn't include all of the incoming rookies, just the top draft pick of each team.
1. Kemba Walker: 15.2 PPG
2 (tie). Jimmer Fredette: 14.1 PPG
2 (tie). Marshon Brooks: 14.1 PPG
4. Derrick Williams: 13.2 PPG
5. Kyrie Irving: 12.3 PPG
6. Brandon Knight: 11.8 PPG
7. Tobias Harris: 9.8 PPG
8. Marcus Morris: 9.6 PPG
9. Jan Vesely: 8.6 PPG
10. Nikola Vucevic: 8.5 PPG
11.Darius Morris: 8.4 PPG
12. Enes Kanter: 7.4 PPG
13. Keith Benson: 7.3 PPG
14. Nolan Smith: 7.2 PPG
15. Markieff Morris: 7.0 PPG
16. Kawhi Leonard: 6.9 PPG
17. Kenneth Faried: 6.1 PPG
18. Norris Cole: 5.1 PPG
19. Justin Harper: 4.5 PPG
20 (tie). Trey Thompkins: 4.3 PPG
20 (tie). Klay Thompson: 4.3 PPG
22. JaJuan Johnson: 4.1 PPG
23. Jimmy Butler: 3.1 PPG
24. Iman Shumpert: 2.6 PPG
25. Josh Selby: 2.1 PPG
26. Reggie Jackson: 1.6 PPG
Rebounding Leaders
32 of 35Please remember that this doesn't include all of the incoming rookies, just the top draft pick of each team.
1. Kenneth Faried: 8.2 RPG
2. Derrick Williams: 6.4 RPG
3. Nikola Vucevic: 6.0 RPG
4. Markieff Morris: 5.9 RPG
5. Marcus Morris: 5.3 RPG
6 (tie). Enes Kanter: 5.2 RPG
6 (tie). Kawhi Leonard: 5.2 RPG
6 (tie). Tobias Harris: 5.2 RPG
9. Jan Vesely: 4.8 RPG
10. Marshon Brooks: 4.6 RPG
11. Keith Benson: 4.2 RPG
12. Kemba Walker: 3.6 RPG
13. Nolan Smith: 2.8 RPG
14 (tie). Darius Morris: 2.7 RPG
14 (tie). Brandon Knight: 2.7 RPG
16. Justin Harper: 2.6 RPG
17. Jimmer Fredette: 2.4 RPG
18. Trey Thompkins: 2.2 RPG
19. JaJuan Johnson: 2.1 RPG
20. Kyrie Irving: 2.0 RPG
21. Norris Cole: 1.6 RPG
22. Jimmy Butler: 1.5 RPG
23. Iman Shumpert: 0.9 RPG
24. Klay Thompson: 0.8 RPG
25. Josh Selby: 0.4 RPG
26. Reggie Jackson: 0.3 RPG
Assist Leaders
33 of 35Please remember that this doesn't include all of the incoming rookies, just the top draft pick of each team.
1. Darius Morris: 5.2 APG
2. Kyrie Irving: 3.8 APG
3. Kemba Walker: 3.7 APG
4 (tie). Brandon Knight: 3.1 APG
4 (tie). Jimmer Fredette: 3.1 APG
4 (tie). Nolan Smith: 3.1 APG
7. Marshon Brooks: 2.4 APG
8. Norris Cole: 1.6 APG
9 (tie). Jan Vesely: 1.3 APG
9 (tie). Kawhi Leonard: 1.3 APG
11. Klay Thompson: 1.1 APG
12 (tie). Markieff Morris: 1.0 APG
12 (tie). Marcus Morris: 1.0 APG
14. Enes Kanter: 0.9 APG
15. Derrick Williams: 0.8 APG
16. Nikola Vucevic: 0.7 APG
17 (tie). Iman Shumpert: 0.5 APG
17 (tie). Trey Thompkins: 0.5 APG
19 (tie). Tobias Harris: 0.4 APG
19 (tie). Josh Selby: 0.4 APG
19 (tie). Jimmy Butler: 0.4 APG
22. Reggie Jackson: 0.3 APG
23 (tie). Justin Harper: 0.2 APG
23 (tie). Kenneth Faried: 0.2 APG
23 (tie). JaJuan Johnson: 0.2 APG
23 (tie). Keith Benson: 0.2 APG
Rookie Rankings
34 of 35Please remember that this doesn't include all of the incoming rookies, just the top draft pick of each team.
These rankings are derived solely from the aggregate total of the rankings in the past three slides. If a player ranked first in all three categories, his total score would be three and thus impossible to beat. The lowest total is the best here.
Also note that these rankings are in no way comprehensive; they are merely based on these three surface-level statistics. They do not include, among other things, winning or defensive abilities.
1. Kemba Walker: 16
2. Marshon Brooks: 19
3. Derrick Williams: 21
4. Jimmer Fredette: 23
5. Brandon Knight: 24
6. Marcus Morris: 25
7. Darius Morris: 26
8 (tie). Kyrie Irving: 27
8 (tie). Jan Vesely: 27
10. Nikola Vucevic: 29
11 (tie). Kawhi Leonard: 31
11 (tie). Markieff Morris: 31
11 (tie). Nolan Smith: 31
14 (tie). Enes Kanter: 32
14 (tie). Tobias Harris: 32
16. Kenneth Faried: 41
17 (tie). Keith Benson: 47
17 (tie). Norris Cole: 47
19 (tie). Trey Thompkins: 55
19 (tie). Klay Thompson: 55
21. Justin Harper: 57
22. Iman Shumpert: 61
23 (tie). JaJuan Johnson: 64
23 (tie). Jimmy Butler: 64
25. Josh Selby: 69
26. Reggie Jackson: 74
Rookie of the Year
35 of 35After all of this, it turns out that those rookie rankings on the last slide do correctly predict my Rookie of the Year: Kemba Walker.
He has a great opportunity to succeed with the Charlotte Bobcats as he's one of the few in this year's draft class who will receive a lot of minutes during his first season in The Association.
While he won't be an efficient shooter, Walker will have enough opportunities to shoot that he'll still be able to score through volume shooting while dramatically increasing his team's chances of winning.
I expect the race between him, Derrick Williams, Kyrie Irving, Marshon Brooks and Alec Burks to be close. But at the end of the day, I'm not betting against Walker.
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Adam Fromal is a syndicated writer and Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.
