[Writer's Central] Mid-Season Rookie Report

CelticBalla32 · Feb 3, 2008

Article title: Mid-Season Rookie Report
Article description: By: Dustin Chapman
Category: National Basketball Association
Date added: Feb 3 2008, 12:25 PM
Article starter: CelticBalla32

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><div align="center">2007-2008 Mid-Season Rookie Report
By: Dustin Chapman</div>

The 2007 draft class is recognized as one of the best in NBA history. With potential franchise players at the top, potential All-Stars to fill out the lottery, excellent role players in between, and second-round surprises, there isn’t much to debate regarding that theory. The latent talent throughout the group of 2007 draftees is engaged unlimited potential, and if the virtual majority of these young prospects pan out, the class as a whole may even exceed expectations.

The promising bunch is now roughly halfway through their rookie campaigns. There have been some surprises, disappointments, and some who have met expectations. Let’s take a look at the elusive draft class to get a grasp of where they’re at midway through their initial year as NBA players.

First Round Review

1. Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers)
Stats: N/A

The first overall pick in one of the most highly touted draft classes of all-time has gotten off to a rocky start as an NBA player. The seven-foot phenom unfortunately was forced to undergo microfracture surgery on his right knee this past September, forcing him to sit out his entire rookie season and leaving him with a 6-12 month timetable for his return the court. Throughout his downtime, Oden has reportedly gained 30 lbs. of upper-body muscle while watching his Blazers shine as the biggest 2007-2008 surprise. The future looks extremely bright in Portland as it is, but if Oden can make a successful comeback and live up to the hype, this could very well be a dynasty in the making. Stay tuned.

2. Kevin Durant (Seattle Sonics)
Stats: 19.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG

While Oden was thought of as virtually the unanimous number one pick of the draft, Kevin Durant was subsequently talked up as one of the better consolation prizes in the history of the NBA draft. He has all the tools you could ask for from a premature star. The versatile 19-year-old is a gifted athlete with tremendous length, terrific size (6’10’’), a good-looking jumper with a soft touch and an effortless release, outlying range, the ability to put the ball on the floor, shot-blocking ability, a natural scorer’s mentality, and a terrific work ethic. The issues with Durant halfway through his rookie season are as follows: at 6’10’’, he is far too frail to play up front and is not laterally quick enough to defend guards, he doesn’t have a great understanding of the game due to his inexperience (which is the case for nearly every rookie), his offensive output is morbidly inconsistent, and his shot selection is downright awful. In fact, it’s non-existent; Kevin Durant doesn’t even have shot selection [yet].

Once he learns how to play, which is going to happen over time, he may very well be one of the brightest stars in professional sports over the next decade. In the meantime, however, he’s still extremely raw and has a lot of development to go. The scary thing about it is that as raw as he is, he’s still averaging nearly 20 points per game against NBA competition. Watch out.

3. Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks)
Stats: 9.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG

As perhaps the most NBA-ready player of this past June’s NBA draft, Al Horford has kicked his career off to a tremendous start. The two-time NCAA champion displays tremendous footwork, exceptional positioning skills, a nose for the ball, the ability to run the floor, an NBA body, a high basketball IQ, and has given the young Hawks a big lift defensively. He’s not flashy, although he may be more athletic than he gets credit for, but he gets the job done. He still needs to work on his offensive game, particularly his back-to-the-basket game, but like Durant – that will come in time. Halfway through, he may very well be the best rookie thus far in the 2007 NBA draft.

4. Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
Stats: 8.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.8 APG

Since taking on the roles of General Manager and Vice President this past June, Chris Wallace has done a very respectable job in his young tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. The biggest prize he has pulled out of the bag thus far is his initial draft pick with the organization, Mike Conley Jr. (fourth overall selection). Conley is just 20 years of age, but appears to have an extremely bright future ahead of him and possesses a style that fits coherently with Mark Iavaroni’s up-tempo philosophy. The rookie is a natural point guard with terrific floor vision, great instincts, and the ability to make his teammates better. Guys of that nature are very hard to come by, but the Grizzlies seem to be set at the point for the next decade or so.

Conley hasn’t gotten off to as great of a start as he had hoped, but it hasn’t been due to poor play. Conley has appeared in just 19 of Memphis’ 46 games this season, as he battled through a posterior tear in his right shoulder early in the year and is currently missing games due to a chest contusion. His durability has surely been tested in the first half of his rookie season, but he has played well when healthy. As a starter in 13 of his 19 appearances, Conley has held averages of over 10 points and five assists per start, and Memphis’ winning percentage has been higher with him running the show as opposed to Damon Stoudamire (who recently was bought out). He may have missed a lot of time thus far, but he has been one of the most impressive young guards in the league when he has been able to give it a go. Let’s hope he can put together a healthy second half.

5. Jeff Green (Seattle Sonics)
Stats: 8.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG

Kevin Durant’s future partner in crime has shown some promise, as well. Though inconsistent offensively, Green has shown the tools and poise necessary to become an excellent all-around player in the NBA for a long time. The former Georgetown Hoya, who netted Big East Player of the Year honors last season, is a very versatile player with a relatively unique skill set. He isn’t a traditional three (small forward), nor is he a traditional four (power forward), but he is a flat-out basketball player. He can slide over to multiple positions if needed, and that is a great luxury to have on a team like the Sonics, who like to push the tempo. His athleticism, length, and hustle allow him to be a factor on the boards no matter where you put him on the floor, and he has the ability to create for others with the ball on the offensive end. On the defensive end, he has had trouble with some of the wider bodies, but when he is matched up with someone of similar physique, he has had great success. He is an inconsistent shooter who needs to put in a lot of work on his perimeter jumper, which have been problems for him in his rookie year, but his work ethic and dedication had led the coaching staff to believe that improvements will take place in the weak parts of his game.

Green struggled to find consistent minutes early on in the year, but he has recently taken over the reigns as the starting small forward on the team and will only continue to get better as his skills develop and his role becomes more defined. He may not “wow” you, but he shows many signs of being an extremely solid all-around basketball player.

6. Yi Jianlian (Milwaukee Bucks)
Stats: 9.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.0 BPG

Here, we have the most controversial pick of the entire draft. Yi’s camp told the Milwaukee Bucks not to select him prior to the draft, but Larry Harris and the gang were infatuated with the Chinese star enough to go against their wishes. Jianlian was heavily rumored to be number one on Danny Ainge’s wish-list, and Boston owned the rights to the fifth overall pick of the draft. Once the organization decided to move in a different direction, they packaged that pick with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak to appease the Seattle Sonics enough to hand over seven-time All-Star Ray Allen. Milwaukee’s selection was next (sixth overall), and just as Andy Katz reported, Larry Harris elected to select the seven-foot 19 (or 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)-year-old and attempt to work something out with him and his advisers.

After two months of persuasive conversations, Yi finally decided to sign with Milwaukee. So far, it looks like Larry Harris may have made the correct decision. Yi has been one of the top rookies this season, posting averages of just under 10 points and six rebounds per game and beating out Charlie Villanueva for the starting job right off the bat. He has put his beautiful shooting touch on display, the ability to put the ball on the floor as well as stretch the defense, and even stands at third in the rookie rankings for blocked shots. That, however, doesn’t mean that he has had a good year on the defensive end. His defensive anticipation skills have a long way to go before he is considered a respectable defender, but the offensive ceiling he has is tremendous. He has undoubtedly been one of the top rookies this season, let’s hope he keeps it up and gives Milwaukee fans something to smile about heading into the summer time.

7. Corey Brewer (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Stats: 5.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.4 APG

The second Florida Gator selected in the 2007 lottery was Corey Brewer, a terrific athlete who is well-known for his tenacious defensive abilities. The 2007 NCAA Tournament MOP (Most Outstanding Player) is a terrific young talent with a high upside, but he is far from a finished product. The 6’8’’ swingman is so thin that he has developed tricks to keep his shorts from falling off during game play. Weight training is pivotal to Brewer’s development, but the biggest issue with him in his rookie season has not been his waste size, it has been his shooting. In college, Brewer put up big offensive numbers by attacking the heart of zone defenses, beating the opposition in transition, and knocking down a few open three’s when games were on the line. Thus far in Minnesota, his shot selection has been shaky at best and the seventh overall pick is shooting under 36% from the field. He is even having trouble finishing bunny lay-ups, because he sometimes has trouble judging his own speed when he attacks the basket.

Defensively, however, “Brew Crew” has impressed the coaching staff a great deal with his activity and anticipation skills, as expected. There is no question that this two-time national champion is going to be a valuable player in time, and even if he doesn’t develop his offensive game, he will always be a serviceable asset on the defensive end. It’ll be interesting to see what Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman decides to do with the lineup for the second half of the year, and it’ll be interesting to see if Brewer can earn that starting small forward job back. Let’s hope he does, and let’s also hope he keeps that job the second time around.

8. Brandan Wright (Golden State Warriors)
Stats: 3.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.3 APG

Throughout the 2006-2007 collegiate season and the beginning of the pre-draft process, Brandan Wright was thought of as the best prospect of the draft class behind the obvious top two studs, Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Once he hit the individual workouts, however, his stock fell because teams began realizing how much of a project he really was. He is a terrific talent with tremendous offensive potential, an athletic body, a soft touch around the basket, and shot blocking ability. He showed all of those skills at North Carolina in his freshman season, but he may not be able to show them in the NBA for a couple years.

Wright clearly has one of the highest upsides of the 2007 draft class, but the jury is still out on the skinny 6’9’’ forward. With Golden State’s recent success, they must be feeling good about their record and financial situation right now, despite losing fan favorite Jason Richardson. If Wright does indeed pan out, he is in the perfect system for his skill set. Time, work ethic, and “Nellie” can turn him into a special player, but it will take time before anybody can make an evaluation.

9. Joakim Noah (Chicago Bulls)
Stats: 5.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.5 APG

You’ve gotta love those Gator boys. With the Chicago Bulls selecting Joakim Noah with the ninth overall pick in the draft, the Florida Gators made history. That is the first time in NBA history that three players (Al Horford, Corey Brewer, and Joakim Noah) from the same school have been selected in the top 10. That’s not a bad accolade to carry around after winning two straight NCAA championships.

Noah had a tough time finding consistent minutes throughout the first two months of the season, but the birth of 2008 opened up a brand new opportunity for the 6’11’’ rookie. Interim head coach Jim Boylan increased Noah’s minutes from 12.6 per game in December to 20.7 per game in January, including two starts. Throughout the month of January, Noah has posted averages of 6.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per contest, and has been putting up near-double-double numbers over the past two weeks or so.

People can tell Noah that he needs to improve his shooting mechanics, his stamina level, and his finishing ability around the basket, but nobody will ever deny Noah his heart and passion for the game of basketball. That motor of his got him in a little bit of trouble with the assistant coaches earlier in the year, but the fact that he has been willing to step up as a vocal leader to the team, regardless of what media outlets or the veterans on the team think, is promising. Now, it’s “who does this rookie think he is?” Three or four years down the line, it’ll be “this guy has stepped up as a leader since his rookie year, when he publicly challenged Ben Wallace and the team’s deficiencies.” Joakim has his flaws, but he’s going to be a terrific role player and leader for years to come.

10. Spencer Hawes (Sacramento Kings)
Stats: 2.8 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.2 BPG

Hawes unfortunately had to experience a minor setback to begin his professional career, as he was kept out of the lineup for the first couple weeks of the season due to a left knee injury. However, even if he had been perfectly healthy throughout training camp, he likely wouldn’t have found himself as a major contributor right off the bat. Hawes is a terrific talent with an old-school low-post style of play, a respectable jump shot, an extremely soft touch, and he also possesses above average ability in the passing department. In other words, he’s a prodigy of Brad Miller.

With that said, he’s going to need some time to develop. He’s not quite the project that Brandan Wright is, but he is certainly not ready to become a regular contributor on an NBA team. Expect his minutes to increase as the year progresses, but don’t expect to get a serious look at him until next season or possibly the year after. Then again, a future Kings injury may be a blessing in disguise for Hawes. Stay tuned.

11. Acie Law (Atlanta Hawks)
Stats: 4.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 2.3 APG

Acie Law IV was thought of as one of the most NBA-ready and solid players in the draft, but it’s safe to say that the first half of the former Texas A&M star’s rookie season has been a disappointment. By this time, many people predicted that Law would have the starting point guard job locked up and would be one of the biggest contributors among rookies. That has been far from the truth. Law has started just six of the 32 games he has appeared in, and is shooting just 36.5% from the field this season. This is not the dead-eye, clutch shooter we watched at Texas A&M; he needs to step his game up in the second half of the year.

12. Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers)
Stats: 5.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.7 SPG

Thaddeus Young was the wild card of the lottery in June’s NBA draft. His stock bounced around on a monthly basis throughout his freshman year at Georgia Tech, and it usually bounced backwards. Prior to the 2006-2007 NCAA season, Young was thought of as one of the best prospects and a potential top five selection in the draft. By the time the draft process hit, he was thought of as a mid-first round pick with his floor being in the early 20’s. Billy King thought otherwise, however, and elected to take him with the 12th overall pick in the draft.

King isn’t running the show anymore in Philadelphia, as he was fired and replaced by former Nets general manager Ed Stafanski, but Young has shown many flashes this season. After his raw talent and Philly’s small forward depth kept him out of the regular rotation to kick off his NBA career, head coach Mo Cheeks has decided to play the promising rookie big minutes in the month of January. Ed Stefanski may have opened the door for him to do so by trading Kyle Korver to Utah, but it looks like it was the right decision. Playing over 20 minutes per game in January, Young has held averages of 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game to kick off the year 2008. He has also put those numbers up relatively efficiently, as he shot 51.9% from the field and 40% from long distance throughout January. He may very well be one of the most productive rookies in the second half of the season.

13. Julian Wright (New Orleans Hornets)
Stats: 2.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.4 APG

Julian Wright has had a hard time finding himself a regular role in New Orleans’ rotation in his rookie season. The 6’8’’ forward is an absolute freak athletically and has a lot of potential, but New Orleans is a competitive team that is trying to win right now. Head coach Byron Scott has his Hornets playing as well as any other team in the NBA as of late, and Wright’s playing time has been sporadic since the ball dropped. He is another one of those high-potential prospects that cannot be fairly evaluated until two or three years of development.

14. Al Thornton (Los Angeles Clippers)
Stats: 9.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0.9 APG

Thornton has been weaned into the rotation month-by-month, but has really responded since he was given a 25-minute per game role in January. Since the New Year has gotten underway, the versatile forward has put up 13 points and over three rebounds per game while shooting 45.3% from the floor, and recently had a career-high 33 points in a win against Atlanta. On the offensive end, he is similar to a baby Carmelo Anthony. Obviously, he’s not quite as talented, but his skill set and movements are similar: deadly out of the triple-threat, has three-point range, can pull-up from mid-range, uses a turnaround jumper out of the post, and is an extremely explosive finisher. Thornton was a top 10 talent in a lot of people’s minds. That notion is debatable, but there is no question about the fact that Mike Dunleavy has a gifted offensive player on his hands. Thornton may very well finish second in scoring among rookies this season, and could really set himself apart from other rookies in the second half of the year.

15. Rodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons)
Stats: 4.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.1 APG

After breaking his left hand in Detroit’s final preseason game, Stuckey was unable to take the court until late December, but since then has been somewhat of a disappointment. In preseason, it looked as though he was going to be a key player in Flip Saunders’ rotation right away, and would share minutes at each guard position in order to keep him on the floor for extended minutes. However, his production has crept below the expectations, and his minutes fluctuate by the game. In fact, he has recently fell behind fellow rookie guard Arron Afflalo on the depth chart.

Let’s hope Stuckey can play smarter basketball in the second half of the year, because he’s a terrific talent that could give Detroit a big lift if he gets his head in the game.

16. Nick Young (Washington Wizards)
Stats: 6.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.7 APG

Nick Young’s playing time has been a product of his play, inconsistent. One night he plays well, the next night he makes numerous mistakes. As a result, some nights he plays significant minutes, and other nights he gets under 10 minutes of action. In fact, his minutes per game have gone down by roughly two minutes each month (16.2 in November, 14.4 in December, and 12.3 in January). He has also gotten his spot in the locker room relocated because of the fact that he has goofed off too much for the team veterans’ liking.

Young has a lot of talent and arguably the best mid-range game out of the draft class, but he has a lot of growing up to do both on and off the court.

17. Sean Williams (New Jersey Nets)
Stats: 7.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.0 BPG

Sean Williams entered the draft process with a lot of baggage. He was thrown off the Boston College basketball team in the middle of his Junior season for being unwilling to let his marijuana habit evaporate. Al Skinner and the gang felt that they’ve had enough, and they felt that sending him packing was the best decision for the team, despite Williams’ undeniable talent. His draft stock went from lottery-bound to questionable first-round status, and he even turned down the opportunity to participate in some pre-draft workouts with certain teams.

With all of that said, the New Jersey Nets decided that he was worth taking a chance on in the middle of the first round, as they snagged Williams with the 17th overall selection. Hindsight is 20/20, but there may be some executives that regret passing on the super-athletic shot blocking sensation. Williams has undoubtedly been one of the top rookies this season, averaging around seven points and five rebounds to go with his rookie-leading 2.0 blocks per game. As a starter in 24 games for New Jersey, Williams has posted 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, and has made as much of an impact on his team than any rookie not named Kevin Durant or Al Horford.

As hard as it may be for Nets fans to give credit to Nets management, kudos to Rod Thorn and the crew for taking Williams in the draft.

18. Marco Belinelli (Golden State Warriors)
Stats: 2.4 PPG, 0.4 RPG, 0.5 APG

Belinelli was absolutely dynamite throughout 2007 Las Vegas Summer League play, as he put up 22.8 points per game with a 44.4% 3-point field goal percentage. In fact, he scored 37 points in his summer league debut. Warriors had coach Don Nelson even went as far as saying that Belinelli is “destined for stardom.”

However, the Italian sharpshooter has found out that there is a large difference between summer league competition and NBA competition. Belinelli has only appeared in 20 games thus far, and has not found a steady spot in the rotation. In time, Belinelli could have a monstrous breakout season in Golden State’s system, which is up-tempo and encourages shooters to go bombs away. Like fellow rookie teammate Brandan Wright, he’ll need at least one year of tutelage before an assessment can be created.

19. Javaris Crittenton (Los Angeles Lakers-Memphis Grizzlies)
Stats: 3.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.8 APG

Like many players in the mid-first round, Crittenton hasn’t been given a steady role and is likely a player that is going to be sporadically played until his time comes in the future. While Crittenton has shown some flashes of erratic brilliance, there was no way he was going to get playing time over the likes of Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar this season. In Memphis, he may have a chance to crack the rotation playing off the ball, even with their guard logjam.

Crittenton has a lot of tools that many young guards would love to have, like his size and ball handling ability, but he is far too raw to get any more than a few minutes per game. His decision making is the biggest question mark right now. There isn’t a better term to describe his decision making process than “erratic.” That’s either going to be his downfall in time or he is going to be a mid-first round gem. Time will tell.

20. Jason Smith (Philadelphia 76ers)
Stats: 5.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 0.7 BPG

Jason Smith virtually came out of nowhere as far as his draft stock was concerned, but he has shown that he has been worthy of a lot of the pre-draft praise that circulated around his name. Playing 16 minutes per game, Smith has shown that he is a very fundamentally sound player who knows how to pick his spots and get position on the boards. He has also shown signs of a potential shot-blocking presence to go along with his promising shooting touch from just inside the arc. For a seven-footer, those skills are nice to have. Smith will never blow you away, but he has shown signs of becoming a very solid role player in the NBA.

21. Daequan Cook (Miami Heat)
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG

The Miami Heat haven’t had much to cheer about this year, if anything, but Daequan Cook has shown some promising signs in his young career. Many fans had low expectations for his spot in the rotation right away, but the former Ohio State Buckeye has earned himself roughly 20 minutes per game and has been a key role player since day one. Rookies are generally inconsistent, especially rookies that rely on their jumper, and Cook has fit that mold. At times, he has absolutely shot the lights out and has gotten Miami back into games, but he has also had many moments where he goes ice cold and can’t bring a whole lot to the table for that particular game.

Athletic sharpshooters like Cook will always have a spot in this league, however, and consistency will more than likely come with time. The former teammate of Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. looks as though he could be a valuable offensive contributor for years to come.

22. Jared Dudley (Charlotte Bobcats)
Stats: 3.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.8 APG

Last season’s ACC Player of the Year has had his playing time go up-and-down like a roller coaster in the first three months of his rookie year, for the most part, but has stepped up when his name has been called to play a big role. Appearing as a starter in five games for the Bobcats, Dudley held solid averages of eight points and six rebounds per start, and has also shown up in spurts on the defensive side of the ball. Dudley is never going to be a player that will go about his business in a flashy manner, but he will always get the job done and be ready when his name is called.

23. Wilson Chandler (New York Knicks)
Stats: 3.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.4 APG

Like Jason Smith, Chandler’s draft stock had abruptly risen during the pre-draft workout stage, and Isiah Thomas felt that he was worth taking in the first round. Unfortunately, he has shown whether he was worthy of that selection or not behind New York’s forward logjam. The 23rd overall pick has only appeared in seven games for the Knicks this season, and many fans are still curious why he has not been sent down to the NBDL for developmental game time. It’ll be interesting to see if Thomas decides to make any moves around the upcoming February 21 trading deadline in order to open up playing time for Chandler.

24. Rudy Fernandez (Portland Trail Blazers)
Stats: N/A

After acquiring the draft rights to Fernandez from Phoenix after the draft, the Portland Trail Blazers felt it was best to pack Fernandez away overseas for the 2007-2008 season due to the full roster they had already assembled. There is a great chance that Fernandez will come over next season, but it is still uncertain when he will indeed pack his bags for America.

25. Morris Almond (Utah Jazz)
Stats: 0.5 PPG, 0.2 APG, 0.2 SPG

The dead-eye shooter out of Rice has not gotten very many opportunities to play under Jerry Sloan, who has only inserted Almond into six games, but there is no denying his abilities. During his stint in the D-League with the Utah Flash, Almond put his outstanding shooting ability on display by shattering the NBDL’s single-game scoring record with 51 points. It’s unlikely that Almond will find himself in the rotation this season, especially after the acquisition of Kyle Korver from Philadelphia, but he may be a key component in the future with his jaw-dropping ability to stroke the ball from distance.

26. Aaron Brooks (Houston Rockets)
Stats: 5.3 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 1.8 APG

Brooks had trouble finding playing time in the early part of the year, with Houston’s logjam at the point guard position, but has earned a spot on the floor in recent weeks. The super-athletic guard out of Oregon played just under 15 minutes per game in January, averaging 5.7 points and two assists per outing. In college, Brooks showed the ability to use his quickness to his advantage, hit the long-ball, and provide a great deal of energy at all times. Due to those qualities, Rick Adelman is having a hard time keeping him parked on the bench.

27. Arron Afflalo (Detroit Pistons)
Stats: 3.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.7 APG

Afflalo has been in the rotation all year long, usually receiving above 10 minutes per game, but has recently earned extra time on the floor with Rodney Stuckey’s minutes decreasing. At UCLA, Afflalo proved himself as a tenacious on-ball defender, a heady player, and a terrific spot-up shooter from beyond the arc. In smaller doses, he’s showing those same skills this season in Detroit. The guard rotation is tight at the present team, Afflalo and Stuckey are forced to share minutes behind two All-Star guards in Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, but Afflalo’s qualities point to him potentially being a nice little steal at the end of the first round.

Joey D, you’re good. You’re damn good.

28. Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs)
Stats: N/A

Tiago Splitter has received quite a bit of attention from NBA scouts over the last few years, and the Brazilian big man finally decided to enter the draft this past summer. He fell right into the range he was expected to, which was later in the first round, and the San Antonio Spurs nabbed him with the 28th overall pick. R.C. Buford is well-known for stealing international talent late in the first and second round of NBA drafts (see Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili), and he may very well have picked up yet another international gem this past summer. Splitter did not come over to play for San Antonio this season, but many scouts and draft-hounds are anticipating his debut in the coming year(s).

29. Alando Tucker (Phoenix Suns)
Stats: 2.4 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.2 BPG

The 2007 Big Ten Player of the Year has had trouble cracking the tin rotation in Phoenix, as any rookie would. He has appeared in just five games for the Suns this season, and has spent time down in the D-League. Once he gains some NBA experience and gets an opportunity to play, he may be a solid contributor. Their run n’ gun style fits his athletic abilities perfectly, but his shooting deficiencies have kept him on the pine for the first half of his rookie year. We’ll see if he can earn some extra minutes before the playoffs kick off.

30. Petteri Koponen (Portland Trail Blazers)
Stats: N/A

Koponen is yet another international talent that Kevin Pritchard has stashed overseas for the future. He played on Portland’s summer league team this past summer, averaging 3.2 points per game, and is expected to join the Trail Blazers next season. At 6’5’’, he’s a point guard prospect to keep an eye on.

Second Round Steals

Glen Davis (Boston Celtics)
Stats: 4.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.4 BPG

Glen “Big Baby” Davis entered preseason play behind both Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe on the depth chart, but he made his presence felt once he was given a chance. His hustle, size, positioning, passing ability, nose for the ball, and finishing ability has earned him playing time gradually, and has recently become a fairly regular part of Boston’s rotation. Leon Powe has recently gotten the nod from Doc Rivers for his sudden increase in opportunity, but it’s pretty safe to say that “Big Baby” will continue to get chances to prove himself even more before playoff time.

Aaron Gray (Chicago Bulls)
Stats: 4.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.7 APG

Aaron Gray fell to the 49th overall pick in the draft back on June 28, but he has proven his worthwhile for the Bulls over the past two months. Playing over 15 minutes per game in December, Gray posted per-game averages of 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds, but also put his heady passing ability on display, dishing 1.5 assists per game and making some beautiful feeds to cutters. The former Pittsburgh star has looked like a first round guy this season.

Carl Landry (Houston Rockets)
Stats: 7.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.5 APG

Carl Landry isn’t a name you hear as often as “Big Baby” Davis, especially with Houston’s struggles this season, but the former Boilermaker stepped up in the month of January when coach Rick Adelman gave him a chance to play. In nine January appearances, the 31st overall pick of the 2007 NBA draft put up eight points and 4.9 rebounds per game on 72.5% shooting, and posted a double-double (15 points, 11 rebounds) against Minnesota on January 11 to warrant another chance. He hasn’t broke stride since.

Welcome to America, Finally

Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis Grizzlies)
Stats: 10.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.2 APG

Juan Carlos Navarro was selected by the Washington Wizards with the 40th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, and after five years of anticipation, the entertaining Spaniard decided that it was time to make the jump to the NBA at the age of 27. Due to a full guard rotation and financial inabilities, Washington has no use for the Spanish sensation and felt it was best for the team and Navarro if he were dealt to another team. In mid-August, Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld traded Navarro’s rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a future conditional first round draft pick. Shortly after, Memphis signed him to a one-year deal. So far, so good.

Navarro has gotten significant playing time (25.1 MPG) in his rookie season and has shown why so many scouts were so high on him. The 6’3’’ combo guard is quick, crafty, and the man can flat-out shoot the basketball. Through 46 games, he stands fifteenth in the NBA in three-point field goals made (93) and is 32nd in three-point field goal percentage (39.7%). Starting in 14 of those 46 contests, he has put up 15.6 points and 2.9 three-point field goals made per start. It is uncertain whether Navarro’s future is in Memphis or another city, but it is quite clear that the Spanish sharpshooter has a spot in this league.

Luis Scola (Houston Rockets)
Stats: 8.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.2 APG

Luis Scola’s journey to the NBA is very similar to Juan Carlos Navarro. Scola, like Navarro, was a second round pick in 2002 and did not sign a contract until age 27. In addition, his rights were traded by the team that originally drafted him, once again similar to Navarro. The San Antonio Spurs traded Scola’s rights, along with Jackie Butler, to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Vassillis Spanoulis, a future second round draft pick, and cash considerations. Many questioned why San Antonio would trade the most heralded big man in Europe for such low value, as R.C. Buford is notorious among NBA executives for traditionally stealing international talent late in the first and second round, but there is no doubt that it improved Houston’s front court right away.

Scola, the 2007 FIBA Americas tournament MVP, is known as a scrappy player underneath the basket who possesses a firm grasp of basketball’s fundamentals, such as boxing out and getting position. He is a player you can always count on for maximum effort and a great deal of toughness, and while he may not be the most physically gifted player in the world, he can be a very valuable asset for years to come. His playing time has increased within the past few weeks, as he has presently taken over the starting power forward job and impressed the coaching staff with his progression. In January, Scola put up 9.9 points and over five rebounds per contest, improving from his 7.6-point, 4.8-rebound averages in December.

As a 27-year-old rookie, Scola represents the epitome of solidity.

Undrafted Gem

Jamario Moon (Toronto Raptors)
Stats: 7.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.5 BPG

Jamario Moon, undrafted in 2001, pursued his dream by spending time in the CBA, USBL, and the NBDL before finally signing a contract with an NBA team this past summer. The Toronto Raptors had Moon sign his first NBA contract at the age of 27, and that has looked to be the steal of the offseason. Moon has earned a starting job since being signed and has become an instant fan favorite due to his length, freakish athletic ability, and most of all, his story. Moon will look to become a league-wide favorite at this month’s All-Star weekend as well, where he’ll participate in the Rookie Challenge and chase the 2008 slam dunk title. Jamario Moon is a terrific young talent and the feel-good story of the year.

In A Nutshell

The 2007 NBA draft contains a plethora of projects that cannot be thoroughly evaluated for some time, but there is no question that this is one of the deepest and most talented draft classes in recent memory. As far as young talent is concerned as a whole, the NBA has never looked more promising.</div>

Log in or Sign up

[Writer's Central] Mid-Season Rookie Report

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

[Writer's Central] Mid-Season Rookie Report

Moderators

CelticBalla32 Basketball is back in Boston

Share This Page

Useful Searches