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Jury’s still out: Jordan Hill, Terrance Williams, Tyler Hansbrough, Austin Daye, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young, Toney Douglas
That’s 9 rookies who haven’t really gotten a chance. Nevertheless, this group has looked relatively good when given playing time.
Role players: James Harden, Demar Derozan, Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Omri Casspi, Rodrigue Beaubois, Jonas Jerebko, Marcus Thornton (My personal favorite), Jrue Holiday, Chase Budinger, Taj Gibson
There’s 11 rooks having an impact as role players. 8/11 are even on solid teams. These are the guys that ultimately will make this draft class the best ever. It’s the depth that’s important here. These are 11 players who you want on your team. If you haven’t seen Marcus Thornton play you’re missing out. This guy will average 25 points a game very soon. By the way, he was the 43rd pick.
Impact players: Jonny Flynn, Dejaun Blair, Darren Collison
Flynn has been incredibly impressive on a terrible team, with an inexperienced coach, and a joke of a GM. Blair dropped in the draft for having no ACLs and has been punishing teams ever since. He’s averaging nearly 17 points and 14 rebounds per 40 minutes. As for Collison, some NBA players have been quoted as saying he’s just as good as Paul. He’s averaging about 18.5 points and 9 assists per game as a starter. He’s kept his team relevant in the Western Conference.
Stars: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings
That’s 9 rookies who haven’t really gotten a chance. Nevertheless, this group has looked relatively good when given playing time.
Role players: James Harden, Demar Derozan, Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Omri Casspi, Rodrigue Beaubois, Jonas Jerebko, Marcus Thornton (My personal favorite), Jrue Holiday, Chase Budinger, Taj Gibson
There’s 11 rooks having an impact as role players. 8/11 are even on solid teams. These are the guys that ultimately will make this draft class the best ever. It’s the depth that’s important here. These are 11 players who you want on your team. If you haven’t seen Marcus Thornton play you’re missing out. This guy will average 25 points a game very soon. By the way, he was the 43rd pick.
Impact players: Jonny Flynn, Dejaun Blair, Darren Collison
Flynn has been incredibly impressive on a terrible team, with an inexperienced coach, and a joke of a GM. Blair dropped in the draft for having no ACLs and has been punishing teams ever since. He’s averaging nearly 17 points and 14 rebounds per 40 minutes. As for Collison, some NBA players have been quoted as saying he’s just as good as Paul. He’s averaging about 18.5 points and 9 assists per game as a starter. He’s kept his team relevant in the Western Conference.
Stars: Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings
That’s 17 players who are establishing themselves their rookie year and 9 talented rookies waiting for their chance down the stretch. I can’t remember ever seeing potential from 26 different rookies 3/4 of the way through their 1st year.
Still not satisfied? Then you’re probably forgetting about Blake Griffin, the 1st overall pick and the best player in the draft by far.
Still not satisfied? Then you’re probably forgetting about Blake Griffin, the 1st overall pick and the best player in the draft by far.
Griffin blocks the shot off the backboard, grabs the rebound, hits the point guard with the outlet to start the break, sprints the floor, catches the ball 3 steps inside the foul line, and tomahawks the dunk. How many guys in the league can do that? Lebron and who else? He’s going to be unbelievable. Not even the Clipper stink can ruin his career. They played it right having him sit out the season. He’ll be fine next year.
Some forget about Griffin, but everyone forgets that Rubio is part of this class. Rubio is the type of player that would be on SportsCenter top 10 nightly.
Forget about star power for a second. I understand there will never be a draft that has 4 superstars in the 1st 5 picks. But you have to see past that with this years group. This draft will make the league better all around for a decade. Teams are going to become deeper because of the excess talent. There are so many rookies making an impact that almost every team has one. This class holds its own against the 2003 draft and the 1996 draft classes without its best player and #1 pick. Its 2nd pick is a bust and the its 2nd best player (potentially) is overseas. The fact that I can even make an argument for this years class with all these missing pieces says it all. It’s about depth. And no draft comes close in that regard.
Excellent read. I think I will check back with this guy again sometime because I really enoyed this one. How do you all feel about this draft class. It's early but where would you rank it right now?
with room to improve.
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