Post by Contract Year on Nov 13, 2009 3:00:27 GMT -5
2002-2003 ROY Race
Wanted to give us shit teams something to talk about.. I apologize in advance for any errors
10. Nene Hilario (Toronto Raptors)
MPG: 30.0
PPG: 8.7
RPG: 9.6
BPG: 1.2
FG%: .359
FT%: .643
3PT%: .200
Coming in at number ten is the 5th overall draft choice in the 2002 draft. An extremely raw looking prospect coming in, Nene would quickly turn heads with a very good training camp. Although he has shot atrociously on the season (just under 36% from the field) due to a virtually nonexistent offensive game, the 7 footer has shown the potential to be a very good big man in the league. I personally thought that Nene was a reach at 5 and would have went with Jay Williams or Caron Butler, but averaging about 9 points, 10 rebounds and a block in 30 minutes, it would seem that Nene is already developing at a solid pace. Not hard to see why he is only able to grab 10th place on this list. Despite his good training camp, he still has a lot to learn.
9. Smush Parker (Charlotte Horents)
MPG: 34.3
PPG: 13.0
APG: 7.7
SPG: 1.7
FG%: .410
FT%: .761
3PT%: .242
Smush Parker is performing very well when you consider when he was selected. The 37th overall pick of the 2002 UOSLR draft is currently averaging 13 points and a shade fewer than 8 assists a game. While those are very impressive numbers for any guard, let alone a rookie one, Smush is also averaging just under 4 turnovers a game and shooting atrocious percentages from the field. Parker is primarily a slashing point guard and unfortunately for the Charlotte Hornets, he's been a pretty ineffective one. However, like any other young player, Smush certainly has plenty of time to improve and become more comfortable in his role.
8. Luis Scola (Boston Celtics)
MPG: 24.4
PPG: 12.4
RPG: 5.7
FG%: .449
FT%: .712
Recently traded from the New Jersey Nets to the Boston Celtics, 13th overall pick Luis Scola is the lone bright spot on an otherwise dull team. Although it has been specified that Scola was crafty with his foot work inside, I don't think anyone expected the rookie to take off as well as he has. The 22 year old has been averaging 12.4 points and just under 6 rebounds in a matter of 24 minutes a game. On top of that, he's proven to have decent range for a big man. Scola would be lucky to get 5 blocks over the course of a season (yes, he's that bad of a shot blocker). However, Scola is proving to be solid at every other aspect and that will keep him in the league for a very long time. Should Scola continue to see an increase of his minutes and usage rate, he could very well end up being a strong candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. For now, he'll have to settle with 8th place.
7. Jay Williams (Seattle Supersonics)
MPG: 25.8
PPG: 9.0
APG: 6.0
FG%: .403
FT%: .738
3PT%: .345
Apparently Jay Williams has hit the rookie wall. Currently sitting on the bench in order to allow Brent Barry man the 1, Jay Williams can regularly be seen pouting on the sidelines and rightfully so. Williams may not be the perennial all-star that ex-Sonic Steve Nash is, but he sure as hell has the potential to be one and should probably be playing along with Brent Barry to maximize the potential of the Sonics' backcourt. Regardless of all that, Jay Williams has been performing well in his reduced minutes. Averaging about 26 minutes on the season, Jay has been putting up 9 points and 6 assists a game. His shooting touch has yet to come to him this season as he's shooting very poorly from the field and charity stripe. However, Williams has shown flashes of brilliant play making and defensive abilities. Unfortunately, Jay simply isn't getting enough time to compete with the 6 rookies ahead of him.
6. Caron Butler (Denver Nuggets)
MPG: 32.6
PPG: 15.9
RPG: 7.9
FG%: .446
FT%: .815
3PT%: .346
The scary thing about Caron Butler is the fact that he's not only a UOSLR ready player, but also projects to become far better than what he already is. Butler is already showing us his ability to do everything in his rookie year. Not only is he averaging 16 points on solid percentages, but he's also grabbing an amazing 7.9 rebounds from the 3 spot. Albeit on a poor rebounding team and playing as an undersized 4 as of late, but I digress. After the blunder of a pick that was Tayshaun Prince, the Denver Nuggets (sort of) made up for it by drafting a player who is arguably a top 3 talent amongst rookies. Butler, as well as the next two prospects are pretty much interchangeable between the 4-6 spots. In the end, I decided to go with Butler here. Sorry Denver.
5. Fred Jones (Seattle Supersonics)
MPG: 34.3
PPG: 16.1
RPG: 4.8
APG: 2.6
SPG: 1.3
FG%: .476
FT%: .772
3PT%: .398
Deemed the steal of the draft after amazing reports coming out of the Sonics training camp, the 23rd overall pick of the 2002 draft is leaving scouts and analysts in awe. The 6'4 guard was said to be merely a high flyer with decent defensive capabilities and little pure basketball sense. Well, either the Sonics camp knew something that everyone else did not, or they got ridiculously lucky as Fred Jones has proven to be a lot more than that. Averaging 16 points and 5 rebounds, while shooting nearly 48% and 40% from 3PT land, it's safe to say that at least a dozen teams made a huge mistake on passing up on the kid. Much like Butler, Jones is flourishing early in his career because his skills are already on a pro level. Jones, however, has been shooting the ball amazingly and that's what made me slide him into the 5th slot over Butler. If he keeps his head in the game and doesn't get too comfortable with where he is currently at, this kid should be a star in the league.
4. Juan Carlos Navarro (Vancouver Grizzlies)
MPG: 32.8
PPG: 15.4
APG: 4.4
FG%: .449
FT%: .782
3PT%: .329
Again, I had a hard time ranking Butler, Jones, and Navarro. In the end, I decided to go with the 16th overall pick in the 2002 draft at this spot. I'm still feeling some type of way about this pick as I was so sure that I was going to get him. Next thing I know, the Grizzlies are making a selection with a pick that I didn't know they had. Making matters worse, the kid goes on to improve in every category. Frustrating. Anyway... the game clearly favors the assist over basically any other statistic, so I felt it was right to put Navarro over Butler and Jones as he's averaging over 4 a game from the shooting guard spot. On top of that, the stud Spaniard is also averaging 15.4 on a very solid .449 from the field. Although the scouts insist that he isn't an adequate option at the 1, I think it would be very beneficial to the Grizzlies to at least take a look at him there. Clearly he's a better passer than originally thought.
3. Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers)
MPG: 30.9
PPG: 18.1
RPG: 8.6
FG%: .455
FT%: .737
The 3rd overall pick of the draft comes in 3rd place. Not much to say about the 7 foot stud out of Spain. He was clearly one of the prizes of the draft and Lakers were just lucky enough to catch a break, move up to the 3rd spot, and select him. Averaging 18.1 points and 8.6 rebounds a game, Pau Gasol has already proven to be, at the very least, a solid focal point on offense. Considering his size, his rebounding does leave a lot to be desired. On top of that, he isn't much of a shot blocker, which is something the league as a whole could use. Being 22 does have its benefits though, and one of them is that he has plenty of time to improve and shape his game. Although he is coming off a recent Rookie of the Month award, I can't put him over the next two prospects. 3rd is the one with the hairy chest n/h. Or is it treasure chest...?
2. Yao Ming (Los Angeles Clippers)
MPG: 33.2
PPG: 18.6
RPG: 11.5
BPG: 1.4
FG%: .454
FT%: .771
Continuing the Kindergarten theme here, 2nd is the best. Let's be honest here - as much as I've hyped up these other prospects, the only player in this draft who is sure to become a franchise player is the 7'6 Chinese man in Clipper land. I personally thought that Yao was going to average over 20 PPG right off the bat, but that's not to say that he hasn't been impressive thus far. 18.6 points and a cool 11.5 rebounds would say that Yao is living up to the hype. To make matters worst for the league's big men, Yao WILL knock down free throws a great clip, and therefore, fouling him isn't a legitimate option to take him out of the game. Once in a decade type of talent here, but this particular season, I couldn't put him over...
1. Andre Kirilenko (Vancouver Grizzlies)
MPG: 34.5
PPG: 17.2
RPG: 8.2
APG: 3.7
BPG: 1.5
FG%: .431
FT%: .692
3PT%: .333
It did take me a little bit, but I decided to go with Andrei Kirilenko over Yao Ming at the #1 spot. Although Yao is clearly the best rookie, Andrei Kirilenko does have two Rookie of the Month awards to boast, as well as the fact that he's averaging 3.7 assists. Coupling that with his 17.2 points per game, 8.2 rebounds, a very impressive 1.5 blocks and Kirilenko had to get the edge here. A player who was supposed to be extremely raw offensive sure as hell isn't showing it at the moment. With his combination of size, defense, rebounding, passing, and scoring ability, the sky is the limit for this kid.[/center]
