Post by csdude07 on Dec 9, 2009 10:47:56 GMT -5
For this article, I will define 'young' as any player on his rookie contract. Yes, this eliminates a lot of great young players, but I think it’s more fun to do it for very young players. This way, we can look at this article a few years down the road and see how wrong or right I was!
Yao Ming – 23.1 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.7 bpg, 3.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 23 Assists: 8 Steals: 4 Blocks: 6
Coming in as the league’s best young player is Yao Ming. Any franchise would love to have this guy. He is putting up monster numbers and is only a sophomore, which must be very exciting for crazymike. Yao wins because he is an extremely well-rounded big man. Yao can finish inside with power and stroke the midrange jumper. Also, for a big man, he shoots free throws very well, which is crucial because he goes to the line a lot. Yao also fulfills his team’s rebounding and shot-blocking needs. In order to become the league’s best center, Yao will need to up his scoring and shot-blocking some while lowering his turnovers a bit. There is no question, however, that Yao is a franchise center and that he will dominate for the next decade.
Tracy McGrady – 26 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.8 topg
Career Highs Points: 50 Rebounds: 15 Assists: 10 Steals: 4 Blocks: 4
Right behind Yao Ming is Tmac. Tmac is an amazing scorer: he can take it down low and finish strong at the bucket, drain the midrange jumper while fading away, or spot up and hit the 3. He is also a pretty good rebounder. Another great thing about this guy is hiw low turnover numbers. For a guy with as much scoring responsibility as Tmac, 1.8 topg is impressive. His defensive numbers aren’t impressive, but Tmac is a solid man defender. Expect him to be great for a long time in this league and to remain atop the league leaders in scoring for a while.
Dwayne Wade – 21.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 41 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 9 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Dwayne Wade is putting up excellent numbers during his rookie year. He is his team’s second leading scorer and seems like he is going to be a great player for a long time. Wade is a slashing SG: he takes it to the hoop many times during the game and isn’t afraid of contact. Wade, however, is also a good shooter from midrange and from the free throw line. His weakness is that he is not a good 3-point shooter, which is not favorable for a shooting guard. Wade, however, is an excellent defender for someone his age. He is also a great rebounder from the 2 spot and a good passer. Wade’s weakness is his ball-handling, which needs to improve if he wants to become a premier number one option some day.
Jason Richardson – 22.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.3 bpg, 2.7 topg
Career Highs Points: 42 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 11 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Jason Richardson has blown up and become an amazing player. He is now a part of the Nets’ rebuilding process, and I’m sure broph was ecstatic about the opportunity to bring a guy like Jrich in. Richarson is a very athletic player with the ability to punish you inside with a posterizing jam. His game from midrange and 3-point land is solid, but he does find a way to score night in and night out. What hurts Richardson is his below average rebounding numbers at small forward and his tendency to turn the ball over, even though he does have the ability to find his teammates. However, Jrich is a very talented player on both ends of the court, and will remain a great player in the league for a while.
Michael Redd – 24.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 topg
Career Highs Points: 46 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 7 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Michael Redd is a flat-out shooter. He can stroke it from midrange or from the 3-point line, and you can count on him to make his free throws. He leads the Timberwolves is scoring, yet he is also extremely careful with the ball, which is great to see. Redd is also putting up great rebounding numbers from the 2 spot, which is a bonus. The problem with Michael is that he is an awful defender, and chances are that if he drops 25 points on a SG one night, that SG will be able to return the favor. Nonetheless, a team needs a guy that can put up points, and Redd is very good at doing that. Look for him to be one of the league’s best shooters from the 2 spot for many years to come.
Hedo Turkoglu – 23.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 39 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 10 Steals: 4 Blocks: 3
You know what Hedo. He puts up great scoring numbers, rebounds the ball well as a SF, and takes care of the ball pretty well for a SF. Turkoglu is lighting it up, shooting great percentages from all over the court. I think he has been a surprise to everyone in the league with his performance so far this year. His only weakness is that he is an average defender, so you can’t count on him to stop opposing players on a daily basis. Expect Hedo to do what he do for years to come, even though I believe that he is close to his peak.
Tony Parker – 17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 38 Rebounds: 9 Assists: 17 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Tony Parker makes it onto this list as one of the most unique players we have in the game. He is a PG with an unmatched ability to finish inside AND deliver the ball to teammates. He also does this while averaging a low amount of turnovers. Parker’s weaknesses are his inability to shoot from outside, whether it be a midrange jumper or a 3-pointer. He is also an average defender at a very important position. Expect to see Tony be the league’s best inside scoring PG for a long time.
Lebron James – 17.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 36 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 10 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Lebron has come in to the league with more hype than anyone has ever seen, and rightfully so. He has an amazing skillset, which includes freakish athleticism, great size, excellent court vision, the ability to finish down low, and the ability to rebound at the 3. Lebron’s rookie season hasn’t been spectacular, but don’t sleep on this guy. If he continues to improve at the rate that he did this offseason, he will undoubtedly be the league’s best player for many years to come.
Dajuan Wagner – 16.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 7.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 0.2 bpg, 3.8 topg
Career Highs Points: 33 Rebounds: 12 Assists: 16 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Dajuan Wagner has an amazing skillset, but coaches still haven’t really determined where he would fit best. At 6’5, and with his inside scoring abilities, he would really wreak havoc for opposing point guards. The only problem is that he turns the ball over too much to be the leader of a team and in possession of the ball most of the time. Don’t get me wrong, he is a good passer, but he really needs to work on his ball handling. For a guy his age, Wagner is a great scorer and a very good defender, which is excellent to see in a young guy.
Andrei Kirilenko – 17 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.2 spg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 16 Assists: 9 Steals: 6 Blocks: 6
Andrei Kirilenko came into UOSLR as a very raw player, and he is still that way. The only thing that was really known about this creepy dude from Russia was that he had excellent potential and that he played great defense by creating turnovers. The scouts were right. He won All-defensive team his rookie year and is on pace to do it again this year. AK’s scoring is very balanced but he still doesn’t feel comfortable being a 3rd option, which is shown by his percentages. He is a good rebounder and has the ability to find teammates if needed. AK will become a great, balanced player if he is able to develop his scoring abilities.
Eddy Curry – 19.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.8 bpg, 1.4 topg
Career Highs Points: 39 Rebounds: 15 Assists: 5 Steals: 3 Blocks: 4
Here’s a change of pace! Our second big makes the list. Eddy Curry is not what you would call a well-rounded player. For a 7’0, 296 lbs center, he is a below average defender and rebounder. He can’t dish the ball either. What he can do, however, is score. He’s putting up very nice numbers in his third season for the Suns and looks like he will continue to improve, being only 20 years of age. Curry also doesn’t turn the ball over much for a young guy with so much scoring responsibilities. If Curry makes good use of his youth and develops defensive and rebounding skills, which is likely, he could be a very good starting center some day in UOSLR.
DeShawn Stevenson – 16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.7 topg
Career Highs Points: 37 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 13 Steals: 5 Blocks: 3
Here’s a guy that’s surprised everyone in the league with his explosion over the past few years. The Nuggets struck gold with him. Stevenson has an excellent all-round game and he is able to play PG or SG. He’s a great scorer anywhere from the court and he has the ability to find teammates. Stevenson is also a good defender, which makes him a tough match-up for whoever he is going against that night. What’s troubling is that his great scoring skills aren’t really showing in the stats (16.8 ppg). I have a feeling that Stevenson might not be as good as his ratings indicate, but we will see in the future.
Joe Johnson – 20 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 11 Assists: 8 Steals: 4 Blocks: 2
Joe Johnson is an excellent scorer. He’s very balanced with his offensive abilities, being able to take it inside or stretch the floor, making him tough to guard. He is also a decent passer. Johnson’s weakness is his defense, which is pretty non-existent. If Johnson expects to be a superstar player, he is going to have to get some extra practice in with some intensive training, else he is going to end up a limited as a limited player. Nonetheless, Johnson should be a great scorer, which is something a lot of GM’s in UOSLR could appreciate.
Caron Butler – 17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.6 topg
Career Highs Points: 34 Rebounds: 16 Assists: 7 Steals: 5 Blocks: 3
I really like this guy. He’s got a big frame, can pound it into the lane or back up for a jumper, and plays great defense. He’s also a pretty good rebounder at SF and will only get better. Caron has the ability to be a great player if he can continue to improve his scoring and work on his passing some. With some development in those areas, he has the potential to be a great all-round SF in the future.
Emeka Okafor – 13.7 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.7 bpg, 2.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 23 Rebounds: 18 Assists: 6 Steals: 4 Blocks: 9
While he isn’t close to anyone on this list in scoring, Emeka certainly deserves to be included. This guy is a franchise big, no doubt about it. He isn’t a great scorer down low, and certainly not from midrange, but he is a beast on defense. He is averaging 2.7 bpg his rookie season, which is somewhat inflated because the next best shotblocker on that team gets 0.8 bpg, and is a great post defender. Emeka is also an amazing rebounder, averaging 11.6 boards per game this year. Okafor will be a great center for a long time in UOSLR because solid big guys like that just don’t come along that often, specially one that can shut down opposing bigs.
Yao Ming – 23.1 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 3.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.7 bpg, 3.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 23 Assists: 8 Steals: 4 Blocks: 6
Coming in as the league’s best young player is Yao Ming. Any franchise would love to have this guy. He is putting up monster numbers and is only a sophomore, which must be very exciting for crazymike. Yao wins because he is an extremely well-rounded big man. Yao can finish inside with power and stroke the midrange jumper. Also, for a big man, he shoots free throws very well, which is crucial because he goes to the line a lot. Yao also fulfills his team’s rebounding and shot-blocking needs. In order to become the league’s best center, Yao will need to up his scoring and shot-blocking some while lowering his turnovers a bit. There is no question, however, that Yao is a franchise center and that he will dominate for the next decade.
Tracy McGrady – 26 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.9 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.8 topg
Career Highs Points: 50 Rebounds: 15 Assists: 10 Steals: 4 Blocks: 4
Right behind Yao Ming is Tmac. Tmac is an amazing scorer: he can take it down low and finish strong at the bucket, drain the midrange jumper while fading away, or spot up and hit the 3. He is also a pretty good rebounder. Another great thing about this guy is hiw low turnover numbers. For a guy with as much scoring responsibility as Tmac, 1.8 topg is impressive. His defensive numbers aren’t impressive, but Tmac is a solid man defender. Expect him to be great for a long time in this league and to remain atop the league leaders in scoring for a while.
Dwayne Wade – 21.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.4 bpg, 2.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 41 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 9 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Dwayne Wade is putting up excellent numbers during his rookie year. He is his team’s second leading scorer and seems like he is going to be a great player for a long time. Wade is a slashing SG: he takes it to the hoop many times during the game and isn’t afraid of contact. Wade, however, is also a good shooter from midrange and from the free throw line. His weakness is that he is not a good 3-point shooter, which is not favorable for a shooting guard. Wade, however, is an excellent defender for someone his age. He is also a great rebounder from the 2 spot and a good passer. Wade’s weakness is his ball-handling, which needs to improve if he wants to become a premier number one option some day.
Jason Richardson – 22.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.3 bpg, 2.7 topg
Career Highs Points: 42 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 11 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Jason Richardson has blown up and become an amazing player. He is now a part of the Nets’ rebuilding process, and I’m sure broph was ecstatic about the opportunity to bring a guy like Jrich in. Richarson is a very athletic player with the ability to punish you inside with a posterizing jam. His game from midrange and 3-point land is solid, but he does find a way to score night in and night out. What hurts Richardson is his below average rebounding numbers at small forward and his tendency to turn the ball over, even though he does have the ability to find his teammates. However, Jrich is a very talented player on both ends of the court, and will remain a great player in the league for a while.
Michael Redd – 24.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.4 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 topg
Career Highs Points: 46 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 7 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Michael Redd is a flat-out shooter. He can stroke it from midrange or from the 3-point line, and you can count on him to make his free throws. He leads the Timberwolves is scoring, yet he is also extremely careful with the ball, which is great to see. Redd is also putting up great rebounding numbers from the 2 spot, which is a bonus. The problem with Michael is that he is an awful defender, and chances are that if he drops 25 points on a SG one night, that SG will be able to return the favor. Nonetheless, a team needs a guy that can put up points, and Redd is very good at doing that. Look for him to be one of the league’s best shooters from the 2 spot for many years to come.
Hedo Turkoglu – 23.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 39 Rebounds: 13 Assists: 10 Steals: 4 Blocks: 3
You know what Hedo. He puts up great scoring numbers, rebounds the ball well as a SF, and takes care of the ball pretty well for a SF. Turkoglu is lighting it up, shooting great percentages from all over the court. I think he has been a surprise to everyone in the league with his performance so far this year. His only weakness is that he is an average defender, so you can’t count on him to stop opposing players on a daily basis. Expect Hedo to do what he do for years to come, even though I believe that he is close to his peak.
Tony Parker – 17.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 38 Rebounds: 9 Assists: 17 Steals: 5 Blocks: 2
Tony Parker makes it onto this list as one of the most unique players we have in the game. He is a PG with an unmatched ability to finish inside AND deliver the ball to teammates. He also does this while averaging a low amount of turnovers. Parker’s weaknesses are his inability to shoot from outside, whether it be a midrange jumper or a 3-pointer. He is also an average defender at a very important position. Expect to see Tony be the league’s best inside scoring PG for a long time.
Lebron James – 17.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 36 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 10 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Lebron has come in to the league with more hype than anyone has ever seen, and rightfully so. He has an amazing skillset, which includes freakish athleticism, great size, excellent court vision, the ability to finish down low, and the ability to rebound at the 3. Lebron’s rookie season hasn’t been spectacular, but don’t sleep on this guy. If he continues to improve at the rate that he did this offseason, he will undoubtedly be the league’s best player for many years to come.
Dajuan Wagner – 16.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 7.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 0.2 bpg, 3.8 topg
Career Highs Points: 33 Rebounds: 12 Assists: 16 Steals: 6 Blocks: 2
Dajuan Wagner has an amazing skillset, but coaches still haven’t really determined where he would fit best. At 6’5, and with his inside scoring abilities, he would really wreak havoc for opposing point guards. The only problem is that he turns the ball over too much to be the leader of a team and in possession of the ball most of the time. Don’t get me wrong, he is a good passer, but he really needs to work on his ball handling. For a guy his age, Wagner is a great scorer and a very good defender, which is excellent to see in a young guy.
Andrei Kirilenko – 17 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 1.2 spg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 16 Assists: 9 Steals: 6 Blocks: 6
Andrei Kirilenko came into UOSLR as a very raw player, and he is still that way. The only thing that was really known about this creepy dude from Russia was that he had excellent potential and that he played great defense by creating turnovers. The scouts were right. He won All-defensive team his rookie year and is on pace to do it again this year. AK’s scoring is very balanced but he still doesn’t feel comfortable being a 3rd option, which is shown by his percentages. He is a good rebounder and has the ability to find teammates if needed. AK will become a great, balanced player if he is able to develop his scoring abilities.
Eddy Curry – 19.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.8 bpg, 1.4 topg
Career Highs Points: 39 Rebounds: 15 Assists: 5 Steals: 3 Blocks: 4
Here’s a change of pace! Our second big makes the list. Eddy Curry is not what you would call a well-rounded player. For a 7’0, 296 lbs center, he is a below average defender and rebounder. He can’t dish the ball either. What he can do, however, is score. He’s putting up very nice numbers in his third season for the Suns and looks like he will continue to improve, being only 20 years of age. Curry also doesn’t turn the ball over much for a young guy with so much scoring responsibilities. If Curry makes good use of his youth and develops defensive and rebounding skills, which is likely, he could be a very good starting center some day in UOSLR.
DeShawn Stevenson – 16.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.3 bpg, 1.7 topg
Career Highs Points: 37 Rebounds: 14 Assists: 13 Steals: 5 Blocks: 3
Here’s a guy that’s surprised everyone in the league with his explosion over the past few years. The Nuggets struck gold with him. Stevenson has an excellent all-round game and he is able to play PG or SG. He’s a great scorer anywhere from the court and he has the ability to find teammates. Stevenson is also a good defender, which makes him a tough match-up for whoever he is going against that night. What’s troubling is that his great scoring skills aren’t really showing in the stats (16.8 ppg). I have a feeling that Stevenson might not be as good as his ratings indicate, but we will see in the future.
Joe Johnson – 20 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.9 topg
Career Highs Points: 40 Rebounds: 11 Assists: 8 Steals: 4 Blocks: 2
Joe Johnson is an excellent scorer. He’s very balanced with his offensive abilities, being able to take it inside or stretch the floor, making him tough to guard. He is also a decent passer. Johnson’s weakness is his defense, which is pretty non-existent. If Johnson expects to be a superstar player, he is going to have to get some extra practice in with some intensive training, else he is going to end up a limited as a limited player. Nonetheless, Johnson should be a great scorer, which is something a lot of GM’s in UOSLR could appreciate.
Caron Butler – 17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.6 topg
Career Highs Points: 34 Rebounds: 16 Assists: 7 Steals: 5 Blocks: 3
I really like this guy. He’s got a big frame, can pound it into the lane or back up for a jumper, and plays great defense. He’s also a pretty good rebounder at SF and will only get better. Caron has the ability to be a great player if he can continue to improve his scoring and work on his passing some. With some development in those areas, he has the potential to be a great all-round SF in the future.
Emeka Okafor – 13.7 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.7 bpg, 2.2 topg
Career Highs Points: 23 Rebounds: 18 Assists: 6 Steals: 4 Blocks: 9
While he isn’t close to anyone on this list in scoring, Emeka certainly deserves to be included. This guy is a franchise big, no doubt about it. He isn’t a great scorer down low, and certainly not from midrange, but he is a beast on defense. He is averaging 2.7 bpg his rookie season, which is somewhat inflated because the next best shotblocker on that team gets 0.8 bpg, and is a great post defender. Emeka is also an amazing rebounder, averaging 11.6 boards per game this year. Okafor will be a great center for a long time in UOSLR because solid big guys like that just don’t come along that often, specially one that can shut down opposing bigs.
