Post by Contract Year on Jun 1, 2010 15:26:35 GMT -5
2011-2012 ROY Race
10. Ricky Rubio (Sacramento Kings)
MPG: 21.8
PPG: 6.2
APG: 4.4
FG%: .405
FT%: .729
3PT%: .268
Martinez and his Sacramento Kings have finally been able to see what they’ve been feenin’ for since the 2009 UOSLR draft. In order to ensure Rubio came into the UOSLR within two seasons of being drafted as opposed to 5 seasons, the Kings had to halt their rebuilding phase in order to get a winning season under their belt. Keeping that in mind, I must say that Rubio has not been that bright of a spot for the Kings this season. To be fair though, Rubio simply hasn’t played the minutes needed to put up impact numbers. Sharing the point guard spot light with fellow Spaniard Jose Calderon, Ricky Rubio has managed to put up 6.2 points and just over 4 assists a game in 22 minutes a game. While those numbers aren’t spectacular, they are good enough to at least get him some mentions as one of the top 10 rookies this year.
9. Luke Babbitt (Los Angeles Lakers)
MPG: 30.0
PPG: 9.1
RPG: 6.9
FG%: .419
FT%: .699
3PT%: .333
It was said that Luke Babbitt’s defensive capabilities (or, lack thereof) would prevent him from ever being a good starter in UOSLR. This did not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from selecting him with the 21st overall pick. The move from power forward to small forward soon after being drafted had an immediate effect on Babbitt’s defensive rating as he went from a solid C to a C+. His lanky and weak 6’9, 225 pound frame is probably the biggest reason for his inability to defend power forwards effectively. This position change has played a significant part in Babbitt’s effectiveness this season. In 57 games, he is averaging 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. As solid as those numbers are, Babbitt unfortunately was not able to play in this year’s Rookie/Sophomore game. He has yet to really show flashes of his supposedly superb offensive abilities and although he has been a great rebounder amongst the 3s of the league, he simply did not have the numbers to get in over forwards like Terrico White and obviously Perry Jones. Still, Luke Babbitt is having a very solid rookie campaign.
8. Jimmer Fredette (Milwaukee Bucks)
MPG: 19.8
PPG: 8.6
APG: 2.2
FG%: . 446
FT%: . 785
3PT%: .477
I would be the first to admit that I completely overlooked Jimmer Fredette during this past draft. Funny enough, his draft notes stated that he was determined to prove the doubters wrong and I’d say that overlooking him is along the same lines of doubting him. In just under 20 minutes a game, Fredette is averaging 8.6 points and 2.2 assists per game. Probably more impressive are his shooting percentages and in particular, his percentage on three pointers. .477 from downtown, which is 2nd in the league only to Luther Head. His shooting ability has been nothing short of amazing considering his rookie status and he’s clearly one of the best shooters in the league already. He did not have the luxury of playing in the Rookie/Sophomore game over the likes of Avery Bradley and others but that is no slight to him as he simply hasn’t played as much minutes as other guys. It would seem the Bucks have another Grevis Vasquez type of guard on their hands.
7. Greg Smith (New York Knicks)
MPG: 22.6
PPG: 9.2
RPG: 5.4
BPG: 0.2
FG%: .436
FT%: .616
To go along with their stud #1 overall pick in Perry Jones, the New York Knicks were able to pick up a nice young big man in Greg Smith. Mr. Smith was said to be more on the raw side as far as prospects go and this is especially true with his defense and rebounding. Averaging 9.2 points in less than 23 minutes per game, one thing about Greggory is for sure… the man can score. He definitely has not been as efficient from the field as the Knicks would like but you will take 44% from him when you take his rookie status into account. Greg Smith was selected to play in the Rookie/Sophomore game as he was one of the few good bigs in this year’s draft. One would have to wonder if his inability to play good defense or grab boards would prevent him from being a legitimate 2nd guy behind Perry Jones in the future. For now, Greg Smith looks like a great prospect big and he certainly one of the best rookies in the league.
6. Durrell Summers (Washington Bullets)
MPG: 27.2
PPG: 14.0
RPG: 3.0
FG%: .451
FT%: .641
3PT%: .298
With all the losing the Washington Bullets have been doing it has been very easy to forget the fact that they have a very good rookie on their team. Durrell Summers was picked 14th overall in this past draft and although the Bullets have received criticism for their drafting him at 14, he is certainly looking like a good pick there. In 63 games this season, Durrell Summers is averaging 14 points and 3 rebounds in just over 27 minutes a game. While the 3-ball and free throw shooting aren’t there, Summers has managed to shoot 45% from the field. His draft notes did state that he was dominating every pre-draft workout and that his stock was rising because of it. The report of camp dominance seems to be holding true… at least for the moment.
5. Avery Bradley (Los Angeles Lakers)
MPG: 32.8
PPG: 14.2
APG: 3.2
SPG: 2.0
FG%: .422
FT%: .645
3PT%: .215
Avery Bradley had an uneventful first training camp but he still happens to be one of the best looking prospects of this class. The 2nd overall pick out of Texas was said to be a supreme slasher as well as a great defender and both notions appear to be true in Bradley’s first stint as a pro. In 59 games this season, Avery Bradley is averaging 14.2 points per game to go along with 3.2 assists and 2 steals. In spite of his good numbers, Bradley has some glaring weaknesses that could possibly hold him back from being a legitimate UOSLR star. For starters, he can’t shoot at all. His poor shooting percentages across the board confirm this. His size is probably even more of a detriment. He’s not big enough to play shooting guard and he certainly does not have the skill set to man the point guard long term. For now, the Lakers will just enjoy the solid production that they are getting out of their young guard.
4. Josh Selby (Charlotte Hornets)
MPG: 30.9
PPG: 15.6
RPG: 3.5
SPG: 1.2
FG%: .469
FT%: .689
3PT%: .375
Remember when I said that the Hornets don’t have many bright spots in their power ranking assessment? Well, I lied… sort of. Soon after that article was written, the Hornets would move Paul Millsap in a deal where they would acquire rookie guard Josh Selby. The 4th overall pick this past draft, Selby has shown flashes of greatness on the offensive end for the Charlotte Hornets. In 58 games this season, Selby has averaged 15.6 points a game to go along with 3.5 rebounds in just over 30 minutes a game. He happens to be very similar to Avery Bradley in the sense that both players are too small to play the 2-guard but don’t have the passing or ball handling ability to play the 1. Selby makes it work though as he can score against guard thrown at him and he does it efficiently too as shown by his 47% shooting from the field. The future looks very bright for the Hornets if Selby can develop into the true #1 option that they have not had since the Larry Johnson days.
3. Terrico White (Dallas Mavericks)
MPG: 28.9
PPG: 16.8
RPG: 3.6
SPG: 1.3
FG%: .476
FT%: .830
3PT%: .444
The Dallas Mavericks probably got the most value out of their 1st rounder as they were able to land Terrico White with the 12th overall pick. White was a late entry in the draft and as a result there were no notes written on him. Of course this led to many general managers passing up on him for other prospects. Much like Selby, Terrico White is a scoring machine that can score in a variety of ways. In 59 games this season, Terrico White has averaged nearly 17 points and 3.6 rebounds in just less than 29 minutes per game. Even more impressive is his efficiency across the board. .476 from the field, .830 from the line and .444 from downtown is simply amazing for a guy who is always looking to shoot. White could certainly be a player that frequents the top 10 scorers list often in the future.
2. Travis Leslie (Milwaukee Bucks)
MPG: 34.9
PPG: 14.4
RPG: 6.2
SPG: 1.5
BPG: 1.2
FG%: .452
FT%: .706
3PT%: .200
Every franchise dreams to have a guy who plays like Travis Leslie. The 6th overall pick out of Georgia is not only a very good inside scorer, but also a defender for the ages. While the Lakers’ Avery Bradley and the Suns’ Jeffery Taylor also came into the league as excellent defenders, they don’t quite compare to Travis Leslie as he is a 6’4 guard that can steal the rock as well as block shots. 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks a game, all while averaging just over 14 points and 6 rebounds. Leslie was not a good shooter but he has improved in that department during this past training camp. The 70% free throw shooting, while not great, shows that there is some hope in his perimeter game improving. Travis Leslie could be a good starter on a championship team off the strength of his defense alone. Consider that he is not anywhere near done developing and it’s no surprise when I say that Leslie could be a star that everyone wants in the near future.
1. Perry Jones (New York Knicks)
MPG: 35.0
PPG: 22.9
RPG: 7.2
SPG: 1.2
BPG: 0.9
FG%: .451
FT%: .764
3PT%: .377
I don’t want to say too much about him because I’d probably come off as a dick rider. But honestly, what can you say about Perry Jones? He’s already one of the best players in the league as a 20 year old rookie. Averaging nearly 23 points to go along with 7 rebounds, nearly 3 assists, a steal and a block, it is apparent that Perry Jones can pretty much do everything. His only real weakness coming in appeared to be shooting but he’s pretty much shut that thought down with his very decent .764/.377 percentages from the line and downtown respectively. Draft notes referred to Perry Jones as the best prospect since LeBron and he is certainly living up to that statement thus far. It is scary to think of how good the Knicks could be in the future if young talents such as Jeff Teague, Greg Smith and most importantly Perry Jones are to continue their development.
Other notable rookies: Raptors’ Trey Thompkins and Nets’ Tiny Gallon were left off the list because they have not played many games. Also I kind of forgot about the Hornets Kemba Walker and Washington’s Gilbert Brown. I’m not sure I’d put Brown on my list anyway but Kemba Walker probably should be in there over Rubio… oh well. Lakers’ Soloman Alabi just missed the cut. Many of the other guys simply didn’t have the numbers or games played to make the list. The end.
10. Ricky Rubio (Sacramento Kings)
MPG: 21.8
PPG: 6.2
APG: 4.4
FG%: .405
FT%: .729
3PT%: .268
Martinez and his Sacramento Kings have finally been able to see what they’ve been feenin’ for since the 2009 UOSLR draft. In order to ensure Rubio came into the UOSLR within two seasons of being drafted as opposed to 5 seasons, the Kings had to halt their rebuilding phase in order to get a winning season under their belt. Keeping that in mind, I must say that Rubio has not been that bright of a spot for the Kings this season. To be fair though, Rubio simply hasn’t played the minutes needed to put up impact numbers. Sharing the point guard spot light with fellow Spaniard Jose Calderon, Ricky Rubio has managed to put up 6.2 points and just over 4 assists a game in 22 minutes a game. While those numbers aren’t spectacular, they are good enough to at least get him some mentions as one of the top 10 rookies this year.
9. Luke Babbitt (Los Angeles Lakers)
MPG: 30.0
PPG: 9.1
RPG: 6.9
FG%: .419
FT%: .699
3PT%: .333
It was said that Luke Babbitt’s defensive capabilities (or, lack thereof) would prevent him from ever being a good starter in UOSLR. This did not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from selecting him with the 21st overall pick. The move from power forward to small forward soon after being drafted had an immediate effect on Babbitt’s defensive rating as he went from a solid C to a C+. His lanky and weak 6’9, 225 pound frame is probably the biggest reason for his inability to defend power forwards effectively. This position change has played a significant part in Babbitt’s effectiveness this season. In 57 games, he is averaging 9.1 points and 6.9 rebounds a game. As solid as those numbers are, Babbitt unfortunately was not able to play in this year’s Rookie/Sophomore game. He has yet to really show flashes of his supposedly superb offensive abilities and although he has been a great rebounder amongst the 3s of the league, he simply did not have the numbers to get in over forwards like Terrico White and obviously Perry Jones. Still, Luke Babbitt is having a very solid rookie campaign.
8. Jimmer Fredette (Milwaukee Bucks)
MPG: 19.8
PPG: 8.6
APG: 2.2
FG%: . 446
FT%: . 785
3PT%: .477
I would be the first to admit that I completely overlooked Jimmer Fredette during this past draft. Funny enough, his draft notes stated that he was determined to prove the doubters wrong and I’d say that overlooking him is along the same lines of doubting him. In just under 20 minutes a game, Fredette is averaging 8.6 points and 2.2 assists per game. Probably more impressive are his shooting percentages and in particular, his percentage on three pointers. .477 from downtown, which is 2nd in the league only to Luther Head. His shooting ability has been nothing short of amazing considering his rookie status and he’s clearly one of the best shooters in the league already. He did not have the luxury of playing in the Rookie/Sophomore game over the likes of Avery Bradley and others but that is no slight to him as he simply hasn’t played as much minutes as other guys. It would seem the Bucks have another Grevis Vasquez type of guard on their hands.
7. Greg Smith (New York Knicks)
MPG: 22.6
PPG: 9.2
RPG: 5.4
BPG: 0.2
FG%: .436
FT%: .616
To go along with their stud #1 overall pick in Perry Jones, the New York Knicks were able to pick up a nice young big man in Greg Smith. Mr. Smith was said to be more on the raw side as far as prospects go and this is especially true with his defense and rebounding. Averaging 9.2 points in less than 23 minutes per game, one thing about Greggory is for sure… the man can score. He definitely has not been as efficient from the field as the Knicks would like but you will take 44% from him when you take his rookie status into account. Greg Smith was selected to play in the Rookie/Sophomore game as he was one of the few good bigs in this year’s draft. One would have to wonder if his inability to play good defense or grab boards would prevent him from being a legitimate 2nd guy behind Perry Jones in the future. For now, Greg Smith looks like a great prospect big and he certainly one of the best rookies in the league.
6. Durrell Summers (Washington Bullets)
MPG: 27.2
PPG: 14.0
RPG: 3.0
FG%: .451
FT%: .641
3PT%: .298
With all the losing the Washington Bullets have been doing it has been very easy to forget the fact that they have a very good rookie on their team. Durrell Summers was picked 14th overall in this past draft and although the Bullets have received criticism for their drafting him at 14, he is certainly looking like a good pick there. In 63 games this season, Durrell Summers is averaging 14 points and 3 rebounds in just over 27 minutes a game. While the 3-ball and free throw shooting aren’t there, Summers has managed to shoot 45% from the field. His draft notes did state that he was dominating every pre-draft workout and that his stock was rising because of it. The report of camp dominance seems to be holding true… at least for the moment.
5. Avery Bradley (Los Angeles Lakers)
MPG: 32.8
PPG: 14.2
APG: 3.2
SPG: 2.0
FG%: .422
FT%: .645
3PT%: .215
Avery Bradley had an uneventful first training camp but he still happens to be one of the best looking prospects of this class. The 2nd overall pick out of Texas was said to be a supreme slasher as well as a great defender and both notions appear to be true in Bradley’s first stint as a pro. In 59 games this season, Avery Bradley is averaging 14.2 points per game to go along with 3.2 assists and 2 steals. In spite of his good numbers, Bradley has some glaring weaknesses that could possibly hold him back from being a legitimate UOSLR star. For starters, he can’t shoot at all. His poor shooting percentages across the board confirm this. His size is probably even more of a detriment. He’s not big enough to play shooting guard and he certainly does not have the skill set to man the point guard long term. For now, the Lakers will just enjoy the solid production that they are getting out of their young guard.
4. Josh Selby (Charlotte Hornets)
MPG: 30.9
PPG: 15.6
RPG: 3.5
SPG: 1.2
FG%: .469
FT%: .689
3PT%: .375
Remember when I said that the Hornets don’t have many bright spots in their power ranking assessment? Well, I lied… sort of. Soon after that article was written, the Hornets would move Paul Millsap in a deal where they would acquire rookie guard Josh Selby. The 4th overall pick this past draft, Selby has shown flashes of greatness on the offensive end for the Charlotte Hornets. In 58 games this season, Selby has averaged 15.6 points a game to go along with 3.5 rebounds in just over 30 minutes a game. He happens to be very similar to Avery Bradley in the sense that both players are too small to play the 2-guard but don’t have the passing or ball handling ability to play the 1. Selby makes it work though as he can score against guard thrown at him and he does it efficiently too as shown by his 47% shooting from the field. The future looks very bright for the Hornets if Selby can develop into the true #1 option that they have not had since the Larry Johnson days.
3. Terrico White (Dallas Mavericks)
MPG: 28.9
PPG: 16.8
RPG: 3.6
SPG: 1.3
FG%: .476
FT%: .830
3PT%: .444
The Dallas Mavericks probably got the most value out of their 1st rounder as they were able to land Terrico White with the 12th overall pick. White was a late entry in the draft and as a result there were no notes written on him. Of course this led to many general managers passing up on him for other prospects. Much like Selby, Terrico White is a scoring machine that can score in a variety of ways. In 59 games this season, Terrico White has averaged nearly 17 points and 3.6 rebounds in just less than 29 minutes per game. Even more impressive is his efficiency across the board. .476 from the field, .830 from the line and .444 from downtown is simply amazing for a guy who is always looking to shoot. White could certainly be a player that frequents the top 10 scorers list often in the future.
2. Travis Leslie (Milwaukee Bucks)
MPG: 34.9
PPG: 14.4
RPG: 6.2
SPG: 1.5
BPG: 1.2
FG%: .452
FT%: .706
3PT%: .200
Every franchise dreams to have a guy who plays like Travis Leslie. The 6th overall pick out of Georgia is not only a very good inside scorer, but also a defender for the ages. While the Lakers’ Avery Bradley and the Suns’ Jeffery Taylor also came into the league as excellent defenders, they don’t quite compare to Travis Leslie as he is a 6’4 guard that can steal the rock as well as block shots. 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks a game, all while averaging just over 14 points and 6 rebounds. Leslie was not a good shooter but he has improved in that department during this past training camp. The 70% free throw shooting, while not great, shows that there is some hope in his perimeter game improving. Travis Leslie could be a good starter on a championship team off the strength of his defense alone. Consider that he is not anywhere near done developing and it’s no surprise when I say that Leslie could be a star that everyone wants in the near future.
1. Perry Jones (New York Knicks)
MPG: 35.0
PPG: 22.9
RPG: 7.2
SPG: 1.2
BPG: 0.9
FG%: .451
FT%: .764
3PT%: .377
I don’t want to say too much about him because I’d probably come off as a dick rider. But honestly, what can you say about Perry Jones? He’s already one of the best players in the league as a 20 year old rookie. Averaging nearly 23 points to go along with 7 rebounds, nearly 3 assists, a steal and a block, it is apparent that Perry Jones can pretty much do everything. His only real weakness coming in appeared to be shooting but he’s pretty much shut that thought down with his very decent .764/.377 percentages from the line and downtown respectively. Draft notes referred to Perry Jones as the best prospect since LeBron and he is certainly living up to that statement thus far. It is scary to think of how good the Knicks could be in the future if young talents such as Jeff Teague, Greg Smith and most importantly Perry Jones are to continue their development.
Other notable rookies: Raptors’ Trey Thompkins and Nets’ Tiny Gallon were left off the list because they have not played many games. Also I kind of forgot about the Hornets Kemba Walker and Washington’s Gilbert Brown. I’m not sure I’d put Brown on my list anyway but Kemba Walker probably should be in there over Rubio… oh well. Lakers’ Soloman Alabi just missed the cut. Many of the other guys simply didn’t have the numbers or games played to make the list. The end.
