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| Dominique |
Every expert agrees : this 2013 NBA Draft will be remembered as one of the weakest of the decade.
Yet, against all odds, some players might still illuminate the stage and surprise everybody by exceeding the quite low expectations.
Who can be Rookie of the year material and on the verge of a great career?
Yet, against all odds, some players might still illuminate the stage and surprise everybody by exceeding the quite low expectations.
Who can be Rookie of the year material and on the verge of a great career?
THE FRONT-RUNNERS
Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic) Shooting Guard
Why ? Oladipo is lucky to join a team without any dominant offensive player. Other than Harris, no one seems talented enough to be a major scoring threat. Oladipo will have opportunities to shine, especially because he might play PG & SG and often have the ball in his hands. What is more, he seems to have this incredible work ethic that great players have and that will make him improve on a daily basis.
Why Not ? The Magic want to play him PG as well as SG. Westbrook and Wade, two physically similar players, also started their NBA career as PG after years of playing combo guard pre-NBA. Westbrook remained PG but Wade really became great once he switched to SG. Oladipo first season with the ball in his hands might be difficult but it's a bet for the future.
Even if he cumulates bad choices and turnovers, he will improve his ballhandling to become something in the mold of a new Andre Iguodala. But not for now...
Even if he cumulates bad choices and turnovers, he will improve his ballhandling to become something in the mold of a new Andre Iguodala. But not for now...
Trey Burke (Utah Jazz) Point Guard
Why ?
Just like Oladipo, he will have the keys to the building. Being a starting PG with little competition, he should be able to produce great stats, condicio sine qua non for the ROY award. Burke just needs to play like he used to at Michigan to take the trophy. In charge of giving the ball to a young yet promising frontcourt, the more they will produce inside the better it will be for Burke, a scoring point guard. Hayward, Favors and Kanter might be decisive for the attribution of the ROY.
Why Not ? During the summer league, he was awful. He even had to remain on the bench to be taught how to play by watching an ersatz of NBA level...
Small, not really fast, quick and powerful, he might get crushed by the great athletes of the league in particular because he is a scoring point guard who creates his own scoring opportunities. His adaptation might be brutal.
Small, not really fast, quick and powerful, he might get crushed by the great athletes of the league in particular because he is a scoring point guard who creates his own scoring opportunities. His adaptation might be brutal.
Why ? Sacramento starts from scratch with the new owners. First measure : get rid of the ball dominant Tyreke Evans to create a real "team" around center DeMarcus Cousins. Thanks to a passing PG (3rd in the NBA) and blue collar forwards (Salmons, Mbah a Moute, Landry &
Patterson), McLemore will have all the munitions he needs to stretch the defense for his dominant big man.
Why Not ? Supposed to be the 1st
pick a few weeks before the Draft, he fell down to the 7th position in a very weak draft class...
A crumbly will, a worrying lack of regularity (11, 2 & 20 pts in his last 3 NCAA games, during the final tournament...) and rumors about his close relationship with his fridge made his stock fall down. Deservedly?
WHY NOT?
Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats) Power Forward
Why ? Tall, agile and with a great basketball IQ, the supposedly best player of the Zeller siblings (Tyler in Cleveland & Free-Agent Luke) cannot start his NBA career in a better situation : improving young teammates, a PF position more suited to his frame than the rugged Center position and above all the luxury to have Al Jefferson by his side to attract defenses and free him up (besides being in charge of educate his mates to the art of low post scoring). If Zeller improves offensively as much as Favors and Kanter did under the tutelage of Big Al, he could create the surprise by winning the award because he is already better than they were when they entered the league.
Why Not ? With Jefferson,
Walker and Henderson on board, he should be the 4th offensive option at best, fighting for shoot attempts against the ever starving pair of gunners Sessions/Gordon and the expected improved Forwards MKG and
Taylor.
Anthony Bennett (Cleveland
Cavaliers) Power Forward/Forward
Why ? The Cavaliers paint might be the best in the league... or the worst. A fit duet of Bynum and Varejao would be to hard to control for other NBA teams. Unfortunately Bynum, Varejao and the adjective "fit" won't be associated a lot this season : a harsh reality but a chance for Bennett to perform.
Moreover, PF Tristan Thompson wants to become an offensive threat despite his current inability to do it and decided that changing his shooting hand (from left to right) might be a solution... So, between the injuries and the goofy ideas of his teammates, Bennett could have the opportunity to showcase why he was the surprising 1st pick in the draft.
Moreover, PF Tristan Thompson wants to become an offensive threat despite his current inability to do it and decided that changing his shooting hand (from left to right) might be a solution... So, between the injuries and the goofy ideas of his teammates, Bennett could have the opportunity to showcase why he was the surprising 1st pick in the draft.
Why Not ? The nostalgic ones think he can be a new Larry Johnson : a mighty tweener able to dominate inside outside. Yet, he already has problems with his body fat percentage and instead of following the Duncan diet, he chose Boris Diaw's "art of snacks"...
Bennett being small even for a SF, if he cannot keep his fat down to his ideal weight he will never establish himself, especially being a tweener without a clear position and amongst his crowded frontcourt.
Bennett being small even for a SF, if he cannot keep his fat down to his ideal weight he will never establish himself, especially being a tweener without a clear position and amongst his crowded frontcourt.
Honorable Mention
Kelly Olynyk (Boston Celtics / Center) joins a team that could immediately need his offensive abilities because neither Rondo, Bradley nor Wallace are dangerous on offense. Rondo is the best passing PG in the league. Green is the only reliable offensive threat, Marshon Brooks still in the process of convincing the jury whether he is more Kobe Bryant or Nick Young... Olynyk has a strong card to play. He was surprisingly good in summer league.
Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia Sixers / Center and Power Forward) is recovering from an ugly knee injury. If he is fit to play, he will join the worst team in the league and have the luxury to pile up mistakes but especially statistics, main requirement to win the ROY trophy. Rebounds, blocks, steals and a few points, that's what Noel will bring if his knee can withstand the intense NBA schedule.
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