With every draft class, there holds a unique group of young and athletic players who have the potential in bringing something new to the league; something that may change the course of the game for years to come. It is clear that basketball fans may never see the likes of dominant, powerhouse back-to-the-basket centers or traditional pass-first point guards in the league for a while, however with each generation of talent, there are always unique assets that can be applied to the game of basketball as it slowly evolves and passes down to the next group. Here are five NBA rookies that are looking to have an excellent campaign that will hopeful push them towards eventual stardom:
1. Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves.
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| Photo Courtesy of Jamie Squire-Getty Images |
Andrew Wiggins has had a tough off season as his name was continuously being dragged around and around trade talks for quite some time. Now that he has finally landed in Minnesota, the 19 year old shooting guard can begin to seriously focus on basketball and his preparation for the upcoming season. Wiggins had a decent Summer League workout, averaging 15.5 points per game off of .409 shooting from the field with roughly 30 minutes of playing time. Although his numbers may not seem too significant, what is really important is the fact that he looks healthy and ready to go come fall; statistics in the Summer League are often subjective, given the fact that coaches may play it safe and sit potential starters and "regulars" of their respective teams more often than others still fighting for a spot on the roster. Wiggins, by far, has the most potential out of the NBA draft and it is no surprise why Cleveland took him first. With a struggling Minnesota team, I think that the 6'8'' guard will be a huge part of the organization for quite some time to come. He is lengthy, athletic, and very versatile with his speed and height. Wiggins can play a stretched forward who could still grab boards or he could just play a wing position. The Timberwolves can put him in where ever they want and simply let him slowly find his footing, where he could do the most damage on the floor.
2. Jabari Parker, Milwaukee Bucks.
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| Photo Courtesy of John Locher-Associated Press |
Okay let's face it, the Bucks are one of the worst teams in the NBA and is in serious need of any help they can possibly get. Fortunately for them, they have managed to draft a solid player in Jabari Parker who, like Wiggins, has joined a team that will give him a lot of freedom to find his footing in the NBA. Rookies need the time and the support of their fans in order to have a successful season. When fans have witnessed their team get plummeted by every other squad for years and years, they tend to hold onto what ever they got; there are no shoes to fill in an organization that has not gotten used to winning for quite some time. Parker will enjoy the luxury of low expectations (for now), which is critical to the development of an excellent player. The Milwaukee Bucks will receive much more attention now that they have Parker but they will be overshadowed by the likes of superstar teams like Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Houston, the teams that have already proved themselves; teams that are home to names that are already quite recognizable. Parker will need to build up to that image but he will get to do it quietly in the backdrop of all the star-studded talent already in the NBA. In five games of Summer League, Parker averaged roughly the same as Wiggins with 15.6 points off of .409 shooting from the field. Do not worry Bucks fans, those numbers are likely to grow within a few games and experience from the 6'8'' forward.
3. Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers.
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| Photo Courtesy of Fernando Medina-Getty Images |
Make way Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel has come in and turned some heads! Noel came into training camp and showed off some impressive defense and solid offense. In his Summer League debut against Brooklyn, Noel had put up 14 points, swatted away five shots, grabbed nine boards, and picked off one ball. Noel is a bit undersized at center, standing at 6'11'' and weighing in at 228 pounds but the Kentucky product is agile and quick off his first step which will make some of the bigger guys in the NBA move their feet much more than they might want to. Alongside Embiid, Noel may see to some significant time on the floor if he could keep up his energy and production. When his offense is slacking, his defense seems to pick up the pace which only shows why he is a very capable ball player that could, nevertheless, find different ways to help his team at any time. Whether he comes off the bench or starts for head coach Brett Brown, Noel will likely continue to suprise.
4. Julius Randle, Los Angeles Lakers.
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| Photo Courtesy of Jack Arent-Getty Images |
Julius Randle is the Los Angeles Lakers' highest draft pick since James Worthy from back in 1982. Unlike Wiggins and Parker, Randle is stepping into an organization home to many years of success and championships. The Lakers are a storied franchise that has fans with expectations each and every year. Regardless of the critics, Laker fans are quite hard on the team; when a franchise manages to bring home 16 championships and is used to winning big, it is quite hard for spectators to except defeat and off seasons. Randle will have to learn to adapt to the pressure, but with the help of veterans like Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, I think that Randle will be just fine. Although Wiggins and Parker will have the freedom to test their boundaries and limits, Randle has the opportunity to develop his strengths and work on his weaknesses with players that have endured the game for so long. In other words, Randle has the opportunity to grow much more experienced and have a better understanding of how an NBA season is like quicker than his peers. At 6'9'', 249 lbs, Randle is built very similarly to that of Zach Randolph. As a matter of fact, the 19 year old has a skill set that really resembles Z-Bo. Moreover, he is a very confident young man who is willing to listen and that is what the Lakers need in their rookie forward. Randle is self-motivated and has a relentless attitude that will accompany Bryant quite nicely, only time will tell how much fans will actually get to see Randle on the floor. Whether he starts or not, Randle will be an important piece in the puzzle for head coach Byron Scott and the Lakers as they move forward.
5. Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics.
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| Photo Courtesy of Fernando Medina-Getty Images |
With talks of Rajon Rondo wanting out of Boston, the Celtics are really hoping that their draft pick will be good enough to take over the reigns. Marcus Smart has to be one of the biggest point guards of this years NBA draft; at 6'4'', 220 lbs, Smart his like a bulldozer for his position. Although his passing is not at the level that one may want from a point guard, he is always aggressive driving to paint and has a nice midrange jumper to accompany it. In other words, Smart is not your traditional pass-first type point guard and is much more of the scoring type that have come out of the draft in these recent years. Boston is a team that is trying to rebuild and find some reliable players on the offensive end, guys that can score and get the team out of slumps. Smart may be the answer for a struggling Boston team. Like Randle, Smart will be playing for a storied franchise that has won 17 championships, so there is quite a lot of buzz that will surround the player. With his production and attitude, he should not have too much problems adjusting to his first year in Boston; with Rondo likely staying for a bit, he could learn a thing or two from the 28 year old.
So there you have it, five guys that can potentially change the course of the game, all set to play for their respective teams in October. All in all, nobody knows what will happen as their is so much potential in every single player that steps foot on the court. Who knows, maybe a wildcard rookie will step up to the challenge and steal the show, only time will tell what will happen. Now who's excited for the 2014-2015 season! It is going to be great!
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