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Mar. 1, 2004 |
NBA Rookie Review
By John English
This year's rookie class has been solid. Let's look at how all players taken in the first round and some taken in the second are doing.
1. LeBron James (Cleveland) - 20.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 5.6 apg, 40 mpg
The most explosive rookie debut since Tim Duncan, he's pulled off the
impossible by living up to the hype. He might even get the miserable Cavs,
the Bengals of the NBA, to the playoffs. He'll be a 10-time All-Star.
2. Darko Milicic (Detroit) - He's scored 24 total points in 18
games. Coach Larry Brown treats him like dirt. Darko could be good down
the road, but it's impossible to tell right now.
3. Carmelo Anthony (Denver) - 20.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.23 spg
Carmelo's lived up to his hype too. Exceeded it. Here's to hoping the
Nuggets and Cavaliers can become good enough teams to make the
LeBron-Carmelo rivalry more exciting.
4. Chris Bosh (Toronto) - 11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.41 bpg
He's been a major factor in Toronto being back in the playoff hunt. He's a
better power forward than center, but with the lack of centers in the East,
he's playing the role just fine.
5. Dwyane Wade (Miami) - 17.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.3 apg, 1.41 spg
He's small for a shooting guard, and not really comfortable as a point
guard. Nevertheless, his numbers would've made him Rookie of the Year in
half the seasons over the past ten years.
6. Chris Kaman (LA Clippers) - 6.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, .86 bpg
He was predicted to be the next white-guy bust, another Shawn Bradley-esque
center who can't deliver in the big leagues. He seems tougher than that,
and was the best center in the draft.
7. Kirk Hinrich (Chicago) - 11.4 ppg, 6.2 apg, 1.3 spg, 39.3% 3pt
The Bulls would not have drafted him were it not for Jay Williams' injury,
but Hinrich is one of the few bright spots of the Bulls' miserable
millenium. He has quickness, good ball-handling and he's a good
decision-maker. Has potential of being Steve Nash in five years.
8. T.J. Ford (Milwaukee) - 7.1 ppg, 6.5 apg, 3.2 rpg
His point-guard skills are a large part of why Milwaukee finds itself in
the playoff race.
9. Mike Sweetney (New York) - 2.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 7.1 mpg
It's amazing he's survived Isiah Thomas's annihilation of the Scott Layden
players. It still wouldn't surprise me if Isiah found a way to unload him
over the summer. He's a bit undersized for a power-forward, and he should
be doing better for a guy picked this high.
10. Jarvis Hayes (Washington) - 9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 apg
He'll be a real asset to this franchise down the road, like next year.
11. Mickael Pietrus (Golden State) - 2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 40.5% 3pt
Hasn't lived up to the hype of being a dangerous shooter, but he could
develop into one down the road. Only makes it into about half of their games.
12. Nick Collison (Seattle) - Injured in pre-season. Will have to wait
until next year for rookie debut.
13. Marcus Banks (Boston) - 5.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, .95 spg
There's a lot of potential for Marcus Banks to be a solid NBA point
guard. He's not ready to start but in a year or two, he should be really good.
14. Luke Ridnour (Seattle) - 5.5 ppg, 2.3 apg, 15.9 mpg
Ditto.
15. Reece Gaines (Orlando) - Has been a big disappointment thus far.
16. Troy Bell (Memphis) - Ditto.
17. Zarko Cabarkapa (Phoenix) - 4.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 11.4 mpg
No question his injury at the flagrant hands of Danny Fortston set back his
progress, but he's shown a lot of potential this year.
18. David West (New Orleans) - 3.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 12.5 mpg
He's there for when P.J. Brown needs a rest. Give him time.
19. Aleksandar Pavlovic (Utah) - 4.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 14.2 mpg
Was hired for his shooting but has yet to prove it. Has the occasional
18-point game, followed by a string of 2-point games. Needs to improve
defense too.
20. Dahntay Jones (Memphis) - 1.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 7.7 mpg
Coach Hubie Brown has a 10-man rotation. Dahntay is not in it.
21. Boris Diaw (Atlanta) - 4.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg
He's one of the Hawks' better defenders, active on both ends of the court,
except doesn't shoot as much as he could. Not a bad start for someone
picked where he was.
22. Zoran Planinic (New Jersey) - Found himself in Byron Scott's doghouse
too quickly to make much of an impact. He's taking a Mulligan this year.
23. Travis Outlaw (Portland) - Has only played in seven games and has spent
most of the year on the injured list because he's not good enough tor be
the 12th Blazer on the active roster.
24. Brian Cook (LA Lakers) - 5.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .72 bpg
Karl Malone going down has given a lot of opportunity to Cook, and he's
shown he can handle it. He alters shots defensively and has good mid-range
shooting.
25. Carlos Delfino (Detroit) - This Argentinian has been playing overseas
this year and will have his rookie year next season.
26. Ndudi Ebi (Minnesota) - Found his way into a few games, but they don't
really need him this year and are content to keep him on the injured list.
27. Kendrick Perkins (Boston) - 2.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 4.3 mpg
Has only played six games so far this season.
28. Leandro Barbosa (Phoenix) - 6.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.14 spg
With Marbury gone and the front office showing willingness for them to tank
this year, he's playing without pressure and showing a lot of poise.
29. Josh Howard (Dallas) - 8.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 23.6 mpg
It's amazing he's broken through to the starting lineup at times for a team
with this much talent. You're just not supposed to be able to find guys
like this at the bottom of the draft.
Second Round
30. Maciej Lampe (New York) - Supposedly he was a steal, projected as a
lottery pick but he fell to #30. Yet Isiah jettisoned him out of New York
to Phoenix, which has placed him back on the injured list after three
unimpressive games. There's always next year.
31. Jason Kapono (Cleveland) - 4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 52.5% 3pt - Deadly from
behind the arch, he needs to shoot it more and work on his defense, but
he's a keeper.
32. Luke Walton (LA Lakers) - 2.4 ppg, 1.7 apg - Shaq likes him.
33. Jerome Beasley (Miami) - Has only managed to play in two games all year.
The Rest
Travis Hansen (Atlanta #37) - 1.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 10 mpg.
Most teams would've dropped him but Atlanta's so bad it doesn't matter.
Steve Blake (Washington #38) - 5.6 ppg, 2.9 apg - Not a very good shooter,
but a good ball-handler and passer. Decent pick-up for the second round.
Slavko Vranes (New York #39) - This overseas project was quickly dumped by
Isiah, but a 7-5 center should be able to play his way back onto an NBA
team next fall. Hard to see if he's anything more than the next Bruno Sundov.
Willie Green (Philadelphia #41) - 4.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg - He has his moments.
Zaza Pachulia (Orlando #42) - 3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 12.0 mpg - Lanky and has
potential, but too inconsistent to be a factor this year.
Keith Bogans (Orlando #43) - 6.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 apg - Probably the Magic
player on the team who can sleep at night knowing he won't be traded or
cut. They love his potential down there.
Matt Bonner (Toronto #45) - Not good enough to find a team that would keep him.
Maurice Williams (Utah #47) - 5.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.3 apg - Has proven to be
a good third point guard, might be able to work his way up to backup point
guard. Had a career-high 20-point game not too long ago.
James Lang (New Orleans #48) - The high-school project recently was cut by
the Hornets.
James Jones (Indiana #49) - They're a deep team so he's really only been
there in case the injuries added up, which they haven't. Has played in six
games.
Kyle Korver (Philadelphia #51) - 4.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 41.7% 3pt - Has been
used in the occasional fourth quarter as a legitimate outside threat.
Brandon Hunter (Boston #56) - 4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 53.4 FG% - He's as good as
many late first-rounders.
Matt Barnes (Memphis #46 in 2002) - 3.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg - Never got to play
until this year when he signed on with the Clippers, and he's actually had
a couple starts.
Marquis Daniels (undrafted) - 4.4 ppg, .53 spg, 9.2 mpg - He's #9 in the
NBA for Steals Per 48 Minutes. he's been a nice surprise for the Mavericks.
Ronald Dupree (undrafted) - 6.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg - Late-season signee by the
Bulls has been making the most of his minutes.
Francisco Elson (Denver #41 in 1999) - 3.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .71 bpg - He's
been a help in the middle, but he's still pretty raw for a 27-year-old.
Udonis Haslem (undrafted) - 7.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 23.4 mpg - Made the
All-Rookie team and has made the most of his starts.
Omar Cook (Orlando #32 in 2001) - Picked up by the Blazers recently for the
remainder of the season.
Richie Frahm (undrafted) - They like his hustle in Seattle, even though he
usually only gets garbage-time minutes.
Hiram Fuller (undrafted) - Has a 10-day contract with Atlanta.
Alex Garcia (undrafted) - Played two games and has spent the rest of the
time on San Antonio's injured list.
Britton Johnsen (undrafted) - Five games with the Magic and was then dropped.
Linton Johnson (undrafted) - He made the Bulls, was then cut, was then
re-signed, but it's doubtful he'll be kept once the season is over.
Josh Moore (undrafted) - Signed by the Clippers but has yet to play.
Desmond Penigar (undrafted) - Has a 10-day contract with Orlando and will
likely stay on for the rest of the season.
Theron Smith (undrafted) - He's been on the Grizzlies's roster all year but
he's only gone into one game.
Jon Stefansson (undrafted) - This Icelander as spent all year on Mavericks
injured list.
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