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Three in the Key: Rookie Roundup
I remember hearing all the same malarkey last season about how there were no impact players entering the league via the draft.
It seems to be the cry of every NBA pundit out there that unless the draft carries with it a legitimate superstar from the outset (LeBron James, Tim Duncan, etc) the draft class isn't worth talking about. Well, in the end Chris Paul proved the be the best point guard prospect since Jason Kidd and several players, Ray Felton, Charlie Villanueva, Andrew Bogut, look to be primed for solid NBA careers.
This draft class should be no different. Several players have the potential to be something worth watching as their careers progress, but here is a small handful of players people should keep an eye on from the start.
POTENTIAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Brandon Roy - Starting SG - Portland Trailblazers
Preseason stats through Oct. 25 - 14.7 ppg 3.2 rpg 2.7 apg
It may prove to be no coincidence that Brandon Roy's last name also happens to be the initials of the award league GM's just voted him most likely to receive. Roy comes to the NBA with the most polished and 'NBA-ready' game of any of his draft-mates. There is no aspect of the game that he is deficient in, and since he's playing for a struggling team like the Trailblazers, there is no part of his game he won't be asked to utilize.
Roy, in a lot of ways, finds himself in the best possible position he could have hoped for. Being the sort of player that many feel can do everything well but no one thing great, he has been put in a situation where he can demonstrate all of the things that he does well in a effort to help his team win and silence the inane criticism that a one-trick pony is more valuable as a rook. Aside from his nice shooting stroke and ability to get points for himself, it's his court-vision that will ultimately set him apart from this year's rookie crop.
Roy will be asked to switch to point guard many times this year to spell starter Jarrett Jack and when he has done so during the preseason he has looked fairly comfortable in the role. He sees the court like a veteran, and doesn't try to make flashy passes to dazzle the fans. He's a no-nonsense guard who will make the smart pass (which is usually the easiest one), which will endear him even more to his biggest fan, head coach Nate McMillan.
While Roy doesn't seem to have the kind of star potential that others in this class have, an ability to 'do' now has never hurt a player or a team as much as a player who is supposed to 'do' later but never quite gets there. Roy was a steal in the draft and should have little competition making his name his title.
POTENTIAL SUPERSTAR / SUPERBUST
Randy Foye - Backup SG - Minnesota Timberwolves
Preseason Stats through Oct. 25 - 6.5 ppg 1.2 rpg 0.3 rpg
Randy Foye has had a tough go of it during the preseason after dominating in Summer League. He's only played over 20 minutes once, and it was when he logged 21 against Indiana. Still, though, he is a very important piece for this rebuilding Timberwolves franchise, and he has the luxury of coming along at his own pace for now because of the depth the Wolves have at his position.
Foye is, in a lot of ways, everything that Brandon Roy isn't. He's flashy, he's inconsistent, and he's really just a scorer at this point in his career. He, too, may also find some minutes at the point, but he doesn't share Roy's aptitude for seeing the court like a point guard. That said, his talent base is undeniable and he could blossom as the season goes on and he learns how to get his shot off against NBA competition.
His speed isn't such an asset in the league as it was in college or in Summer League. He's going up against quick guards every night, and so he's going to have to learn to play smart of overcome his undersized frame. While I don't put too much stock in a player's size limiting their ability, a player does have to know how to use their body to maximum effect. Foye is shorter than most of the players he'll be facing, so he's going to have to learn how to make that an asset if he wants to succeed.
His talent is undeniable, which is what led the Wolves to trade Brandon Roy to acquire him, but like so many athletic scoring specimens, it's going to have to be his mind that separates him from so many Steve Francis' and Baron Davis' of yore and makes him into a winner first, talent second.
POTENTIAL SLEEPER OF THE DRAFT
Rajon Rondo - Backup PG - Boston Celtics
Preseason Stats through Oct. 25 - 12.7 ppg 5.1 apg 2.6 spg
No player, rookie or otherwise, has opened as many eyes during preseason as Rajon Rondo. Going back to the draft workouts, the word was that Rondo was outworking the then-lottery bound Marcus Williams. Of course, both wound up slipping big time in the draft and the Celtics should be reaping the benefits.
Rondo has simply outplayed probable starter Sebastian Telfair in just about every way a teammate can do so, and if there were any justice in Beantown, Rondo would be hearing his name called during the team introductions instead of Telfair's, but it looks as though Telfair is going to be given the opportunity to lose the spot, and that is Doc Rivers' prerogative should he chose to exercise it.
Rondo has been putting up some ridiculous games thus far in October, including a game against the Raptors on the 11th where he came off the bench to score 29 points while dishing 5 assists and grabbing 3 steals. He's had games with 8, 7 and 6 assists, as well as 3 or more steals in five games. He's shooting a great percentage (.492) and he's doing all of this in about 30 minutes a game.
The thing that truly separates Rondo, however, is that when he is on the court he has a presence. He isn't just putting numbers on the board arbitrarily, he's often been the best player on the roster after Paul Pierce, making his impact felt on offense by running the team much more effectively than Telfair, while also living in the passing lanes to snap up those lazy, preseason passes.
Now, no one should expect Rondo to replicate these kinds of games when the games actually matter, because he's still a rookie and he'll have his ups and downs just like any other rookie. However, as I said in September, the point guard battle this year will do a lot to determine the future of this team, and if Rondo can prove that this preseason was an indication of things to come, the future for the Celtics would get just a little bit brighter as a result.
POTENTIAL IMPORT OF THE YEAR
Jorge Garbajosa - Backup PF - Toronto Raptors
Preseason Stats through Oct. 25 - 9.8 ppg 3.0 rpg .400 3p%
While most of the rookie interest for the Raptors will no doubt fall on number one overall pick Andrea Bargnani, any impact he manages to make will be icing on the Raptors cake this season. The real rookie they need to step up fast and consistently is Garbajosa. His signing flew way under the radar this summer until his Spain team won the gold medal at the World Championships and Garbajosa was named to the all-tournament team over every US player outside Carmelo Anthony. And while no one is expecting Garbajosa to knock anyone off the All-NBA lists this spring, keep your eyes open on the All-Rookie teams for this rugged Spaniard.
Garbajosa in many ways typifies the makeover of the Toronto Raptors this summer. He's a player who winning follows around at every stop in his career. He's a multi-skilled player who can run the floor and can shoot from anywhere, especially from three, and when called on he can play all three frontcourt positions. He's as basketball savvy as any player on the Raptors roster, and the intangibles that he brings to the table will do a lot to determine what kind of success the Raptors can attain this season. While it is unlikely that he will ever crack the starting rotation, it's just as unlikely that he'll be sitting on the bench at crunch time.
This Raptor team is still young and having someone like Garbajosa around to make the key shot or play clutch defense is invaluable because neither are traits that can be taught while both are factors that could ultimately win or lose close games.
In a league-wide perspective, however, Garbajosa's acquisition will be watched closely by many NBA scouts, as well. After Sarunas Jasikevicius bombed last year in Indiana, the idea of bringing Euro vets (as opposed to young prospects) over to play heavy roles on NBA teams lost some momentum. If Garbajosa pans out, it could prove to be a catalyst for several NBA teams reaching across the pond for cheap help in well-schooled Euro clubhouses. With the emphasis being put on skill over talent in many NBA circles, how Garbajosa does this season (along with fellow Spaniard Jose Calderon and second-time NBAer Anthony Parker) will do a lot to determine the future of the veteran Euro import in the NBA.
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