Thursday’s NBA draft lasted until almost midnight on the East Coast, but viewers who tuned out after the first hour probably got to see next season’s Rookie of the Year.
Apart from Malcolm Brogdon (taken at No. 36 in in 2016) and Michael Carter-Williams (No. 11 in 2013), every Rookie of the Year since 2004 has been a top-six pick. Donovan Mitchell could add his name to the list of exceptions, but Ben Simmons appears to be the favorite to collect the award on Monday.
This year’s first six picks could all emerge as strong candidates, as each figures to have a chance to contribute right away. Let’s take a closer look at the field:
- Deandre Ayton — The Suns have been searching for help in the middle for several years, and Ayton looks like a legitimate NBA center. He is the early ROY favorite, according to the Bovada Sportsbook, which gives him 13-5 odds.
- Marvin Bagley III — Whether Bagley becomes a power forward or small forward, he should provide much-needed scoring punch for the Kings’ front line. He was a dynamic scorer and rebounder at Duke, where he averaged a double-double during his lone season.
- Luka Doncic — The Mavericks believed in the teenage Euroleague MVP enough to trade up to snag him with the third pick. Some scouts question how easily Doncic’s skill set will translate to the NBA, but he will get ample playing time in Dallas to prove himself.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. — The shot-blocking specialist out of Michigan State will help anchor the Grizzlies’ defense alongside Marc Gasol. He also gives Memphis a strong rebounding presence at the four spot that has been lacking since Zach Randolph left.
- Trae Young — There should be plenty of excitement in Atlanta next season as Young takes control of the Hawks’ offense. His numbers declined during the second half of his freshman season at Oklahoma, but his limitless shooting range makes him a perfect fit in the modern NBA.
- Mohamed Bamba — He may not start right away with Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo on the roster, but Bamba should earn significant playing time because of his tremendous shot-blocking abilities. If he improves on offense, he could be the first-string center by the end of the season.
Those are the top candidates, but there could be plenty more, as Mitchell, Brogdon and Carter-Williams have shown. We want to get your picks, so please leave your choice in the comments box below.
Don’t sleep on Mikal and Miles Bridges
Jerome Robinson. The dude can flat out score.
Keep a close eye on Harry Giles this year.
If Giles is healthy, he’ll be a serious contender. Even deep basketball fans have forgotten how good this guy was coming out of high school. I’ll be following Sacramento very closely. He and Bagley together on the floor could be ridiculous.
By all accounts he’s very healthy and ready to go, we’ll see in a couple of weeks.
It would shock me. I believe he was injured coming out of HS, and missed almost all of his SR year and the all star games. He was still physically compromised at Duke, and then sat out all last year. I assume he’ll be eased in to the rotation and they’ll try to get him through an NBA season. Plus, Bagley isn’t going to let him have the ball.
Harry is fully healthy and was described by the vets in practice last year as one of the better players on the team. He will be let go in summer league with no restrictions, the Kings have done a really nice job with him. We will see on July 2nd when summer league starts with the California Classic in Sac.
If the Spurs trade Kawhi, Lonnie Walker could be this year’s Donovan Mitchell.
That being said, Trae Young is my pick.
My bet is on Trae….granted I’m biased….but he will literally be repeating what he did at OU his one year here. He will be the only player that can score. Not saying he is the best of that group of rookies, but he should get a ton of PT and scoring opportunities. No one else up above can say that.
I actually agree. I don’t think Trae Young was the best player in the draft (I’m not really a fan of him at all actually), but if things go as expected he’ll have the best chance to light it up every night. The Hawks might not be a good team just yet, but individually I could definitely see him having a big year.
Shae Gilgeous-Alexander’s chances are exponentially higher than Bamba’s.
I also love Donte DiVincenzo.
Agree about all the PGs, like Mitchell at Utah, getting the most chance, vs centers who have to learn the ins & outs of what contact works in the NBA.
SGA, Trae, Sexton all have a good shot at ROY, and I note Doncic was drafted as a 2G. Hmmm…
A lot of people think Dallas did so well by sacrificing a key future asset to get Doncic instead of Young, but how well are Smith & Doncic going to get along?
Doncic, Bagley, Ayton, Jerome Robinson, Mikal Bridges, Kevin Huerter, Chandler Hutchinson, Aaron Holiday, Jacob Evans should all be in the mix. I’m going with Doncic
Itll be Michael Porter Jr.
Guys you throwing a lot of left fielders there, look to me there are only 4 clear candidates MBIII, Ayton, Young & Doncic. The only dark horses will be MPJ if healthy this first season, he definitely will be moving on, but might be rested & looked after this first season, the only other with a shot might be WCJ, depending how things pan out with Chicago.
Doncic. Hands down. Most ready, bad team.
I agree it could be Doncic, but there will be growing pains. This past year he’s been playing a lot more basketball than anyone in than draft. It’s obviously smart to let him rest and pass on the upcoming summer league, but he will hit the rookie wall like most first year players usually do. It will come down to when and if he can get it back before season one ends (ie. no playoffs). Regardless the Mavs landed the better player!
Don’t sleep on Robert Williams, granted I am a Celtics fan, but hear me out. He has top 10 talent, and if anyone’s going to get him to shape up mentally it would be Stevens and Horford. In addition, Baynes is not expected to return because they don’t have full bird rights and no cap space, and he could potentially start in Boston depending on what kind of shape he’s in. If he starts, he’ll have a good chance even as the 5th scoring option.
Dear Collin Sexton. Once again, people are sleeping on you. How you feel ’bout that?
-Cavaliers fan.
Doncic or Bagley. Young, maybe. Sexton too, but only if LeBron leaves. Ayton would be up there to (it’s not like he’s that raw), but I just don’t trust his teammates to get him the ball enough or him demanding it this early in his career.