Post by IanBoyd on Sept 2, 2018 20:54:51 GMT
Since eric is being refurbished in Africa, I'll take a more human approach to this year's crop of rookies.
1. Yao Ming C 22 7'6'' 300 B+ C C- A- B B (Hornets)
Picked 1.1 overall by fecta after extending his #scatluck in the lotto, barring anything inexplicable, Yao should walk into the HoF. Other than his volume not being quite elite yet and the rebounding being a bit lacking for a man of his size, Yao has no weakness in his big man game whatsoever; Sublime FG%, fantastic FT% and otherworldly shot blocking (By even 4.0 standards). I expect Yao to finish wire to wire as the #1 rook on the ladder.
2. Caron Butler SF 22 6'7'' 220 B B- C- A B- B (Trailblazers)
Drafted 5th overall by the Spurs then promptly traded to the PNW as part of a package for a much worse player making much much more money in Andre Turner, Caron Butler is perhaps the surprise darling of the draft. After the Top 3 of Yao/Jay/Amare was off the board, many thought Butler was a bad pick at 5, due to his lackluster initial scoring grade of C+ C+, but after a huge rookie TC that saw Butler go +5 which includes a massive +3 in his scoring, Butler is turning heads in both Preseason and his regular sim debut.
3. Amare Stoudemire PF 20 6'10'' 240 A- C D+ C+ B+ A (Timberwolves)
Matching his draft slot and taking bronze medal in the initial ladder is Amare, a player many though heading into the draft was among the obvious top 3 prospects. His Preseason and Sim 1 numbers proved that while Amare might need a bit of work on the defensive end, he's already very very good at getting buckets. With a +30 available (5 from 2005 bonus) on a big man that's likely close to the cap in both Inside Scoring and Jump Shot, how Amare is developed in the Lab could be worth keeping an eye on should the Timberwolves decide to either splurge in upgrading his 3-Point shooting to 60 and turn Amare into Dolph Schayes or dumping it all into his defense and turn him into more of a traditional big.
4. Jay Williams PG 21 6'2'' 195 B A- B B+ C B (Bucks)
Picked 2nd overall by the short lived sheezy before being handed off to his creator druce after stepping down from the commish role. Some had reservations about Jay due solely to his collegiate affiliation, however, all doubts about his propensity to busting was put to rest with his +6 in TC and his preseason performance. He's ranked a bit below the top 3 due to his TO issues (which was an initial concern from his draft profile) and his FT% which might indicate a Jump Shot rating not quite up to stardom levels yet. However with normal growth and upgrades, I don't think the TOs will be too big of an issue even if he does fumble it a couple of times a game.
5. Skylar Diggins PG 22 5'9'' 140 C A- A B+ D+ A (Lakers)
The final pick in the top 10 and the first ever female player drafted in 5.0 (Creation traps notwithstanding), Skylar took full advantage of her Notre Dame training regime and transformed herself into a solid solid looking player after a +7, by far the biggest increase seen thus far in 5.0. While her size will likely remain a handicap for the rest of her career, as seen from her FG%, she'll still make a fine living off of her skill attributes as a point guard, if nothing else as one of the best pickpockets in the league.
6. Marcus Taylor PG 20 6'3'' 195 B B- B- B- C- B (Mavericks)
Although Marcus hasn't had the greatest of Sim 1 debuts, I'll still slotted him here mostly from his solid showing in TC and preseason. Drafted well outside of the lotto at 19th, Taylor is perhaps the steal of the draft for a franchise so bereft of point guarding talents that Cecil Exum had to be trotted out as the floor general on a roster otherwise NBA Championship worthy. With nearly every single relevant grade at least at B- after a +5 in TC, Taylor can be molded any way delap sees fit.
7. Nene Hilario C 20 6'11'' 245 B- C- D B+ C+ B (Warriors)
The quality takes a massive MASSIVELY dive off a cliff starting at 7, Nene's profile initially might suggest a build more closely resembling that of a traditional d/r big, with fason's draft preview article even drawing comparisons to DJ Rony, his Sim 1 performance suggests that is likely a pipe dream. With d/ grades more comparable to Amare and r/ grades closer to a SF than a big man, Nene likely won't be winning any DPOY awards for the Warriors hoping to shore up their front court's defensive holes. His FG% however has been somewhat of a saving grace, with proper investment, Nene could end up as a serviceable 3rd big.
8. Dajuan Wagner PG 19 6'2'' 190 A- B- C C C- B (SuperSonics)
Picked 4th, 1 spot ahead of Caron Butler, Wagner sneaks in the ladder at 8th due mostly because of his age and displayed grades. To be blunt, at this point, Wagner is not a good player, not even an average player; in fact I'm quite certain that Wagner will likely end the year with a negative winshare rating than a positive one. There's no getting around the fact that his handles is atrocious and his d/r is nonexistent. But seeing as he's still a teenager, maybe the hope for duc is that he'll have a few of those dream teenage TCs and become worthy of his draft slot.
9. Jared Jeffries PF 21 6'11'' 235 C+ C- C B- C+ C (Timberwolves)
At this point we're approaching [insert name here] level of talent and/or production. Picked at 23 with the Timberwolves' final of 4 1st round picks in the draft, Jeffries' TC showing hasn't exactly done much to warrant consideration for drafting him higher than where he was picked initially. But his rebounding and willingness to never shoot shows a hint of a future at d/r should his shot blocking be upgraded to the maximum in the lab and some better luck in TC, but I'm not expecting much out of him at this point.
10. Drew Gooden PF 21 6'10'' 250 B- C C B- B+ B (Trailblazers)
Also included as part of the Andre Turner package. While majic might have initially wanted to get more out of Gooden, he's probably more than fine with Turner's returns considering how good Caron Butler turned out. Gooden's initial grades weren't bad, but was passed up by multiple GMs repeatedly in the draft. My concern/gut feeling heading into the draft was that while Gooden's grades looked okay, he was likely going to be the casualty of the commish building a few guys into JAGs with unremarkable builds/potential (corollary of the "grades too good" syndrome™). Gooden's inclusion in the top 10 is solely because at this point there ain't much to work with this early in the season stats wise from rooks.
1. Yao Ming C 22 7'6'' 300 B+ C C- A- B B (Hornets)
Picked 1.1 overall by fecta after extending his #scatluck in the lotto, barring anything inexplicable, Yao should walk into the HoF. Other than his volume not being quite elite yet and the rebounding being a bit lacking for a man of his size, Yao has no weakness in his big man game whatsoever; Sublime FG%, fantastic FT% and otherworldly shot blocking (By even 4.0 standards). I expect Yao to finish wire to wire as the #1 rook on the ladder.
2. Caron Butler SF 22 6'7'' 220 B B- C- A B- B (Trailblazers)
Drafted 5th overall by the Spurs then promptly traded to the PNW as part of a package for a much worse player making much much more money in Andre Turner, Caron Butler is perhaps the surprise darling of the draft. After the Top 3 of Yao/Jay/Amare was off the board, many thought Butler was a bad pick at 5, due to his lackluster initial scoring grade of C+ C+, but after a huge rookie TC that saw Butler go +5 which includes a massive +3 in his scoring, Butler is turning heads in both Preseason and his regular sim debut.
3. Amare Stoudemire PF 20 6'10'' 240 A- C D+ C+ B+ A (Timberwolves)
Matching his draft slot and taking bronze medal in the initial ladder is Amare, a player many though heading into the draft was among the obvious top 3 prospects. His Preseason and Sim 1 numbers proved that while Amare might need a bit of work on the defensive end, he's already very very good at getting buckets. With a +30 available (5 from 2005 bonus) on a big man that's likely close to the cap in both Inside Scoring and Jump Shot, how Amare is developed in the Lab could be worth keeping an eye on should the Timberwolves decide to either splurge in upgrading his 3-Point shooting to 60 and turn Amare into Dolph Schayes or dumping it all into his defense and turn him into more of a traditional big.
4. Jay Williams PG 21 6'2'' 195 B A- B B+ C B (Bucks)
Picked 2nd overall by the short lived sheezy before being handed off to his creator druce after stepping down from the commish role. Some had reservations about Jay due solely to his collegiate affiliation, however, all doubts about his propensity to busting was put to rest with his +6 in TC and his preseason performance. He's ranked a bit below the top 3 due to his TO issues (which was an initial concern from his draft profile) and his FT% which might indicate a Jump Shot rating not quite up to stardom levels yet. However with normal growth and upgrades, I don't think the TOs will be too big of an issue even if he does fumble it a couple of times a game.
5. Skylar Diggins PG 22 5'9'' 140 C A- A B+ D+ A (Lakers)
The final pick in the top 10 and the first ever female player drafted in 5.0 (Creation traps notwithstanding), Skylar took full advantage of her Notre Dame training regime and transformed herself into a solid solid looking player after a +7, by far the biggest increase seen thus far in 5.0. While her size will likely remain a handicap for the rest of her career, as seen from her FG%, she'll still make a fine living off of her skill attributes as a point guard, if nothing else as one of the best pickpockets in the league.
6. Marcus Taylor PG 20 6'3'' 195 B B- B- B- C- B (Mavericks)
Although Marcus hasn't had the greatest of Sim 1 debuts, I'll still slotted him here mostly from his solid showing in TC and preseason. Drafted well outside of the lotto at 19th, Taylor is perhaps the steal of the draft for a franchise so bereft of point guarding talents that Cecil Exum had to be trotted out as the floor general on a roster otherwise NBA Championship worthy. With nearly every single relevant grade at least at B- after a +5 in TC, Taylor can be molded any way delap sees fit.
7. Nene Hilario C 20 6'11'' 245 B- C- D B+ C+ B (Warriors)
The quality takes a massive MASSIVELY dive off a cliff starting at 7, Nene's profile initially might suggest a build more closely resembling that of a traditional d/r big, with fason's draft preview article even drawing comparisons to DJ Rony, his Sim 1 performance suggests that is likely a pipe dream. With d/ grades more comparable to Amare and r/ grades closer to a SF than a big man, Nene likely won't be winning any DPOY awards for the Warriors hoping to shore up their front court's defensive holes. His FG% however has been somewhat of a saving grace, with proper investment, Nene could end up as a serviceable 3rd big.
8. Dajuan Wagner PG 19 6'2'' 190 A- B- C C C- B (SuperSonics)
Picked 4th, 1 spot ahead of Caron Butler, Wagner sneaks in the ladder at 8th due mostly because of his age and displayed grades. To be blunt, at this point, Wagner is not a good player, not even an average player; in fact I'm quite certain that Wagner will likely end the year with a negative winshare rating than a positive one. There's no getting around the fact that his handles is atrocious and his d/r is nonexistent. But seeing as he's still a teenager, maybe the hope for duc is that he'll have a few of those dream teenage TCs and become worthy of his draft slot.
9. Jared Jeffries PF 21 6'11'' 235 C+ C- C B- C+ C (Timberwolves)
At this point we're approaching [insert name here] level of talent and/or production. Picked at 23 with the Timberwolves' final of 4 1st round picks in the draft, Jeffries' TC showing hasn't exactly done much to warrant consideration for drafting him higher than where he was picked initially. But his rebounding and willingness to never shoot shows a hint of a future at d/r should his shot blocking be upgraded to the maximum in the lab and some better luck in TC, but I'm not expecting much out of him at this point.
10. Drew Gooden PF 21 6'10'' 250 B- C C B- B+ B (Trailblazers)
Also included as part of the Andre Turner package. While majic might have initially wanted to get more out of Gooden, he's probably more than fine with Turner's returns considering how good Caron Butler turned out. Gooden's initial grades weren't bad, but was passed up by multiple GMs repeatedly in the draft. My concern/gut feeling heading into the draft was that while Gooden's grades looked okay, he was likely going to be the casualty of the commish building a few guys into JAGs with unremarkable builds/potential (corollary of the "grades too good" syndrome™). Gooden's inclusion in the top 10 is solely because at this point there ain't much to work with this early in the season stats wise from rooks.
