The NBA draft has come and gone, and now these NBA rookies are in their first professional training camp of their careers. The veterans are talking to them about their “rookie duties” and advising them about how to stay out of trouble off the court and giving tips on how to be a star on it.
Some players are NBA-ready and some are not. Some have higher “ceilings” (potential) than others. Most importantly for rookies to make an impact in year one, they need to have opportunity. They need to have the coach who is willing to give them minutes and let work through the plethora of mistakes they will make as a rookie — missed defensive assignments, bad spacing and bad shot selection just to name a few.
Of course the likes of Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker have the two essential parts to make an impact as NBA rookies. Opportunity and NBA-ready talent. For this discussion of under the radar rookies, we will also exclude the top 14 picks in 2014 and look for other players who aren’t as hyped, but will make an impact.
Adreian Payne
Apart from Jabari Parker, Payne may be the most NBA ready player in the whole draft this summer. He landed in Atlanta with the Hawks and at the power forward position behind All-Star Paul Millsap. Also backing him up are Elton Brand and Mike Scott.
With his already polished post game and large frame, he is basically a copy of the guy he is backing, thus fitting the scheme coach Budenholzer has put in. Brand seems to have been in the league for so long, he’s probably a veteran presence and not much more. Payne can beat out Scott for the backup job and make a contribution this year.
Gary Harris
Harris has the defensive prowess and offensive skill set to make an impact in the league. Right now he is sitting behind Arron Afflalo and Randy Foye in the Denver Nuggets backcourt, but not for long.
Foye has been in the league for nearly nine years, so we know what he is. He is a good player, but Harris will usurp him at some point this season. The change will happen sooner rather than later, especially if the Nuggets start losing. They’ll want to see how Harris performs at the highest level of basketball with significant minutes.
Harris will be able to lockdown the backup shooting guards in the league on a nightly basis and be productive of catch and shoots, therefore contributing to his team in year one.
Mitch McGary
McGary went to the Oklahoma City Thunder and fits so well. He is basically the same as both Nick Collision and Steven Adams. They are solid post defenders with decent athleticism. They are all BIG. They set hard screens and roll bard to the basket. They are what you want from a back-up big man. Let the other players score unless they are covered and you’re wide open under the basket.
Perkins is the starter and has been for years. Steven Adams is the backup, and the eventual center once OKC moves on from Perkins. Despite Perkins slimming down for the season, Adams will take over as the starter sooner rather than later, because of how immobile and what an offensive liability Perkins is. That’s where McGary comes in. He becomes the backup center, using his rock-solid fundamentals and basketball IQ to punish other centers. McGary will play this season before the switch happens too. If Perkins is ineffective, injured or in foul trouble, Adams slides in as the starter and McGary slides in behind.
Cleanthony Early
Early was a steal in the second round. His length and skill set in the post give him an advantage at the small forward position in New York as backup to Carmelo Anthony and his Knicks. Anthony will play a lot of minutes, but the time he’s resting will be taken by either Early or Travis Outlaw. One player has a lot more upside. It won’t take too long for Early to supplant Outlaw.
C.J. Wilcox
Wilcox went at the end of the first round to the Clippers and new owner Steve Ballmer. He is a knockdown perimeter shooter which is perfect for this team. Chris Paul needs someone to pass to, who will make shots, giving him assists. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan need the sharpshooter to spread the floor so they can operate down low. Wilcox can be that player.
Right now he is buried behind J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford on the depth chart, but if one of them become ineffective or inefficient or if either goes down with an injury, he could step in easily and contribute.
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