Projecting the 2015-2016 NBA All-Rookie Team

Second Team

Guard – Joseph Young, Indiana Pacers

Joe Young!!!  Admittedly, this is a big risk because Young has to battle with George Hill, Rodney Stuckey and Monta Ellis for playing time in a suddenly crowded backcourt. However, Frank Vogel doesn’t appear to want to deploy Stuckey or Ellis as a primary point guard, leaving Young as the backup to Hill, and that allows for his choice. Young is an electric offensive player, and he showed that at Oregon, including the fact that he converted on 62.4% of his shot attempts at the rim despite his diminutive stature. He is a big-time scorer at the very least, and award voters loving scoring. I’m sold.

Guard – Jerian Grant, New York Knicks

There is a definite scenario in which Jerian Grant is the starting point guard for the New York Knicks by mid-season. While beating out Jose Calderon (at least in his current state) isn’t a terribly high bar to clear, Grant has looked spectacular at times when operating in the pick-and-roll in the early going, and his athleticism is breath-taking. Because he will be featured in a big way when he is on the floor, the numbers will follow, and given his age (23), he is more ready to play than most rookies.

Forward – Justin Anderson, Dallas Mavericks

I’m in love with Anderson as a 3-and-D prospect, and if he did not suffer an injury during his final season at Virginia, I firmly believe he would have gone higher in the draft. Anderson boasts a nearly 7-foot wingspan that will help to make him an above-average defender from the moment he steps on an NBA floor, and if he can make shots at the level he showed this summer and in college, Anderson will be on the floor a lot for a Mavericks team that needs all the help on the wing that it can get.

Forward – Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are going to be brutal to watch and follow this season, but Hollis-Jefferson has the potential to act as a shining light. If not for a broken jump shot, Hollis-Jefferson would have certainly been a lottery pick based on his defensive potential and athleticism, and if the Nets deploy him correctly, he can be an immediate contributor. There is no question that his ceiling his limited because of his offensive limitations, but Hollis-Jefferson can play right now and the Nets can use his particular skill set. That undoubtedly matters.

Center – Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

Jordan Hill. Ian Mahinmi. Lavoy Allen. That is, quite literally, the competition that Turner will encounter for playing time in Indiana and, well, that means he’s going to play a lot as a rookie. I have questions about Turner’s raw nature, but he is very skilled and athletic as a 7-footer, and if he plays 20 minutes a game, Turner can fall into numbers befitting of a second-team selection.

Next: Emmanuel Mudiay