Rookie Ladder: Lottery picks off to disappointing starts

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 04: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Memphis Grizzlies in the preseason game at the Wells Fargo Center on October 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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The 2017 NBA Draft has produced one of the best crop of rookies to enter the league in over a decade. Players drafted in the first and second round have made an instant impact in the game already.

After reviewing the best performances of the opening week of the season and highlighting the players teams will regret passing on, the third installment of FanSided’s NBA Rookie Ladder is calling out some players that haven’t met expectations yet, specifically players that were drafted in the lottery of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Seeing how deep this class is puts a bigger target on the back of the players selected at the top of the draft. Most of the prospects taken early were one-and-done talents and the bad starts can be overlooked as the potential for long-term success is what teams are relying on from them.

However, poor play is still poor play. While many of the names you’ll find on this list are in the midst of breaking out of slumps, every player mentioned struggled to get their footing in October. There will be ups-and-downs all season for every one of the players drafted in 2017 — except for Ben Simmons, that guy will only see ups this season based off his early play.

Let’s take a look at the five lottery picks that have been the biggest disappointments nearly a month into their first season in the NBA.

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