NBA Draft 2018: Way too early Rookie of the Year rankings

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Trae Young speaks to the media after being selected fifth overall at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1 of 5

The NBA Draft is barely over but it’s never too early to predict which rookies will thrive. These five guys have the best shot to be the Rookie of the Year.

Some NBA teams select players based on how good they’ll eventually become. Others are on the lookout for stars who can help right away. The latter franchises will give their draft picks a solid chance to force their way into the Rookie of the Year conversation.

Just because a player enjoys a fine rookie season doesn’t mean they were the right selection. After all, Michael Carter-Williams won a Rookie of the Year Award for the Philadelphia 76ers and he’s barely a rotation player now. The true measure of a player isn’t known until two or three years after he’s selected.

This piece will focus on the five draft picks who can do the most for their teams during the 2018/19 season. They might not end up with the best careers, but they could win a coveted ROY award in their first season. We start by taking a look at the biggest slider on draft night.

5. Michael Porter Jr.

For Porter Jr. it all comes down to health. That’s almost the entire reason he fell all the way down to the Nuggets with the No. 14 selection. Some might also question his ability to fit into the team concept, but his scoring talent would have been enough to get him selected easily into the top 10.

If his back and hip turn out to be healthier than advertised, he can be a huge asset to Denver from day one. Putting him in the same lineup with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic can provide Porter with acres of space to operate. If his shooting ability is as good as advertised, he can be an efficient scorer for the Nuggets.

Other than his health, he may struggle to get enough playing time to really get in the mix to win the ROY award. Denver won’t need to him to play big minutes right away. He’s got a chance to get in the top five to win the prestigious award, but it’ll be a major upset if he ultimately wins it.