NBA Rookie Rankings: Luka Doncic extends his lead

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on November 02, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 3: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on November 3, 2018 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3. Trae Young

No rookie in the NBA is facing more pressure on a night-to-night basis than Young. He’s expected to carry the load as the Hawks’ primary creator every time out. Young simply isn’t going to play efficient basketball in his first season.

That makes him a little difficult to evaluate. On one hand, he’s averaging 19.2 points per game. That’s a pretty good tally for a rookie. Unfortunately, his effective field goal percentage continues to hover under 50 percent. That’s largely based on the fact that he’s shooting just 28.6 percent from behind the arc.

He’s also a borderline disaster on the defensive end of the floor. We knew he’d get beat pretty often as a rookie, but his lack of effort in recovery situations has grown into a serious concern. The Hawks’ coaching staff needs to make sure that he doesn’t get used to being blown by. That sort of mindset could settle in and limit his improvement on the defensive end of the floor.

Despite all the negatives, Young clearly has the potential to grow into a great offensive player. That’s why the Hawks drafted him. There’s a chance they can build a winner around him that can help mask some of his defensive issues. That’s worth the effort if Young can continue to make shots and create for others at a high level.

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