NBA Draft 2019: Way too early Rookie of the Year rankings

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils looks on against the Michigan State Spartans in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK – JUNE 19: NBA Draft Prospect, Ja Morant during the New Era part of the circuit as part of the 2019 NBA Draft on June 19, 2019, at the Grand Hyatt New York in New York City. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Michael Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Many of you might be screaming at the computer/smartphone right now. How can you pick Ja Morant at first in the ROY rankings after the season Zion just had?! You would have a lot of legitimate reasons and statistics for those yells; however, Williamson doesn’t play point guard, and the Grizzlies are in massive need of a playmaking point guard after trading Conley and Marc Gasol this year. Those two dudes could pass. So there is now a huge void that Morant will fill, and even though Memphis won’t make the playoffs, they have a point guard who will put up some serious Rookie of the Year numbers barring injury.

Starting rookie PGs typically post far better stats than wings or bigs, because they simply have the ball in their hands more often, especially on teams that are in rebuilding mode.

He became the first player in Murray State’s history to go in the lottery, and he’ll be an excellent replacement for Conley. Morant averaged 24.5 points, 10 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, and he improved his 3-point shooting from 30.7 percent in his freshman year to 36.3 percent this year. That’s a trajectory to be bet on.

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The Grizzlies are in for a rehaul, but fortunately, they got a high enough draft pick that it might go a little bit quicker than initially expected. The Knicks would certainly trade places with them and feature Morant 41 games a year at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.

All five of these players have a bright future. That’s for sure.

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