The Whiteboard: The most impressive NBA rookie of the preseason has been…

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Production in the preseason can be all over the map, with players feeling out unfamiliar roles, with unfamiliar teammates and against unfamiliar opponents, often experimenting with scoring or creation opportunities they probably won’t have once the games start counting. For rookies then, per game scoring averages and shooting percentages should be taken with several grains of salt, especially this year with the absurdly condensed offseason and training camp schedule.

More than ever, this year’s preseason games, from an evaluative standpoint, are about who looks like they belong. Who looks ready for the moment, in command of their skills and aware of where they fit on a professional basketball court.

Which NBA rookie has looked the most polished this preseason?

Most rookies have only played one or two games so far and for Isaac Okoro, those two were impressive. The 19-year-old wing from Auburn was taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 5 pick in the draft, mostly on the strength of his defensive profile. Okoro was rated by many as the best defensive prospect in the class, a disruptive on- and off-ball defender with the strength and length to regularly defend four positions. The question mark was his offense but so far, it’s been much better than advertised.

Again, take stats with a grain of salt, but through two games Okoro has scored 33 points on 10-of-16 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, adding 5 assists. Expect some regression in the jumpshooting numbers but the most important thing is how aggressive and assertive he’s been with the ball in his hands. He’s made some great reads, attacking seams in the defense, finishing over and around contact and getting himself to the free-throw line (14 attempts so far). Even if he’s not hitting jumpers this season and that’s more of a long-term developmental target, the ability to attack off the dribble as a complementary creator and score efficiently or find his teammates gives him a clear and valuable offensive role right from the jump. His production might not translate to stardom, certainly not right away, but he looks like far less of an offensive project than was implied in some scouting reports. If he can contribute on offense that means he can be on the floor, making an impact with his defense and soaking up key developmental reps.

But, all due respect to Okoro, I’m not sure any rookie has been impressive as the Raptors’ Malachi Flynn. The 6-foot-1 guard was taken with the No. 29 pick, with his three-year college experience and polish as a ball-handler driving his hypothetical value. Through two games, he’s looked like a savvy veteran. Admittedly, it’s the Charlotte Hornets’ defense he’s carving up but Flynn has scored 26 points in 40 minutes, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. He’s been completely in control in the pick-and-roll, stepping behind screens to hit pull-up 3s, stepping into open space to hit from the mid-range or finding open seams to get himself to the basket and finish in traffic.

He’s also racked up 7 assists to 5 turnovers, but those numbers are even a bit misleading. One of his turnovers was just a loose ball that happened to touch him last. Another was a steal by Flynn where he tried, unsuccessfully, to throw the ball off a defender as he was falling out of bounds. Again, take it with a grain of salt but the Raptors are plus-48 against the Hornets in the 40 minutes Flynn has been on the floor.

The Raptors are a team with championship aspirations this season and depth is one of the biggest advantages they have on most of their competitors. Flynn will be behind Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet but he looks like someone who can play meaningful minutes off the bench this season, spacing the floor and running the pick-and-roll with the authority of an experienced three-level scoring threat, as an offensive engine for the second unit.

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