Tuesday 2 July 2013
Burke rise to top of NBA draft class in hope likely
Do you like this story?
Burke rise to top of NBA draft class in hope likely
Last week's NBA draft usher 50 newcomer
into the league, including a handful of players who have the potential to make
a momentous and urgent impact. There are others who likely won't create much
buzz in the swelling to the 2013-14 season, but could provide enticing value as
late-round fantasy selections. On the other hand, for some of the top picks in
the 2013 draft, their production may fall short of potential.
Thus,
we have broken down a select few draftee into three distinct categories:
Top of
the class
Trey
Burke, Utah Jazz: As we
have educated over the years, effectiveness and ultimate success in all fantasy
sports is as much about opportunity (i.e. being in the right place at the right
time), as it is about skill set. The most talented players don't always put up
the best numbers; it's often a combination of access to playing time and
ability to achieve.
In each
of the last two seasons, the NBA Rookie of the Year has been a point picket who
started and received all the minutes he could handle right away. While Burke
likely won't be able to match the numbers posted by Kyrie Irving or Damian
Lillard, it is not a stretch to assume Burke is the odds-on favorite to capture
the 2013-14 Rookie of the Year award.
Last
season, Utah had three veteran point guards on its roster: Mo Williams, Earl
Watson, and Jamal Tinsley. Combo guard Randy Foye was also asked to assume
responsibilities at the point from time-to-time. Well, all four are
unrestricted free agents this summer. Utah will eventually sign another PG as
insurance and for depth, but it apparent the Jazz envision Burke as their lead
guard of the future. (They did think highly adequate of Burke to trade two
first-round picks [Shabazz Muhammad and Gurgui Dieng] for him.)
Burke
is a bit undersized, but is a lethal scorer. Last season at Michigan he
averaged 18.6 points a game (shooting over 46% from the floor and 80% from the
free-throw line) and knocked down nearly two three-pointers per contest. It he
plays 32-35 minutes a night for Utah, he has the potential to put up terrific
numbers at a situation that is always shallow in most fantasy leagues.
Ben
McLemore, Sacramento Kings: In a
draft largely bereft of top-tier talent, McLemore awed scouts with his
incredible array of skills -- which made his slide to No. 7 overall
particularly surprising. Luckily for the Kings, they landed the player they had
targeted all along, and didn't have to trade up to obtain him.
As one
of the top-ranked players entering college last season, McLemore showed why so
many analysts and evaluators have been so high on him. As a freshman at Kansas,
he was not only effective (15.9 ppg), but extremely efficient, especially for a
young perimeter player. During his lone season at KU, McLemore shot 49.5% from
the floor, 42% from behind-the-arc, and 87% at the free-throw line. As a bonus,
he rebounded very well for his position, grabbing 5.2 rebounds per contest
The
only buzz-kill potentially derailing a strong rookie season in Sacramento is
the Kings' possible logjam at shooting guard. Marcus Thornton is locked into a
big long-term contract. Jimmer Fredette was the team's lottery pick in 2011.
And Tyreke Evans, a former Rookie of the Year, is a restricted free agent.
McLemore's
instantaneous future (and playing time) could be tied directly to Evans. If
Evans signs elsewhere (and the Kings decide not to match the offer sheet –
which now seems somewhat likely), that could open up significant minutes for
McLemore right away.
Potential
sleepers
Shane
Larkin, Dallas Mavericks: Although
a bit undersized, Larkin is a freak athlete. At the draft combine in Chicago
back in May, Larkin stole the show. He recorded the second highest vertical
leap ever (44 inches), register a combine-best sprint time, and notched a
34.5-inch leap from a dead standstill. (Only Cody Zeller had a better standing
vertical).
But
he's not just a workout warrior, Larkin can also play, as evidenced by the astrophysical
numbers he posted last season for the Miami Hurricanes (14.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.6
apg, 2.0 spg and 1.9 three-pointers, killing 47.9% from the floor).
And
Larkin's fantasy prediction only got brighter this week, when the Mavericks decline
to offer incumbent starting point guard Darren Collison a $4.5 million
qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The other point guards
who received minutes for the Mavs last season were aging vets Derek Fisher and
Mike James – both of whom are no longer on the roster. It appears Larkin is in
line to play a significant role in Big D.
Nerlens
Noel, Philadelphia 76ers: Back in
January, as the highlights of him sprinting up and down the court at Kentucky
played nightly on ESPN, Noel was considered all but a sure-fire lock to go No.
1 overall. Then, even after he tore his ACL, Noel remained near the top of most
mock drafts as the big day approached. However, Noel had to watch with
disappointment as five other players got to shake David Stern's hand before he
got to strip on his baseball cap and walk across the stage.
Many
have speculate that Noel's knee injury played a part in his draft day slide.
And since the injury will keep him sideline for the first few months of his recruit
season, he will likely be an afterthought in forthcoming fancy draft.
However,
especially if you play in keeper league, Noel's upside can not be ignored.
During his lone season at Kentucky, he became the first collegian in 16 years
to average nine boards, four blocks, two steals and shoot at least 59% from the
field. His offensive game remains a work in progress, and the injury is
obviously red flag, but for those that like to gamble, the payoff could be
terrific.
Kelly
Olynyk, Boston Celtics: He'll
be a defensive liability in the NBA, but we don't have to worry about that
within fantasy circles. The upshot is Olynyk is a gifted offensive player, with
impressive agility and athleticism for a seven-footer. In addition, the Celtics
find themselves in rebuild mode and are currently cleaning house, which leaves
Olynyk as one of the only centers on the roster.
Michael
Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: Coming
into the draft, the Sixers' roster had holes everywhere, but the one position
at which they had an established star was point guard. All that changed when
Philadelphia traded All-Star Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans. As a
result, depending on what happens in free agency, Carter-Williams (much like
the aforementioned Larkin) could be relied upon to handle more minutes than he
likely would have anticipated.
In
Carter-Williams, the Sixers replace Holiday with a long and athletic point
guard who, despite some obvious flaws in his game, possesses an intriguing
upside. At nearly 6-6, Carter-Williams brings extraordinary length and wingspan
to the position. This is a huge asset, especially on the defensive end, where
he can use that length to hawk smaller defenders and cut down passing lanes all
over the floor. He averaged a jaw-dropping 2.8 steals per game last season at
Syracuse.
Offensively,
Carter-Williams is a solid ball handler and an excellent passer. Again, he
often utilizes his size to see over the top of defenses. He averaged 7.7
assists per game as a sophomore at Syracuse, which ranked third in the nation.
However,
Carter-Williams will definitely need to improve his jumper. He shot below 40%
from the floor last year, below 70% from the free-throw stripe, and knocked
down just 29% of the three-pointers he attempted. He was also turnover-prone at
times. In addition, he needs to get stronger to compete on the pro level. At
just 180 pounds, he is not yet ready to play 30+ minutes a night in the NBA.
Potential
disappointments
Anthony
Bennett, Cleveland Cavaliers: Bennett
is a terrific talent who put up fantastic offensive numbers at UNLV. However,
there are definite causes for concern when attempting to predict how successful
he will be during his first season in Cleveland.
For
starters, he is currently rehabbing from shoulder surgery. Although Bennett has
declared he plans to be ready by the start of the season, it may take him a
while to knock off the rust. In addition, he'll have to get into shape quickly.
In the days leading up to the draft, it was reported that Bennett had ballooned
up to 260 pounds (his playing weight at UNLV was 239).
Moreover,
power forward (Bennett's natural position) was not a need in Cleveland. The
Cavs invested a top-four pick on Tristan Thompson just two years ago, and
Thompson had begun to shows flashes last season, nearly averaging a
double-double (11.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg) in just over 31 minutes a night. While
it's possible Bennett could see some time at small forward, there doesn't
appear to be the same clear pathway to major minutes as there is with many of
the other top picks in this draft. All things considered, Bennett likely won't
come close to matching the numbers of previous No. 1 overall picks. Keep this
in mind during fantasy drafts next fall.
Alex
Len, Phoenix Suns: As with
Noel, Len's stock is believed to have taken a slight hit due to injury
concerns. Len had ankle surgery earlier in the year, but believes he'll be
ready for basketball activities in August, and will be on schedule to start
training camp in October.
However,
the bigger concern from a fantasy perspective is the abundance of bigs in
Phoenix. Marcin Gortat, Luis Scola, Markieff Morris, Marcus Morris and (if
healthy) Channing Frye all currently stand between Len and playing time. In
addition, Len is still a raw, unfinished product who needs plenty of seasoning.
He's a long-term project the Suns will bring along slowly.
This post was written by: Author Name
Author description goes here. Author description goes here. Follow him on Twitter
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 Responses to “Burke rise to top of NBA draft class in hope likely”
Post a Comment