Jared McCain Can Change Philadelphia 76ers Trajectory | Youth Movement NBA Rookie Rank
Jared McCain's incredible start has helped to change the trajectory of the Philadelphia 76ers. Plus: other top rookies make their debuts in Rookie Rank including Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, and others.
If Jared McCain isn’t an embodiment of the NBA’s Youth Movement, then I don’t know what is.
Of course, there have been plenty of other storylines when it comes to this year’s rookie class, but McCain has quite literally broken away from the rest of the pack.
Still, it’s worth noting how many rookies have actually been able to not only earn minutes with their teams within the first month of the season but carve out legitimate roles. From shooting specialists to rim protectors to versatile defensive chess pieces, there’s quite a bit happening around the league in terms of first-year production.
So which players have stood out the most? Who are some players to monitor as the season progresses? All of that and more in the first edition of the Youth Movement NBA Rookie Rank!
Let’s give some top stories their shine first and foremost, followed by my current All-Rookie ballot as it stands today, with plenty of honorable mentions and potential All-Rookie candidates along the way.
* All statistics used are as of 11/20/24 and courtesy of Synergy Sports, Basketball-Reference, Dunks and Threes, and Cleaning the Glass*
Jared McCain Can Change the Philadelphia 76ers Trajectory
I’ve written before about how Tyrese Maxey was one of my greatest draft misses, and I still regret where I had him slotted on my draft board to this very day.
At my core, I’m someone who believes that hard work can in fact beat out talent, yet I underrated the one player in his draft class who had the greatest reputation for showing up every single day, first in and last out, and giving it his all.
Jared McCain didn’t come across in intel I gathered as having THAT reputation, but there were certainly scouts who spoke of him highly in that regard.
And here we are, evaluating yet another rookie guard who clearly has something to prove and has come in and embraced stepping into a role where minutes have been available due to injuries.
Rewind the clock a little bit to the 2020-21 NBA season, and Maxey found himself in a very similar situation. Drafted far lower than he should’ve been in retrospect, Maxey wasn’t expected to contribute as a starter-level guard right away, either. But due to some injuries, Maxey got his chance to step into lineups with the likes of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris, among others, and, quite frankly, played at a level equivalent or greater to prove he belonged.
After the Simmons situation played itself out, Daryl Morey made the James Harden trade and was able to slot in someone who already had a reputation as a top-shelf playmaker and offensive engine next to Maxey, Embiid, and Harris. This would alleviate a lot of the playmaking burden from Maxey, and help to set him as well as Embiid up with efficient looks while also having the scoring chops to make sure Philly wasn’t lacking on offense.
Maxey wasn’t supposed to be the team’s next lead guard of the future, but he continued to evolve and develop his game alongside Harden to the point where his ability to command an offense and take the reigns in the backcourt cemented himself as the best option for the long term alongside Embiid as the “second star” for the organization.
Again, this ascension wasn’t foreseen on draft night, and perhaps not even in his rookie season; he got 15 minutes a night despite consistent production and efficient scoring splits.
Now, let’s bring the story back to the present day, and McCain is in a very similar spot.
Maxey has been out the last few weeks to injury, and with an aging supporting cast backing him up, it’s only fitting for McCain to get a shot to see what he can provide as an offensive spark plug. After all, he did have some awesome displays of shooting during Summer League.
Well, McCain has done far more than just step in and provide some offense off the bench. What he’s done from both a scoring and playmaking standpoint has him in line to start and play 30-plus minutes a night, regardless of when Maxey is back in the fold.
It hasn’t been pretty for the 76ers to start the year. As of November 19th, the team sits at a 2-11 record with losses to a number of teams expected to perform far worse in the Eastern Conference standings than Philadelphia. But with both Embiid and new acquisition Paul George missing significant time to start the year along with the Maxey injury, there just hasn’t been enough in the cupboard to replace the production of the three best offensive players on the roster.
But McCain has tried his damndest to drag his team to wins, and boy has he looked impressive doing so.
Watching McCain operate on the floor is a different story than Maxey's in terms of what separates them as guards. Maxey’s game is predicated on using his raw speed and burst to drive into the lane and put pressure on the rim. McCain is much more methodical and plays at his own pace. He is perfectly comfortable changing gears and using his massive tree trunks for legs and core strength to separate and pull up from different spots on the floor.
Results from both of them end up being similar, though, as Maxey and McCain are a high-scoring backcourt duo who can get buckets from all three levels.
At the rim, McCain shot 61.7% in college at Duke, while still managing to shoot 52% in the NBA despite being pegged as a below-the-rim finisher. McCain has added in 57.1% on floaters at a lower volume, but most importantly that same mark on jumpers off the dribble from two-point range per Synergy Sports.
Add in a three-point percentage north of 40%, and you have a bonafide three-level scoring guard in McCain, who is doing it on a healthy volume of attempts. He’s taken more than 16 shots a game over the team’s last six outings, and he has shot 53% from the field and 44% from deep.
In terms of his shooting, the biggest thing that has stood out to a number of evaluators is his ability to relocate and step into a good shot. Whether it’s off a pass, a teammate’s offensive rebound, or purely within the flow of halfcourt offense, McCain ALWAYS knows how to set himself up for a shot by moving to the opposite corner, wing, or even coming back out above the break. That type of spatial awareness has opened up the floor for the 76ers and provided a level of shooting that the team desperately needs.
As a scorer and offensive player overall, though, I truly appreciate the fact that McCain has a plan every time he touches the basketball. Even when it seems like he doesn’t, trust me—McCain’s aggressiveness and demeanor are very much a part of the plan. McCain knows where his teammates are when he drives, he’s aware of his opponent’s strengths and how he needs to beat them. And even in matchups where he’s blocked around the basket or challenging someone he shouldn’t given his vertical limitations, McCain keeps defenses on their toes and imposes his will thanks to his balanced shot-making.
A lot of rookies struggle to shoot effectively from all over the floor when they come into the NBA, as discussed with Performance Coach Phil Beckner in my last column. As Coach Beckner said, a lot of players just don’t come in with the requisite strength and balance to maintain proper shooting form on deeper attempts or shots off the dribble.
McCain doesn’t have that problem. He’s built very, very well as a professional guard—particularly in his lower body, as previously outlined. His shot mechanics don’t change whether he’s catching and shooting or using his strength to bump off a player and create in the midrange.
That push-off move of his was something I noted during his time at Duke as a real advantage when it came to creating separation for easy looks. And he’s been using it quite often so far in the league.
So much so, that when putting together just how effective of a scorer he’s been, McCain leads his teammates who have played more than 100 possessions in Points Per Possession by a significant margin (1.34). That’s a high mark league-wide, to tell you the truth. Factor in his Offensive EPM rating in the 89th percentile per Dunks and Threes, and it’s hard to argue against what McCain has done to keep his team remotely close in some of these losses from a scoring perspective.
Where I’ve been the most surprised in terms of his offensive progression is in his playmaking. McCain has been dropping some DIMES already, and I’d be taking notice even if he didn’t already have a 10-assist double-double under his belt.
It’s one thing to hit the easy pocket passes out of a pick-and-roll or quickly move off the ball and make the right pass when a defender closes out, or multiple opponents try and pull off a double team. It’s another to be able to drive deep into the paint and hit wrap-around passes out to the opposite wing, or skip to the corner, or hit jumping passes with pristine touch and ball placement. McCain has hit nearly every pass you’d expect from a guard, and has done so WITHOUT a significant number of turnovers!
As it stands, McCain has an assist rate of 24.9% and a turnover rate of 7.5%! To get that volume of playmaking AND shooting with such few mistakes made as a ROOKIE is obscene.
Physical traits, character, work ethic, and awareness generally translate up in competition very well. Yet, when it came to McCain’s draft evaluation, some fell into the same tropes that plagued Maxey’s outlook before he got into the league.
Both were combo guards who weren’t viewed as having the passing chops, consistent finishing ability, and defensive measurements to impact at the point of attack. All of these things made it difficult for some scouts to look past the square peg in a round hole concept and push them off as potential very nice options to have off the bench to add some pop and energy.
But not every player can be put into a box. Sometimes, when someone is THAT determined to succeed and has the appetite and aggressiveness to take it to anyone regardless of how they’re viewed by others, you have to buy into those intangibles.
Morey did that, twice now, and it’s paying off incredibly well, to where McCain’s ascension could help to potentially change the trajectory of the franchise.
Let’s say, all things considered, the 76ers finish the season in as bad of a position as you could imagine. Embiid and George both want out, older vets move on, and the immediate future could look a little grim.
Not so fast, my friend. Both Maxey and McCain offer such a dynamic one-two punch in the backcourt that one could argue Philadelphia still has an optimistic outcome within its sights. Move the more expensive pieces for assets back, and build around a backcourt that arguably hasn’t been seen since Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum if McCain’s production holds out.
That isn’t a horrible scenario at all. And should Embiid, George, and the other Sixers round out into contending form, McCain has become the exact shooter and secondary playmaker the starting lineup needs around Embiid, Maxey, and George.
Suffice it to say, if the 76ers can pull one more rabbit out of a hat near the trade deadline and get the train back on its rails, the season could still have a better ending than expected as of mid-November thanks to McCain’s breakout rookie campaign.
And that, my friends, is why it ALWAYS pays to draft and develop talent. No matter how many ways a season and organization can go south, the NBA is built on drafting and developing young players to add to an existing or newly formed core.
McCain, just like Maxey a few years ago, is another shining example of that very premise. Kudos to Morey for nailing the 2024 NBA Draft.
NBA Rookie Rank 1.0
1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
What else is there to say about Jared McCain that hasn’t already been said? For a team that sits 2-11 on the season, McCain has made the difference between some tough losses and potential blowouts with him on the floor versus off it.
His combination of shooting, playmaking, and overall aggressiveness have buoyed certain lineups and helped to improve significantly in cutting down turnovers because of his decision-making.
McCain hasn’t been a standout defender by any means, but the team hasn’t inherently suffered to a large extent with him playing extended minutes. Some of this can surely be the fact that if you’re making more shots on one end, you’re somewhat mitigating large runs of transition offense therefore upping the pace and leaving the door open to greater disparity in the scoring column. However, McCain is also built to handle one-on-one matchups and cut off drivers.
His lack of plus length takes away from shot contests particularly on closeouts, but being able to wall off certain guys and withstand contact while contributing on the glass has helped McCain provide some value on that end.
Once Tyrese Maxey is back in the fold along with a (hopefully) more focused Joel Embiid and crew, the 76ers can reap the rewards of McCain’s offensive breakout as he is the key offensive ingredient this team lacks on the perimeter outside of someone who can slice and generate paint touches at will in the form of Maxey.
2. Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
Dalton Knecht is the first Los Angeles Lakers rookie in team history to have 35 points and 75% shooting from the field in a game.
Let that sink in.
Of all the great players that have worn the Purple and Gold, Knecht has his place in the record books, and we haven’t even hit December.
It’s only been a week-long tear, but it’s been a damn good week for Mr. Knecht setting the nets on fire from three-point range.
Over his last four games, Knecht has averaged 24.3 PPG on 67.3% shooting from the floor, including 67.7% from three! Obviously, those splits won’t last, but what's as noteworthy is the impact Knecht has had on the Los Angeles offense overall. In that same stretch, the Lakers are +37 points while Knecht is on the floor, meaning that his ability to relocate, run the floor, and fill the lane has outweighed any potential negative defensive impact.
While I’ll keep monitoring Knecht’s defense, his offensive firepower has climbed up the rookie rankings in a similar fashion to Jared McCain. Nuclear shooting in a league that’s trending towards making more threes than your opponent can help carry the day.
One other trend with Knecht to monitor: five assists to just one turnover in that stretch. He’s made some pretty slick passes from Summer League through the preseason up to this point, albeit infrequently—another dimension to his game that Los Angeles could benefit from outside of his ability to finish plays at a high rate.
3. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
As expected, Zach Edey has been an absolute monster on a per-minute basis in the NBA.
Per 100 possessions, Edey is averaging 25.5 PPG, 15.9 RPG, and 2.3 BPG with a 65.3% true shooting mark which includes (albeit a VERY small sample size) 60% from THREE all boiled down to a +15 net rating in 281 minutes played.
That’s the impact the Memphis Grizzlies expected when they drafted him, apart from possibly the three-ball being a nice factor for Edey when he’s the trailer in the offense.
What’s been fascinating to evaluate, and monitor moving forward, for Edey is the fact that post-ups haven’t quite dominated his overall offensive touches per Synergy Sports, and he’s actually rated out the lowest in points per shot in that very area.
In college, Edey was known for man handling opponents on the block. He’s gotten the best of some matchups in the NBA too, but not nearly at the levle he did in college.
Every big man has to adjust to the level of physicality in the NBA, on top of the fact that offenses just aren’t running everything out of the low post anymore unless there’s a significant scoring big present like Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, or to a lesser extent Jonas Valanciunas or Nikola Vucevic. And even then, post-ups in relation to the rest of the offensive diet are a very small percentage.
So while that’s something to keep an eye on, I’ve loved watching Edey get some touches in the pick-and-roll game. Edey wasn’t a bad roller in college, as he has lighter feet than you’d expect from a 7’4” big man. That’s where his value will really continue to excel in lineups, with Ja Morant passing him the ball and Jaren Jackson Jr. spacing the floor to keep the lane clean and clear for Edey’s takeoff.
I’m sure I’ll be writing more at length about Edey in a future edition of this column (particularly about his defense), but for now, it’s hard not to hold Edey in high regard given his overall impact on winning—especially as he’s continuing to figure out how to limit his number of fouls as he did at Purdue for longer stretches.
4. Carlton Carrington, Washington Wizards
The TRUE surprise for the Washington Wizards’ rookie class so far has been Carlton “Bub” Carrington.
What hasn’t there been to like about Carrington from an offensive standpoint? A double-digit scorer on a near-nightly basis who has shot the ball effectively from all over the floor and contributed in terms of rebounding and playmaking?
Carrington was on my list of sneaky Rookie of the Year candidates because of what he represents at the guard spot in the modern NBA. The size on the perimeter to see over defenders, the handle to find gaps and generate looks in the paint, and the pull-up shooting ability at range to put the ball in the basket over a variety of defenders.
The main question I had was just how long would it take for him to earn the trust of the coaching staff to get the minutes and game reps to produce such results?
Spoiler alert: it didn’t even take Carrington one game to earn his way into the starting lineup.
Carrington actually started the season on the floor with the “A” squad, right in between Jordan Poole and Bilal Coulibaly on the wing.
And the Wizards have benefited from the additional combination of shooting/playmaking that Carrington provides. In today’s NBA, it’s crucial to have at least three players on the floor who are capable decision-makers and shooters in order to maximize spacing and opportunities created. A lot of the Wizards roster is comprised of play finishers or guys who offer one or the other of those aforementioned traits.
Carrington can grab a defensive rebound, push the tempo, and either score himself or find the next man for a dish. He can even relocate off that hit-ahead pass and knock down a transition bucket.
I’ve been very impressed with Bub overall. He’ll need to keep adding weight to his frame to garner better results defensively, but he fights. Once he figures out how to better impact the offense from the paint and finish more frequently at the basket or draw contact, his points per game will take a massive jump.
5. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
I was very, very wrong about Jaylen Wells from a draft perspective.
Coming out of Washington State, I thought Wells was a tad raw to come in and play right away in the NBA. He didn’t flash passing chops to my eye, I thought the defense was a mixed bag, and I wasn’t comfortable with Wells coming in and scoring off the dribble at the level.
While some of those things are certainly points that Wells is continuing to work on, his instant impact and ability to play significant minutes are two things I was DEAD wrong about.
To put it simply, underestimating bigger wings who can score in few dribbles is a mistake to make when evalauting prospects. Wells is a catch-and-shoot threat from anywhere on the floor. Like Jared McCain and Dalton Knecht, his ability to relocate and play off primary and secondary ball handlers has kept the floor spaced for the Memphis Grizzlies while a number of key wings including GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. have missed time.
He’s done his part on the defensive glass, has moved his feet better than expected to take advantage of his length on defense, and has been one of the most efficient shot-makers at volume in the rookie class.
Wells is third in field goal attempts and minutes played among rookies while sporting shooting splits of 42.6/36.8/73.3.
What a pleasant surprise Wells has been early on, with plenty of runway to improve considering he’s getting the minutes and experience to do so.
6. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
If you just look at the raw box score numbers for Alex Sarr, you’re probably thinking I took crazy pills before writing this column having him in contention for Rookie of the Year.
I’m here to say that conclusion is FALSE, as Sarr has actually had some real bright spot moments as a player early on particularly on defense.
Sarr already is posting a block rate of 7.3% which rates second across the entire NBA only to fellow French counterpart Victor Wembanyama.
His ground coverage and rim deterrence have helped to hold opponents to less points per 100 possesions while he’s on the floor, and has helped drastically up their turnover rates. Having someone in the lane like Sarr, who is nimble enough to recover and position himself to protect the basket, makes defenders think twice about what decision they should make on the floor.
Now, his game has been FAR from perfect, particularly on offense. He’s missed his fair share of bunnies around the rim, hasn’t succeeded at catching every pass thrown his way cleanly, and has surprisingly struggled on the boards to a certain extent.
I’m expecting a few of these to improve as the season progresses, but no doubt Sarr has a ways to go in terms of filling out his body to really compete where he’s best suited at the center position.
Still, he’s had some standout performances already that have allowed fans to dream about what his potential as a two-way big could look like consistently on an NBA floor. No one said the results for Sarr would be immediate, but the flashes have already been there to exhibit how special of a prospect Sarr could turn out to be.
7. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Shooting splits haven’t exactly pointed in the favor of Stephon Castle quite yet, but I’ve enjoyed watching what he brings to the table for the San Antonio Spurs as a defender and playmaker.
Castle just has the awareness of where to position himself to succeed on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he knows what gaps need to be filled and where to move the ball to get the right man involved. He’s been able to hold his own in pick-and-roll sets, limiting turnovers and finding ways to score himself or dish out.
Defensively, Castle has played a similar style of defense that he did at UConn, which is to wall off his man to the best of his ability and not allow penetration or easy scoring opportunities. He wasn’t a high volume defensive playmaker going back to his college days, but he’s nevertheless been very effective on the wing for the Spurs and has made a few highlight plays along the way.
There’s no question his finishing around the basket and catch-and-shoot game have to improve in order to maximize his offensive output. He has developed solid chemistry with Victor Wembanyama already, but when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands, San Antonio has definitely felt the impact a bit of having Castle as the catch-and-shoot guy as opposed to Devin Vassell, who hasn’t gotten much run yet due to injury and rest time.
Still, he’s been more confident in hunting his shot despite the makes and misses not playing out in his favor. That aggressiveness should turn the tide in time, but for now, his poise, professionalism, and hustle have earned him a spot in these rankings.
8. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
A common theme in any NBA season is young rookies struggling to shoot the ball effectively. We’ve already seen that from a number of players above who have found other ways to impact the game for their respective teams.
Zaccharie Risacher has been no different up to this point, as he has had some outstanding offensive outings mixed in with some flat-out duds, meaning his percentages aren’t jumping off the page to fans and evaluators.
But Risacher has held his own on the defensive side of the ball, where his 6’10” size and length have helped to boost the Atlanta Hawks on that end. Yes, he’s had his number of missed rotations and opportunities, but it’s been a bit more difficult to score over Risacher than some may have expected, as he has stood his ground around the basket and even on the perimeter to contest shots off two feet.
Risacher has had some highlight moments both scoring and assisting in transition. When he’s able to hit corner jumpers at a solid rate, his value on the floor is well justified—as is the vision for taking him first overall.
Getting those results more consistently is always the main challenge for any rookie. With time, Risacher should make a push to move up higher in these rankings as the season progresses.
9. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
If I had written these rankings a week and a half ago, Yves Missi might’ve very well been at the top of the list.
He’s jumped off the page and played well past initial expectations, with some having believed in Missi from the jump due to the fact he had opportunity out of the gate due to the lack of big men on the roster for the New Orleans Pelicans.
However, centers generally take as much time to adjust to the NBA game as point guards because of the responsibility that comes with playing the position. Being vocal, physical, and captaining a side of the ball are massive responsibilities for any rookie to step into, as they’re trying to simply adjust to the life of a professional as a whole.
Right now, Missi is eighth among rookies in minutes per game and first in total rebounds. What he’s done for the Pelicans is inject energy and life into lineups by just competing every single possession.
Running the floor in transition, scrambling to rotate and box out on the glass, and even making plays around the basket. Missi has done his part in playing the role of a rim-running big.
One thing to monitor with Missi, apart from scoring off face-up touches, is his passing in said moments. Missi has a positive assist-to-turnover ratio as it stands, and he’s actually dropped a few awesome dimes to teammates on the move. Still very raw as a player, Missi’s growth in areas such as this is noteworthy to keep an eye on moving forward.
10. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
I remain very high on Donovan Clingan as an NBA prospect, and his outing against the Minnesota Timberwolves a few games ago is every reason why.
While Clingan’s minutes haven’t been what some fans and evaluators have clamored for, he’s still made his impact felt both on the boards and around the basket defensively. Clingan can seemingly get his hands on ANYTHING put up around the rim, and make opposing ball handlers pay for stepping into his territory in the lane.
It’s one thing for a big man to stand out as a rim protector, but it’s something entirely different to earn the monikor from me of rim deterrent. Players have to think twice about challenging a 7’2” mountain of a man in the paint, which is one of a number of factors why the Portland Trail Blazers have avoided the bottom of the barrel in defensive ratings this season.
An easy play finisher, lob catcher, and defensive stalwart, Clingan’s role in the NBA is clean-cut. Now he just needs more extended minutes to produce and rocket up these rankings.
One thing to monitor with Clingan: shooting touch.
On a very small sample size, Clingan has hit a three-pointer already and has shot 83.3% from the free-throw line on 18 attempts. I’m encouraged by both of those things, as there were plenty of rumblings pre-draft that Clingan would one day become a threat from the outside.
Forget the threes for a second, though. If Clingan can earn more attempts at the line and hit even above 75%, his offensive value from a scoring standpoint will ratchet up quickly.
NBA Rookie Rank Honorable Mentions
Ryan Dunn, Phoenix Suns
Ryan Dunn’s three-point percentage has come a little back down to Earth compared to where it started earlier in the year.
But still, a 32% mark from three is much better than I could’ve anticipated—let alone Dunn having already played in 14 games on a Western Conference contender.
Given the shooting slump, I had to knock Dunn down a few spots off of my All-Rookie ballot; however, that is far from the end of Dunn’s rookie story.
It’s not easy for any rookie wing to stand out on the defensive side of the ball for a number of reasons, yet Dunn sits in the 58th percentile of the league on defense per Synergy Sports and has held opponents to 34.5% shooting up to this point.
His ability to guard a number of positions, help on the backline, rebound, and now seemingly space to the corner in transition has helped the Phoenix Suns with added depth at a crucial position in the lineup.
If Dunn can hold onto even this mark from deep while continuing to provide value on defense, he’ll be a popular choice among voters when ballots are due in April.
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz
Kyle Filipowski’s place near the top of the Utah Jazz rotation has been one of the more recent storylines to follow among rookies.
Certainly trending in the right direction, Filipowski has been able to hit the glass, shoot a bit from range, and provide some offensive versatility up front while not compromising a lot in terms of size and length.
Filipowski has scored in double digits in three of his last five games, and played a factor in a close upset over the Dallas Mavericks and as close losses against the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers.
Having a player at his size who can stretch the floor, make plays off the bounce, and help protect the rim is a nice addition to any NBA frontcourt, but Filipowski has looked even tougher and more confident compared to his Summer League self in Las Vegas.
Should the Jazz actually act on rumors regarding a Walker Kessler trade, Filipowski’s emergence could help in making that decision and provide some long-term insurance at the position.
Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
If there’s one thing I can say about Kyshawn George, it’s that this man is NOT afraid to let it fly from the perimeter.
He’s only shooting 27% from three on the season, but George has had five or more attempts from deep in more than half of his games played, including a sensational outlier of 17 (!!) against the Golden State Warriors.
George’s confidence is not to be underestimated, both in terms of raw catch-and-shoot attempts and his comfort level handling the ball in the halfcourt and even some in transition.
That was the promise that surrounded George’s draft stock, as a bigger wing who could one day contribute in all areas of dribble, pass, and shoot.
George has flashed all of those characteristics in his game already, and stands to move up into the Top 10 of my Rookie Rank should he actually convert on more of his shots and passes as the season progresses. He’ll certainly get the opportunities to do so, as there isn’t one game on the year so far in which he hasn’t registered at least 20 minutes played.
The Washington Wizards believe in the young trio of rookies, and should continue to empower those such as George to learn from their mistakes on the fly.
Ron Holland, Detroit Pistons
Without a doubt, there’s someone out there who would jump at the opportunity to argue with me about why there’s such a difference in ranking between someone like Ron Holland and Stephon Castle.
Truthfully, I have liked what I’ve seen from Holland in certain spurts. Everything he gets on the floor is out of pure heart and effort. It also helps that he has the speed/length combo to pick the ball away from opposing offensive players and actually make something happen on the break.
I just haven’t seen the same refined offensive player in the halfcourt out of Holland that I have in Castle.
Overall, Holland rates in the seventh percentile in terms of scoring in the halfcourt, converting on less than 31% of his looks. Now Castle, as outlined above, hasn’t exactly stood out in the efficiency department either, but my eye tells me he’s done a much better job of navigating defenses and making a play for someone else. Holland hasn’t taken the same liberties on offense primarily because defenses have put him in position to shoot the ball from deep, and he’s obliged willingly.
I get it, Holland’s minutes have been a little sporadic, and he hasn’t gotten the same quality of touches on offense that others above him have. And there’s a lot of promise left on the table for Holland to tap into. And on top of all of that, I’ve actually liked what I’ve seen from him defensively!
There just hasn’t been enough there offensively for me to rank him higher YET. A part of me believes that’s going to change, especially as the Detroit Pistons lean more into the defensive identity and embrace deploying playmakers like Holland out on the wing.
Jonathan Mogbo, Toronto Raptors
As far as the rookie class is concerned in the NBA, few have been as unique on the defensive side of the ball as Jonathan Mogbo has for the Toronto Raptors.
There have been a number of games where he’s been tasked with guarding almost everyone in the lineup, from point guard to power forward and even some centers. Mogbo has taken his assignments in stride, and he has actually done a good job of guarding everyone from spot-up shooters to top-shelf scorers like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
It’s been an uphill battle for the Toronto Raptors without the services of one Scottie Barnes, but Mogbo has been fun to watch come in off the bench and wreak havoc. And when he’s gotten the ball in transition? Exciting is absolutely the first word that comes to mind.
Now his minutes have dwindled over the last week, and he hasn’t gotten nearly the same touches on offense—nor has he necessarily earned them, as he’s not an effective three-point threat.
However, NBA teams could all use a defensive weapon like Mogbo further down the rotation, and I’ll be interested in tracking his development as his NBA career progresses.
McCain has elite deceleration. Impressive.