Post by delap on Nov 10, 2021 15:03:08 GMT -5
Welcome back to another fabulous installment of the ladder! Even more than most years, I paid zero attention to the draft class until it was my turn to pick (well, almost my turn... because Fecta became my enemy betwixt the time I started paying attention the time I actually got to pick)... so even more than usual, I have no clue on builds, etc. This first installment is based purely off display grades and PS stats. I expect a lot of churn once we see real lineups and upgrades, but most of the big names you expect are probably featured here somewhere. The HM list will be a mile long right now, because there are a ton of these guys that have shown at least a little something in the games that don't count.
1. CJ McCollum - San Antonio Spurs
I think someone in shout commented that he would be a strong contender for software ROTY... and they were right. 4th in P/TSA, 1st in scoring (a solid 3 ppg clear of any other notable rookie), and low TOs to boot! He's OK on the glass and his steal rate seems solid.
2. Sergey Karasev - Utah Jazz
Drafted the spot after I took Roberson... and I regretted it a little. 4.0 Knicks great seems destined to be good again in this iteration. 5th in P/TSA, 4th in scoring, and a stronger rebounder than McCollum... the rest is the same(ish). His development is a worry, given low POT, but out of the box he looks pretty solid already.
3. Nerlens Noel - San Antonio Spurs
Look out JBC... the real block king has arrived. Averaged a crazy 3.3 blocks/36 in the PS, 3rd in the class in rebounding (where I would only classify he, Gobert, and Dieng as good rebounders among the bigs), and 1st in P/TSA (but he doesn't shoot at all). Averaged less than half a TO per 36, too.
4. Victor Oladipo - Portland Trail Blazers
TC blew up for him, but his on-court production was still fuzzy in the PS. Scoring is solid, rebounding is good for a SG, defense is great... TOs are an issue though. 3.0/36 is a big number for a wing and will need to come down if Victor wants to climb up.
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Indiana Pacers
This is a gut pick, that Giannis will steadily improve, get the right +30, and will turn into a very useful player. He's not efficient and doesn't want to shoot enough, but I like everything else. He rebounds well, steals a ton of balls, and is a low TO type. Unless he got the dreaded -20 in POT, I feel good about his future.
6. Rudy Gobert - Indiana Pacers
Another defensive stud on the Indiana plains, Gobert is the best rebounder in the class (not a strong rebounding class, as I said before, but it's still good to be the best), is a defensive whiz (only bested by Nerlens), and his TOs aren't horrible and his jumpshot is fixable (even without the whole +30).
7. Mason Plumlee - Charlotte Hornets
I'm honestly kinda tired of this type of player on the ladder. Strong scoring (volume high, efficiency average-to-high) bigs who rebound OK and really play zero defense. I don't know what fecta saw in him with so many others on the board, but whatever. He's here because his stats are too good to keep him off... but I'm leery of him and he's primed to drop in future updates unless I see something new from him.
8a. Seth Curry - Anaheim Amigos
8b. Alex Abrines - Houston Rockets
8c. Brandon Paul - Milwaukee Bucks
3 wings that impressed me, with slightly different styles. If Curry can increase his volume, he'll be a very solid rotation piece and maybe even a solid starter by the end of his rookie deal. His ceiling isn't impressive, but he's got a strong foundation. Abrines is efficient, rebounds well, and takes care of the rock. He doesn't have a major weakness outside of volume. Paul wants to shoot, but isn't quite as efficient as the other guys at this spot. However, his steal-rate was very high in the PS and he could be a strong 2-way player.
Honorable Mentions:
Points:
Raul Neto - Phoenix Suns
Erick Green - Chicago Stags
Trey Burke - Portland Trail Blazers
Wings:
Otto Porter - Texas Chaparrals
Robert Covington - Miami Heat
Allen Crabbe - Miami Heat
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - Chicago Bulls
Ben McLemore - Utah Jazz
Glen Rice Jr. - Texas Chaparrals
Vander Blue - Orlando Magic
Andre Roberson - Toronto Raptors
Livio Jean-Charles - Houston Rockets
Janis Timma - Pittsburgh Pipers
Shabazz Muhammad - Vancouver Grizzlies
Bigs:
Trevor Mbakwe - Los Angeles Lakers
Steven Adams - Washington Bullets
Jackie Carmichael - Vancouver Grizzlies
Colton Iverson - Miami Heat
Gorgui Dieng - Los Angeles Lakers