Rookie Ladder - 3026 (333 views)

[delap]

PreSeason

Back and better than ever.  (for legal reasons I'm told I can't say that).

Good thing last year's class was full of no names, so it doesn't really matter that there wasn't a ladder to catalog theirs many ups and downs.

As for this class... who exactly is supposed to be good? Big yikes (pre-upgrades).

1. Hassan Whiteside - Portland Trail Blazers

The troika at the top of the defensive big rankings is about to become a troika +1 (I don't know the Russian word for 'quartet'). Blocking a ridiculous 4.2 shots/36 pre-uppies is quite impressive. Sure, he can't shoot FTs... but uppies can fix that. I don't see any other major complaints. TOs are what they are.

2. Tiny Gallon - Los Angeles Lakers

The "Quart" as he will surely be (affectionately) known posted a pretty nice looking preseason. Very very efficient, defensive chops, and no major weaknesses. He does face the daunting challenge of a half-checked-out GM, so will upgrades ever happen?

3. DeMarcus Cousins - Pittsburgh Pipers

The best boardman, a willing scorer, and not terrible on TOs... Cousins has high upside and can surely get some of his rough-edges tweaked by upgrades.  After him the drop to the next group of players is substantial in this GM's eyes.

4. Solomon Alabi - Seattle SuperSonics

The worst P/TSA to ever make the ladder... but Alabi has major upside and has all the makings of a great D/R big who simply doesn't want the ball. His defensive stats are 2nd only to Whiteside in the class.

5a. Armon Johnson - Anaheim Amigos

5b. Jonathan Gibson - Anaheim Amigos

A pair of good friends at the PG position make their ladder debut together, in amity. Armon is a steady-handed PG prospect who could project as a scorer if his volume nudges upward. Gibson (who BK drafted surely thinking that Jonathan = Boobie) has a similar profile... but looks like a stronger defender (while also being looser with the rock). One of these two is sure to hit... but possibly both. Good times in the 'heim.

7. Derrick Favors - Washington Bullets

Another player who desperately needs an offensive boost, but the tools are all there otherwise. Big upside and no real defensive/rebounding holes to worry about (natural growth should make those areas just fine).

8. Greivis Vasquez - Utah Jazz

Very similar to the Amigos guards... but lacking upside and (especially) posting a far smaller sample. If his efficiency stays above 1.15 for the season, he could be a real find for Fason... but otherwise the TOs and lack of rebounding are probably a death knell for his long-term career.

9. Samardo Samuels - Anaheim Amigos

Solid player that can probably contribute on his rookie deal... but doesn't have the long-term upside to really improve at all. He probably maxes out as a 3rd big, but that's not terrible.

10. Jon Scheyer - Philadelphia 76ers

This year's version of "Is it actually scoring volume or just playing on a compu-team?" is Mr. Scheyer. If the volume is real, he should be on a real team by mid-season... if it's not, oh well... this ladder entry will be forgotten by Day 80.

Honorable Mentions

Points:

Ish Smith - Los Angeles Lakers

Wings:

James Anderson - Chicago Stags

Elliot Williams - Syracuse Nationals

Avery Bradley - Orlando Magic

Terrico White - Chicago Stags

Xavier Henry - Indiana Pacers

Dominique Jones - Chicago Bulls

Quincy Pondexter - Seattle SuperSonics

Al-Farouq Aminu - Utah Jazz

Bigs:

Derrick Caracter - Syracuse Nationals

Gani Lawal - Vancouver Grizzlies

Kevin Seraphin - New York Knicks

Greg Monroe - Texas Chaparrals

[delap]

Day 50

Nearly half-way there and this class is shaping up much more nicely than previously anticipated. There are a slew of players > 1.00 P/TSA and some real defensive/rebounding talents here.

1. Hassan Whiteside - Portland Trail Blazers (previous: 1)
Still holding on to the top spot, Whiteside is an absolute menace defensively and on the glass, where he is already among the best players in the league in both categories... but he really can't do anything on offense. Only partially upgraded, there is still room to grow. The spot is his for now, but has at least a few contenders vying for his throne.



2. Paul George - Indiana Pacers (previous: NR)
After a real no-show during the preseason, this young wing out of SoCal is finding the Indiana lifestyle to be beneficial to his style of play. He's scoring efficiently at a decent clip, rebounding a bit... and absolutely robbing opposing guards of the ball. If his TOs get under control he could be a real force. Downside? He's fully upgraded... so the long-term prospectus might just be what it is at this point.



3. DeMarcus Cousins - Pittsburgh Pipers (previous: 3)
Just got his upgrades a couple sims ago, so hopefully the numbers will be more reflective of his current status later in the year... but for now? A potentially elite offensive big who also rebounds incredibly well. Shot-blocking will never be his thing, but it's not mine either and I've turned out pretty well (just ask my mom!). If his efficiency ticks up and his TOs tick down he will likely demand a bump up a spot or two.



4. Solomon Alabi - Seattle SuperSonics (previous: 4)
Early returns are that Mr. Alabi is the biggest home run of the draft class. Went +5 in TC and still has all of his upgrades available... and no major weaknesses. He's the final player that I have in the highest tier that could realistically demand consideration for the top spot. His rebounding is strong, he's a great defender, and he takes care of the ball. Another big TC and it would not be hard to see him as the best player in the entire class.



5. Tiny Gallon - Los Angeles Lakers (previous: 2)
His efficiency has dropped substantially, so his fall could be even further if that trend continues.... but aside from efficiency he looks a lot like Alabi above and also still has all of his upgrades available. Strong potential player here... alone in this tier for now.



6. Jonathan Gibson - Anaheim Amigos (previous: 5b)
Very small sample, and TOs are a touch high (but not unplayable)... but Gibson still has the looks of a great scoring PG. Still has most of his upgrades left, so that's nice. He's very efficient and could be a major player sooner rather than later.



7a. Arinze Onuaku - Dallas Mavericks (previous: NR)
7b. Samardo Samuels - Anaheim Amigos (previous: 9)
7c. Kevin Seraphin - New York Knicks (previous: HM)
3 bigs contributing right now to winning basketball. Onuaku leads the class in P/TSA, does enough of everything else to be playable, doesn't turn it over... and has high POT and is sitting on a pile of unused upgrades. The Mavericks have done it again. Samuels has all the things you want in a young big... except potential and he's used most (all?) of his upgrades. He's strong in all categories and should be great for the near-term... he's just not a long-term leap prospect. Seraphin lags behind the other two largely because of his rebounding weakness. He hasn't been upgraded, though, so maybe he can get some help there. One enticing stat on him is that he is incredibly efficient despite subpar FT shooting... just getting that to average (which is very possible) could make him very strong offensively.





10. Willie Warren - Utah Jazz (previous: NR)
No upgrades used... but potentially awful POT... Warren is what he is. But! What he is is a decent scoring wing who plays strong defense and doesn't turn it over, so that's pretty valuable. He could be a microwave scorer type with the right upgrades.



Honorable Mentions

Points:
Jordan Crawford - Chicago Bulls
Greivis Vasquez - Utah Jazz

Wings:
Elliot Williams - Syracuse Nationals
Al-Farouq Aminu - Utah Jazz
Alexey Shved - Atlanta Hawks
Dominique Jones - Chicago Bulls
Damion Jones - Washington Bullets

Bigs:
Gani Lawal - Vancouver Grizzlies
Greg Monroe - Texas Chaparrals
Ekpe Udoh - San Antonio Spurs
Derrick Favors - Washington Bullets

[delap]

Day 80


1. Paul George - Indiana Pacers (previous: 2)
PG takes the top spot as Hassan's offensive game continues to be absolutely abysmal. George seems to be built as a master wing-stopper, efficient scorer, and solid all-around wing with a real chance into becoming an all-league type player before the end of his rookie deal. Reminds me a lot of a young Joe Dumars.



2. Hassan Whiteside - Portland Trail Blazers (previous: 1)
Still an unreal defensive player, but the offensive weaknesses are starting to be an issue. P/TSA continues to inch down, but usage% is way higher than you want in a guy so inefficient. Basically, he'd be better if he stopped getting the ball on offense. Kudos to eric on a very IRL build for this guy. He's a monster and Top 5 defensive big.



3. Solomon Alabi - Seattle SuperSonics (previous: 4)
His numbers hold, while Cousins' slip a tad, so Solomon gets the spot for this go-'round. He's not a perfect player, as you want him to shoot more, but he looks great for the future and is pretty dang good already.



4. DeMarcus Cousins - Pittsburgh Pipers (previous: 3)
Slight regression since the last update, Cousins still projects to be a strong offensive player and strong rebounder, but the lack of defense will always limit his ceiling. I suppose a couple of mega-TCs (with his high potential) could make him an average defender, but that's the only hope for him on that end now.



5. Jonathan Gibson - Anaheim Amigos (previous: 6)
Sample is still pretty small this far in... but Gibson is likely the best PG in the class and could be a terrific scorer in an outside system down the line. TOs are still high... but that could be a skew of a small sample?



6a. Arinze Onuaku - Dallas Mavericks (previous: 7a)
6b. Samardo Samuels - Anaheim Amigos (previous: 7b)
Onuaku and Samuels are very similar players, both sporting great rebounding numbers, very low TOs, and good enough defense. On top of that, they are #3 and #1 (respectively) in P/TSA right now. Arinze stays on top because of his far superior POT, but both are winners right now.




8. Willie Warren - Utah Jazz (previous: 10)
#2 in P/TSA despite the fact that he doesn't shoot 3s... Warren could be a real stud in the right offense. His growth is going to be limited, but he's got the right tools to contribute right away.



9. Kevin Seraphin - New York Knicks (previous: 7c)
Seraphin drops just because I really don't love his rebounding (it's trash)... the rest of the game is strong enough (except maybe blocking) and he is very efficient and takes care of the ball.



10a. Elliot Williams - Syracuse Nationals (previous: HM)
10b. Tiny Gallon - Los Angeles Lakers (previous: 5)
Tiny keeps sliding... but there are the pieces there for a really good player if he ever gets his upgrades. Elliot Williams is the best non-GMed player in the class by a mile. Both of these players are examples of those who just need a bit of love and they could be a real contributor to a squad in the near-term.




Honorable Mentions:

Points:
Jordan Crawford - Chicago Bulls
Greivis Vazquez - Utah Jazz

Wings:
Al-Farouq Aminu - Utah Jazz
Alexey Shved - Atlanta Hawks
Damion James - Washington Bullets
Dominique Jones - Chicago Bulls

Bigs:
Gani Lawal - Vancouver Grizzlies
Greg Monroe - Texas Chaparrals
Ekpe Udoh - San Antonio Spurs
Derrick Favors - Washington Bullets
Miroslav Radjuljica - Houston Rockets

[delap]

Final Standings
I wasn't initially super into this class, but upon a season's reflection, I see a lot of depth, even if there isn't a perennial all-league type player at the top. Lots of good players all the way through the ladder and beyond.

Congrats to Herby New Year! .... TinyTimPig , please transfer 1k units from my bank to his.

1. Paul George - Indiana Pacers (previous: 1)
I don't love that he's maxed on out upgrades, but I do think he still has a ton of potential and very impressive grades. He's a well-balanced player who is a stopper on one end and a positive (though not an overwhelming one) on offense. If he gets any improvement in rebounding/scoring volume he can become a real force.



2. Hassan Whiteside - Portland Trail Blazers (previous: 2)
Ultimately he is so bad on offense (and has a decent usage rate) that he can't be on the top spot... but his defense/rebounding are THAT good that he can't be any lower. He still has upgrade points left and a world of potential, but I'm not sure what the answer is to mitigate his woes on offense.



3. Solomon Alabi - Seattle SuperSonics (previous: 3)
Sitting on all of his upgrade points and with high POT, Alabi could really blow up next season (preview of MIP nominations?). He isn't the most intriguing offensive player, but upgrades to FT% could really do a lot for him. Defensively he looks great and should grow even stronger.



4. DeMarcus Cousins - Pittsburgh Pipers (previous: 4)
Boogie looks very solid and has loads of potential to grow... but his uppies are all gone. His scoring prowess should still be near the top of the class, especially in volume, so he'll get you some buckets.



5. Jonathan Gibson - Anaheim Amigos (previous: 5)
If the TOs can inch down a bit then Gibson could be a fantastic scoring guard. He's got more uppies and should be put in a position to succeed going forward. His 3pt shooting volume could use a little love to really up his P/TSA.



6. Greg Monroe - Texas Chaparrals (previous: HM)
Probably wrongfully overlooked before... Monroe can be an offensive stud and decent defender. His rebounding is pretty awful, but that's the area most likely to improve for bigs, so maybe he'll be OK in the long-run there.



7. Stanley Robinson - Washington Bullets (previous: NR)
He's boosted to the max, but still has A shown POT... and is a strong SF with no real holes in his game. I don't know that his ceiling is super high, but is floor appears to be.



8. Willie Warren - Utah Jazz (previous: 8)
#2 in P/TSA, low POT... but still +30 in the chamber for Fason to use. With the right application of those points and TC luck (to just not get worse at this point) he should have a very strong early career run.



9. Arinze Onuaku - Dallas Mavericks (previous: 6a)
Put on ice for the rest of the year, Onuaku has shown that he can be a solid offensive player on a good team. His defense is negligible, but #3 in P/TSA and a lot of POT left, keep your eye on this one.



10. Tiny Gallon - Los Angeles Lakers (previous: 10b)
I'm staying on Tiny Island. His FT% is fixable, his upgrades are all there, and he's already an great rebounder and strong shot blocker. In the right hands, he could be a player.



Honorable Mentions:

Points:
Greivis Vasquez - Utah Jazz
Jordan Crawford - Chicago Bulls

Wings:
Alexey Shved - Atlanta Hawks
Al-Farouq Aminu - Utah Jazz
Elliot Williams - Syracuse Nationals
James Anderson - Chicago Stags

Bigs:
Samardo Samuels - Anaheim Amigos
Gani Lawal - Vancouver Grizzlies
Derrick Caracter - Syracuse Nationals
Miroslav Raduljica - Houston Rockets

[Dirt]

125k

[Fason]

90k

Delap, I'll sell you Willie Warren for some cash and Earl Jones as expiring

[killiam bing]

Jonathon Gibson OTB

[killiam bing]

also shame for delap dropping samardo off the ladder

Samardo Samuels 1 C 66 10.6 19.6 10.7 2.0 0.7 0.8 1.5 .524 .822 .200 1.184 17.3

[20s]

100k

[Sapular]

100K