posted October 21, 2009 at 16:24 EST in NBA Articles
NBA Futures - A Look at the NBA Rookie of the Year Prop
by Charles Jay
Who'll Be Rookie Of The Year?
BetUS Sportsbook Odds
To Win NBA Rookie of the Year Award
- Austin Daye +3000
- Blake Griffin Ev
- Brandon Jennings +4000
- DeJuan Blair +2000
- DeMar DeRozan +1500
- DeMarre Carroll +5000
- Earl Clark +1800
- Gerald Henderson +1000
- Hasheem Thabeet +1200
- James Harden +800
- James Johnson +2000
- Jeff Teague +2000
- Jonny Flynn +650
- Jordan Hill +1800
- Jrue Holiday +3000
- Sam Young +2800
- Stephen Curry +500
- Terrence Williams +2000
- Toney Douglas +2500
- Tyler Hansbrough +1600
- Tyreke Evans +650
- Wayne Ellington +2500
- Field (Any Other Player) +1200
I don't know that I want to spend a lot of time talking about people who don't have very much chance to win this award, at least from my points of view. For example, AUSTIN DAYE (+3000 at BetUS) is a project at best. They're talking about how JORDAN HILL (+1800 at BetUS) may not even make it into the Knicks' rotation. JRUE HOLDAY (+3000 at BetUS) needs more experience. The Pittsburgh pair of SAM YOUNG (+2800 at BetUS) and DeJUAN BLAIR (+2000 at BetUS) may not be more than reserves in their NBA careers. TONEY DOUGLAS (+2500 at BetUS) is somebody the Knicks like, but he has to fight for playing time. GERALD HENDERSON (+1000 at BetUS) may make it into the Charlotte rotation, but I don't know how much Larry Brown is going to rely on a rookie. TYLER HANSBROUGH (+1600 at BetUS) looks like he is being bothered by injuries already. Is WAYNE ELLINGTON (+2500 at BetUS), a spot-up shooter, going to be good enough?
I want to focus on the players who I think are going to be in the running for most of the season, from which I am relatively certain the Rookie of the Year will come from:
BLAKE GRIFFIN, Clippers (Even Money at BetUS) -- This is everybody's favorite. The Los Angeles Clippers drafted him with the idea that they would build their offense around him, even though there are some experienced cast members around him, provided they stay healthy, namely Marcus Camby, Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and Al Thornton. Figure him for between 17-19 points and nine or ten rebounds a game.
STEPHEN CURRY, Warriors (+500 at BetUS) -- This is the guy I could see seriously challenging Griffin. Curry has more court sense than many veterans, and he is good enough to start at either the point or at the shooting guard for Golden State. He's going to move without the ball and make some amazing passes. We know that in Don Nelson's offense, he has a chance to score a load of points. He did find himself in a firestorm when he arrived, as Monta Ellis said he can't really play in the backcourt with him. So we'll have to stay tuned. I'll pick him anyway at this price.
HASHEEM THABEET, Grizzlies (+1200 at BetUS) -- His offensive game is going to come slow, but Thabeet has the potential to make a big impact right away as a shot-blocker and rebounder, and these are things Memphis so desperately needs. He'll pick up garbage points, and his candidacy may be measured by how much improvement the teammates, especially on defense.
DeMAR DeROZAN, Raptors (+1500 at BetUS) -- Because of the relative void left at the shooting guard position in Toronto, DeRozan, who only played one year of college ball at USC, will probably get the chance to play a lot right away. He got off slowly as a Trojan, then became very useful. He is hailed for his incredible athleticism, though he may be too green to make an immediate impact. With the style of play Toronto will likely employ, however, you never know.
JAMES HARDEN, Thunder (+800 at BetUS) -- Harden appears to be a guy who fits right in with Oklahoma City at shooting guard, alongside Russell Westbrook and joining Kevin Durant and Jeff Green in what is an energetic young nucleus. Harden is a guy who is advanced and "pro-ready" and although he is ticketed to rotate with Thabo Sefolosha at the "2" spot, it may be just a matter of time before he wrests the lion's share of the responsibility at the position.
BRANDON JENNINGS, Bucks (+4000 at BetUS) -- In a poll where the league's general managers were asked who could be the league's best rookie "sleeper," Jennings got 11.1% of the vote to tie for first. He should probably wind up Milwaukee's starting point guard, and he may be more seasoned than other "one and done" guys because he spent last season in Europe.
JONNY FLYNN, Timberwolves (+650 at BetUS) -- Everyone knew the T-Wolves were looking for a point guard, and they drafted three of them - along with Flynn, there was Ricky Rubio and Ty Lawson. Flynn was the only one who stayed on, and he was a star in the summer league, but we are more ambivalent about his chances now that Minnesota has gone out and signed Ramon Sessions.
TERRENCE WILLIAMS, Nets (+2000 at BetUS) -- This guy is an outside possibility, because he is the most versatile newcomer to come out in the draft this year. Williams played, in effect, a "point forward" at Louisville and has the ability to make teammates better. He will find himself looking for playing time where the team has Courtney Lee at point guard and Chris Douglas-Roberts at small forward, but he may find a place for himself to log a lot of minutes.
TYREKE EVANS, Kings (+650 at BetUS) -- He presents a very intriguing combination in the Sacramento Kings' backcourt, at 6'6" along with 6'7" Kevin Martin. Evans creates matchup difficulty for the opponent, although he is rather green as a point guard and does not have much of an outside shot.
