This appears to be a fairly shallow season for rookies. Of course it felt that way last season as well, and then we were treated to an influx of exciting point guards, led by Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans and Steph Curry. The only thing we know for sure in this era of one-and-done college players is that we will be surprised.
Here are five that will be watched from opening night.
BLAKE GRIFFIN
It says something about this year’s rookie class that the most anticipated debut is from a member of last year’s draft, but Blake Griffin is a special case.
The top pick in 2009, Griffin missed his entire rookie season after suffering a broken kneecap. He was the only can’t miss prospect in last year’s class and he has put together some monster preseason games. With Griffin in place, and hopefully healthy, plus the expected improvement of Eric Gordon, the Clippers entered the summer armed with hope and cap space.
That they did nothing of note besides hire Vinny Del Negro as coach and sign Ryan Gomes and Randy Foye, speaks to the fact that they are the Clippers. Still, Griffin is the latest cornerstone for yet another adventure in franchise building for the other team in Los Angeles.
JOHN WALL
It is somewhat interesting that Wall’s numbers from his one season at Kentucky did not excite the stat-minded community, and yet no one argued too strenuously that he shouldn’t have been the top pick in the draft.
Wall’s game is undeniably exciting, but he also carries himself with an understated charisma that has budding superstar written all over it. He has work to do as a player, as evidenced by his less-than sensational shooting percentage and high turnover rate, but there’s no reason why Wall can’t insert himself into the next great point guard conversation.
The Wizards are still a bit of a mess as they try to transition away from the Gilbert Arenas era. It probably won’t end well, but the sooner they move on -- and move Arenas -- the sooner Wall can take over.
DeMARCUS COUSINS
There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground on Cousins. While some are predicting greatness, others are forecasting doom.
Cousins put up monster numbers at Kentucky -- albeit in somewhat limited minutes -- but questions about his weight and immaturity dogged him throughout the draft process. He may have found a decent landing spot in Sacramento, which is several towns removed from the harsh glare of bigger media markets, but then again, he’s joining a young team with no established leaders (yet).
He and Tyreke Evans offer hope for a franchise that has had very little since the break-up of their early 2000s contender. He has the talent. The rest is up to him.
TIAGO SPLITTER
If you aren’t familiar with the Spurs new big man, you will be soon. Splitter is a polished 26-year-old shot-blocker with an all-around offensive game. He was arguably the best player in Europe the last few years and he made an immediate impression with his play for Brazil in the FIBA World Championships.
San Antonio smartly drafted Splitter in 2007 and then waited patiently while trying to find an effective compliment for Tim Duncan in the post. Fabricio Oberto, Matt Bonner and Antonio McDyess are all very different players, but none has anything close to Splitter’s skill-set.
If the Spurs are to remain in contention during Duncan’s final seasons, Splitter figures to be a major reason why.
DERRICK FAVORS
Despite the fact that he was the third pick in the draft, and taken ahead of Cousins, little is expected of Favors in his rookie season. He is talented to be sure, but Favors has already been marked as a work in progress, a project even.
What Favors is right now and what he will be are two entirely different things. But as of this date he is already an attractive asset for the Nets as they try too pull off a deal to bring Carmelo Anthony to Brooklyn by way of Newark.
That alone makes watching his progress an interesting development.