Poor Trevor Lacey

[sosoblue]

I bet if he had to do it all over he would have signed with Kentucky. He would have definitely been drafted in the first round. He let family and friends interfere with his decision to sign with KY and now he goes undrafted poor kid.

 

[DakkoN]

He would not have been drafted in first round no matter where whe went. Just look at Aaron Harrison.

 

[sosoblue]

He would not have been drafted in first round no matter where whe went. Just look at Aaron Harrison.

Trevor is a way better shooter than Aaron it's not even close. I believe if Trevor attended UK he would have definitely been a first round pick.

 

[UK90]

He would not have been drafted in first round no matter where whe went. Just look at Aaron Harrison.

This. Lacey was never going first round no matter where he went to school. He's an undersized, underathletic shooting guard with limited upside. Good college player, but never much of a pro prospect.

This myth our fans perpetuate about UK supposedly having some magic stock-rising power is laughable nonsense easily disproven by the facts. Believe it or not folks, we've had an awful lot of guys who actually see their pro stock take big drops during their time at UK, indeed we had quite a few just on this year's team alone (Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, the Harrison twins, etc.).

 

[MWes11]

This. Lacey was never going first round no matter where he went to school. He's an undersized, underathletic shooting guard with limited upside. Good college player, but never much of a pro prospect.

This myth our fans perpetuate about UK supposedly having some magic stock-rising power is laughable nonsense easily disproven by the facts. Believe it or not folks, we've had an awful lot of guys who actually see their pro stock take big drops during their time at UK, indeed we had quite a few just on this year's team alone (Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, the Harrison twins, etc.).

When you say "an awful lot", can you please explain? Since when was Dakari ever slated to go in the first round? Coming out of high school he was a big bodied project that was rated high on potential. Marcus and Alex are still at Kentucky. Marcus, if anything, will elevate his stock by the time he is done. The word is still out on Alex as he is rehabbing the knee. Maybe the twins.

On the flip side, WCS and Booker were no where near lottery picks when they arrived at UK, yet they went in the lottery last night.

 

[UK90]

Since when was Dakari ever slated to go in the first round?
.

When? Umm, at nearly every point in time before this season began. Dakari came out of high school at the nation's No. 1 rated big man who was back then seen as a first round lock, and by some even a potential future lottery pick. After his freshman year, his projections had fallen to the end of the first round in mock drafts. And, after his sophomore year, they'd fallen to the second round. The longer he stayed at UK the further his stock fell.

And the same goes for Aaron, Andrew and Poythress. All mega-hyped recruits who were being projected as future lottery picks when they came out of high school, but instead saw their stock do nothing but steadily decline during their time at UK. And although I'll concede Lee was never projected as high as those guys, suffice to say he's not regarded as nearly as intriguing a prospect today as he was when arrived as a 5 Star McDonald's All American. And those guys are hardly alone, Cal's had other stock droppers as well (Teague, Harrow, Wiltjer, Goodwin, etc.).

And, fwiw, I'm not trying to be critical, but it does make me laugh when I see threads like these that make it sound like Cal has some magical power to raise anyone's draft stock, those folks seem to conveniently forget the guys whose projections went down instead of up while here.

Truth is we, like every program, have some guys whose stock rises while here (Harrelson, Booker, WCS, etc) and others who see big falls (and occasionally perhaps even someone who falls here but rises somewhere else--see Wiltjer/Gonzaga). Some hits, some misses, some rise, some fall. Just like nearly every program, no secret formula.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

When? Umm, at nearly every point in time before this season began. Dakari came out of high school at the nation's No. 1 rated big man who was back then seen as a first round lock, and by some even a potential future lottery pick. After his freshman year, his projections had fallen to the end of the first round in mock drafts. And, after his sophomore year, they'd fallen to the second round. The longer he stayed at UK the further his stock fell.

And the same goes for Aaron, Andrew and Poythress. All mega-hyped recruits who were being projected as future lottery picks when they came out of high school, but instead saw their stock do nothing but steadily decline during their time at UK. And although I'll concede Lee was never projected as high as those guys, suffice to say he's not regarded as nearly as intriguing a prospect today as he was when arrived as a 5 Star McDonald's All American. And those guys are hardly alone, Cal's had other stock droppers as well (Teague, Harrow, Wiltjer, Goodwin, etc.).

And, fwiw, I'm not trying to be critical, but it does make me laugh when I see threads like these that make it sound like Cal has some magical power to raise anyone's stock, those folks seem to conveniently forget the guys whose projections went the other way while here.

Truth is we, like every program, have some guys whose stock rises while here (Harrelson, Booker, WCS, etc) and others who see big falls (and occasionally perhaps even someone who falls here but rises somewhere else--see Wiltjer/Gonzaga). Some hits, some misses, some rise, some fall. Just like nearly every program, no secret formula.

Pretty silly to use two quitters in your argument. Harrow and Wiltjer are not Cal's concern, and it is not his fault in any way that their "stock dropped" as they quit and left halfway through their careers.

I agree with you that UK has had some guys who stock has dropped because the college game exposed them for the overrated HS recruits they were. That happens everywhere though as you stated.

 

[MWes11]

[QUOTE="MWes11, post: 1855527, member: 10924" Since when was Dakari ever slated to go in the first round? .

When? Umm, at nearly every point in time before this season began. Dakari came out of high school at the nation's No. 1 rated big man who was back then seen as a first round lock, and by some even a potential future lottery pick. After his freshman year, his projections had fallen to the end of the first round. And, after his sophomore year, they'd fallen to the second round. The longer he stayed at UK the further his stock fell.

And the same goes the Aaron, Andrew and Poythress. All mega-hyped recruits who were being projected as future lottery picks when they came out of high school, but instead saw their stock do nothing but steadily decline during their time at UK. And although I'll concede Lee was never projected as high as those guys, suffice to say he's not regarded as nearly as intriguing a prospect today as he was when arrived as a 5 Star McDonald's All American a few years ago. And those guys are hardly alone, Cal's had other stock droppers as well (Teague, Harrow, Wiltjer, Goodwin, etc.).

And, fwiw, I'm not trying to be critical, but it does make me laugh when I see threads like these that make it sound like Cal has some magical power to raise anyone's stock, those folks seem to conveniently forget the guys whose projections went the other way while here.

Truth is we, like every program, have some guys whose stock rises while here (Harrelson, Booker, WCS, etc) and others who see big falls (and occasionally perhaps even someone who falls here but rises somewhere else--see Wiltjer/Gonzaga). Some hits, some misses, some rise, some fall. Just like nearly every program, no secret formula.[/QUOTE]
Please show me where Dakari is on these mock drafts before his freshman year?

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/6/28/4469180/nba-mock-draft-2014-andrew-wiggins

http://thehoopdoctors.com/2013/08/2014-nba-mock-draft-way-too-early-version-1-0/

Seems like it has more to do with their over evaluations by HS recruiting "experts" than their time spent at UK.

 

[Poetax]

When? Umm, at nearly every point in time before this season began. Dakari came out of high school at the nation's No. 1 rated big man who was back then seen as a first round lock, and by some even a potential future lottery pick. After his freshman year, his projections had fallen to the end of the first round in mock drafts. And, after his sophomore year, they'd fallen to the second round. The longer he stayed at UK the further his stock fell.

And the same goes for Aaron, Andrew and Poythress. All mega-hyped recruits who were being projected as future lottery picks when they came out of high school, but instead saw their stock do nothing but steadily decline during their time at UK. And although I'll concede Lee was never projected as high as those guys, suffice to say he's not regarded as nearly as intriguing a prospect today as he was when arrived as a 5 Star McDonald's All American. And those guys are hardly alone, Cal's had other stock droppers as well (Teague, Harrow, Wiltjer, Goodwin, etc.).

And, fwiw, I'm not trying to be critical, but it does make me laugh when I see threads like these that make it sound like Cal has some magical power to raise anyone's draft stock, those folks seem to conveniently forget the guys whose projections went down instead of up while here.

Truth is we, like every program, have some guys whose stock rises while here (Harrelson, Booker, WCS, etc) and others who see big falls (and occasionally perhaps even someone who falls here but rises somewhere else--see Wiltjer/Gonzaga). Some hits, some misses, some rise, some fall. Just like nearly every program, no secret formula.

Harrow was a high projection when he transferred to KY? That's news. And Wiltjer? Again you will have to show me an article declaring him a high lottery pick before he came to KY. Plus didn't Goodwin and Teague go in the first round. I would stick with the twins, that's a safer bet.

 

[westerncat]

unless I'm mistaken, Lacey didn't pick UK because UK already had Doron Lamb committed when he made his decision.

Correct .

 

[bucsrule8872]

I really think Johnson and the Twins should have left in 14. Their stock probably didn't improve much this season.

And we would not have had the whole undefeated season thing looming over our heads.

I wonder how far a team with Ulis, Booker, Lyles, WCS, and KAT starting and Lee and Hawkins off the bench could have gone in the tourney?

 

[bucsrule8872]

unless I'm mistaken, Lacey didn't pick UK because UK already had Doron Lamb committed when he made his decision.

This.

 

[gossie21]

unless I'm mistaken, Lacey didn't pick UK because UK already had Doron Lamb committed when he made his decision.

I'm a little fuzzy on the Lacey recruitment. Did he ever even have a commitable offer? I don't remember UK really going after him very hard.

 

[.S&C.]

This. Lacey was never going first round no matter where he went to school. He's an undersized, underathletic shooting guard with limited upside. Good college player, but never much of a pro prospect.

This myth our fans perpetuate about UK supposedly having some magic stock-rising power is laughable nonsense easily disproven by the facts. Believe it or not folks, we've had an awful lot of guys who actually see their pro stock take big drops during their time at UK, indeed we had quite a few just on this year's team alone (Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, the Harrison twins, etc.).

Lacey might not have ever been first round. That's where I stop agreeing with you.

UK doesn't have magical stock rising powers. What we have is a system designed to benefit draft positions. Cal actually prefers a lot of players leave early. He doesn't push them out, but he believes in early exits. That actually does impact draft positions. Most coaches are not behaved that way. An example would be Rajon Rondo. I would bet dollars to donuts he's drafted above 21st if he played for a season or two under John Calipari. I could see s high as 5th actually.

For every player you name that has not helped his stock by coming here, I can name some that have. Is Cal supposed to improve the stock of every single player that walked through they door every single year? For what he does, he is absolutely the very best at getting players ready to leave early with a good pick.

I also don't see how Goodwin hurt his stock by coming here, and if Johnson played for anyone else he'd probably be seeing his third year coming. Just think about Johnson at UNC. He'd be back.

UK helps the draft stock of certain players a lot more relative to other programs. It might not be by some magical margin, but it's real. NBA GM's trust Cals eye for NBA ready high school kids.

 

[.S&C.]

When? Umm, at nearly every point in time before this season began. Dakari came out of high school at the nation's No. 1 rated big man who was back then seen as a first round lock, and by some even a potential future lottery pick. After his freshman year, his projections had fallen to the end of the first round in mock drafts. And, after his sophomore year, they'd fallen to the second round. The longer he stayed at UK the further his stock fell.

And the same goes for Aaron, Andrew and Poythress. All mega-hyped recruits who were being projected as future lottery picks when they came out of high school, but instead saw their stock do nothing but steadily decline during their time at UK. And although I'll concede Lee was never projected as high as those guys, suffice to say he's not regarded as nearly as intriguing a prospect today as he was when arrived as a 5 Star McDonald's All American. And those guys are hardly alone, Cal's had other stock droppers as well (Teague, Harrow, Wiltjer, Goodwin, etc.).

And, fwiw, I'm not trying to be critical, but it does make me laugh when I see threads like these that make it sound like Cal has some magical power to raise anyone's draft stock, those folks seem to conveniently forget the guys whose projections went down instead of up while here.

Truth is we, like every program, have some guys whose stock rises while here (Harrelson, Booker, WCS, etc) and others who see big falls (and occasionally perhaps even someone who falls here but rises somewhere else--see Wiltjer/Gonzaga). Some hits, some misses, some rise, some fall. Just like nearly every program, no secret formula.

But see the truth is we are NOTHING like other programs, in almost any way. Our recruiting and player turnover is nowhere near like any other program. Players don't get drafted anywhere else like here. Players don't sit on the bench for 35 minutes a game only to be drafted in the first round at other schools.

Of course we are going to have some guys who will have some slippage. It's not a perfect world. But for the most part Cal is the best if you want every advantage for the NBA as possible.

 

[GonzoCat90]

The key is exposure, opportunity, and not messing up the "locks."

But you're a fool to not see the difference among guys who actually have the tools/upside/skill and where they end up. No one thinks any coach can take Doron Lamb and get him drafted over Andrew Wiggins. It's the difference in Towns/Okafor/Alexander or Booker/Winslow/Oubre.

Every player has a range. A floor and a ceiling regarding their draft stock. Scouts usually know it coming out of high school, with the elite prospects anyway. Say what you want, but our guys typically end up toward the higher end of their range than the lower end.

And that's what top recruits want: don't screw up the studs, and give the next tier a chance to be a lottery pick or drafted in the first round.

 

[.S&C.]

You know why Dakari's stock didn't improve but actually dropped this season? Because he regressed. Let's not act like it's Cal's fault that he fell out of the first round.

Another point on the head. How is It cals fault johnson was rated a little too high out of high school? And in reality, how did he hurt himself? This isn't some exact science, Johnson came in and left around where anticipated anyway.

Dumb debate.

 

[.S&C.]

Would love to see the rundown on Bill Self as UK90 sees it.

 

[Smashcat]

I really think Johnson and the Twins should have left in 14. Their stock probably didn't improve much this season.

And we would not have had the whole undefeated season thing looming over our heads.

I wonder how far a team with Ulis, Booker, Lyles, WCS, and KAT starting and Lee and Hawkins off the bench could have gone in the tourney?

Nice team but very vulnerable with one good shooter, Booker, who tailed off the second half, and one small PG who would have been much easier to prepare for.

 

[Teachable Moe]

You know why Dakari's stock didn't improve but actually dropped this season? Because he regressed. Let's not act like it's Cal's fault that he fell out of the first round.

I don't think he regressed as much as teams figured out how to guard him: jostle his lower body as he shoots. He has very poor balance & no ref calls a foul on contact like that when a big man shoots. Losing weight helped his speed but hurt his stability. My take on it, anyway.

 

[gossie21]

You know why Dakari's stock didn't improve but actually dropped this season? Because he regressed. Let's not act like it's Cal's fault that he fell out of the first round.

That's true. It helped the program that Dakari and the Harrisons came back. But it likely hurt the players and their draft position.

 

[cal=8]

This. Lacey was never going first round no matter where he went to school. He's an undersized, underathletic shooting guard with limited upside. Good college player, but never much of a pro prospect.

This myth our fans perpetuate about UK supposedly having some magic stock-rising power is laughable nonsense easily disproven by the facts. Believe it or not folks, we've had an awful lot of guys who actually see their pro stock take big drops during their time at UK, indeed we had quite a few just on this year's team alone (Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, the Harrison twins, etc.).

Lacy is 6"5 and can shoot, he would have looked a lot better in Cal's system playing the wing. Late 1st round to early second. imo

 

[cal=8]

Actually he's 6"3 coming out of High School. I thought when we were recruiting him he was listed at 6"5. My bad.. Still if James Young can be a 1st rounder.. That was definitely the Ky affect..
Trevor Lacey #3

Guard

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 200 pounds
Class Year: HS
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
High School: Butler HS

As a Recruit (profile)


Class: 2011 (High School)
Rating/Rankings:

| Rivals150 for the class of 2011 (24)
2011: Shooting guards (6)

Highlight Videos [more]
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[UK90]

Actually he's 6"3 coming out of High School. I thought when we were recruiting him he was listed at 6"5. My bad.. Still if James Young can be a 1st rounder.. That was definitely the Ky affect..
.

That is a nonsensical comparison. There is a WORLD of difference between James Young and Trevor Lacey in terms of that all important physical "potential" that scouts love. The difference between Young and Lacey is not the "Ky effect", instead it's the "genetically gifted a better body" effect.

And, for the record, even that 6'3" listing was an exaggeratIon with Lacey. In reality, he's only about 6'1" without shoes and, in fact, at some of his pre-draft measurements, only measured around 6'1" and a half WITH SHOES (see Link). And, on top of that, he does not have special athleticism or speed, does not have a long wingspan, and his game is that of a wing/two, not a point.

How the hell do you think Cal was going to make that guy a first rounder? The problem with Lacey was NOT his skill development, in fact he developed nicely into a very good college player, instead the problem was that he simply did not have the kind of physical gifts--in terms of size, quickness, athleticism and wingspan--that NBA scouts look for in shooting guard prospects. How was Cal gonna fix that? He can't make him bigger, quicker or give him longer arms. Lacey would not have been a first rounder if he'd gone here, or anywhere else.

 

[irishcat1965]

This. Lacey was never going first round no matter where he went to school. He's an undersized, underathletic shooting guard with limited upside. Good college player, but never much of a pro prospect.

This myth our fans perpetuate about UK supposedly having some magic stock-rising power is laughable nonsense easily disproven by the facts. Believe it or not folks, we've had an awful lot of guys who actually see their pro stock take big drops during their time at UK, indeed we had quite a few just on this year's team alone (Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee, the Harrison twins, etc.).

You have shown with this post you know absolutely nothing about basketball. Seriously.

 

[K-Town Kat]

UK90 with some of the more silly posts to ever grace Rupp Rafters.

UK doesn't have magical draft powers, but we're the closest damn thing to it in the college game right now.

To bring up Wiltjer and Harrow in any argument against Cal's ability to improve stock is asinine beyond words.

 

[throatpoker]

never heard of him

 

[TBCat]

Trevor is a way better shooter than Aaron it's not even close. I believe if Trevor attended UK he would have definitely been a first round pick.

There is nothing to support this. Look at all the players drafted from small schools. Where is the evidence that going to one particular school gets you drafted. UK gets players drafted first off because we get the best players. Second Cal has a system that features them right but that still won't matter if the player doesn't hold up his end of the bargain. Lacey didn't get drafted because he did nothing that NBA teams would want. Playing for UK would have just meant he would be fighting Hawkins for minutes.

 

[caneintally]

Lacey might not have ever been first round. That's where I stop agreeing with you.

UK doesn't have magical stock rising powers. What we have is a system designed to benefit draft positions. Cal actually prefers a lot of players leave early. He doesn't push them out, but he believes in early exits. That actually does impact draft positions. Most coaches are not behaved that way. An example would be Rajon Rondo. I would bet dollars to donuts he's drafted above 21st if he played for a season or two under John Calipari. I could see s high as 5th actually.

For every player you name that has not helped his stock by coming here, I can name some that have. Is Cal supposed to improve the stock of every single player that walked through they door every single year? For what he does, he is absolutely the very best at getting players ready to leave early with a good pick.

I also don't see how Goodwin hurt his stock by coming here, and if Johnson played for anyone else he'd probably be seeing his third year coming. Just think about Johnson at UNC. He'd be back.

UK helps the draft stock of certain players a lot more relative to other programs. It might not be by some magical margin, but it's real. NBA GM's trust Cals eye for NBA ready high school kids.

As usual S&C is dead on .

 

[docholiday51]

Several good points in this thread,I think the bottom line is -if UK offers,you damn well better think pretty hard about taking the offer if your goal is to get to the NBA and have people notice you while you are getting there.

 

[sosoblue]

There is nothing to support this. Look at all the players drafted from small schools. Where is the evidence that going to one particular school gets you drafted. UK gets players drafted first off because we get the best players. Second Cal has a system that features them right but that still won't matter if the player doesn't hold up his end of the bargain. Lacey didn't get drafted because he did nothing that NBA teams would want. Playing for UK would have just meant he would be fighting Hawkins for minutes.

LOL - Yeah right a 5* shooting guard fighting Hawkins for minutes you must be joking right??

 

[Philstat]

I bet if he had to do it all over he would have signed with Kentucky. He would have definitely been drafted in the first round. He let family and friends interfere with his decision to sign with KY and now he goes undrafted poor kid.

I lived in Huntsville during the time Trevor was in HS, his father worked for a moving company and during one summer I spent three full days with him. During this time he told me about Trevor and some of the decisions he had to make, and spoke in good detail about some of the recruiting process. He was very familiar with Cousins and Bledsoe, knew them as young kids playing during the summer leagues. He never really appeared interested in UK, didn't even seem as knowledgeable as one would think living in an SEC state, he knew of Cal and the controversy of leaving Memphis, though what recollection he had of UK was mostly of the Tubby years. Super nice guy, just didn't seem overly excited in discussing UK, he spoke very highly of Duke of all places.

 

[cal=8]

That is a nonsensical comparison. There is a WORLD of difference between James Young and Trevor Lacey in terms of that all important physical "potential" that scouts love. The difference between Young and Lacey is not the "Ky effect", instead it's the "genetically gifted a better body" effect.

And, for the record, even that 6'3" listing was an exaggeratIon with Lacey. In reality, he's only about 6'1" without shoes and, in fact, at some of his pre-draft measurements, only measured around 6'1" and a half WITH SHOES (see Link). And, on top of that, he does not have special athleticism or speed, does not have a long wingspan, and his game is that of a wing/two, not a point.

How the hell do you think Cal was going to make that guy a first rounder? The problem with Lacey was NOT his skill development, in fact he developed nicely into a very good college player, instead the problem was that he simply did not have the kind of physical gifts--in terms of size, quickness, athleticism and wingspan--that NBA scouts look for in shooting guard prospects. How was Cal gonna fix that? He can't make him bigger, quicker or give him longer arms. Lacey would not have been a first rounder if he'd gone here, or anywhere else.

Well, I wasn't comparing James Young's game to Lacy's. I was more saying that James Young wouldn't have been a one in done at any other school but Ky. Even though young is athletic he's not super athletic and I was surprised he went in the 1st round based on his play at Ky. The NBA does draft on potential though..

On Lacy, I stand corrected Sir. I thought he was 6"3 coming out of high school and maybe grew an inch or so.

 

[BLUEHILLS]

Lacey will be fine. He will make lots of money (to the average person), travel the world. He will probably grow a big beard, let the hair grow, maybe even get a little gut. He will be raining 3's from 30, play in a couple of European All Star games and maybe even win a title. He will marry an Eastern European beauty, have pretty kids one of which will be recruited by Kentucky in 2040.

Not a bad gig if you can get it.....

 

[cal=8]

You've nothing to base that claim on other than self serving explanation. And why? Do you think the NBA scouts didn't know about Young until UK?

I can assure you they already did, as he was a 5 star Top 10 national recruit who was a wing/two prospect that stood over 6'6" (and nearly 6'7" with shoes), had a 7'0" wingspan, around a 36 inch standing vertical leap, was an extremely fluid athlete, with solid skills and a pretty jumper. THAT'S the reason why he's a first round draft pick but not guys like Lacey. Unlike the other prospects at his position, Young's body and physical tools were like the picture perfect prototype of all the physical attributes scouts look for in a wing/two prospect--when they looked at him words like "potential" and ""upside" immediately danced in their head.

You think the scouts would've somehow missed all that if he'd gone to Duke, Kansas or wherever else?

I don't think he'd been one and done at Kansas or Duke. He averages 3.4 points in the NBA and his prototypical NBA wing body gets him 1.4 rebounds game. He's not that good.

Also, I'm just voicing my opinion, I don't appreciate your insulting response calling me self serving.
We're all just fans voicing our opinion, you should show some respect sir.

 

[mj2k10]

I don't think he'd been one and done at Kansas or Duke. He averages 3.4 points in the NBA and his prototypical NBA wing body gets him 1.4 rebounds game. He's not that good.

He might not be, but you're totally off if you think that you can judge that from his rookie stats.

How many guys do you think have come into the NBA and averaged 10 ppg as rookies the last 5 years? I'll tell you- 21. Slightly more than 4 per draft. And the vast majority of those played on terrible teams, meaning their stats were a function of opportunity as much as ability.

Here are the rookie numbers for 2 guys who have proven to be pretty damn good.

Draymond Green- 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rebounds, shot .327

Jimmy Butler- 2.6 ppg, 1.3 rebounds, shot .405.

And Young's rookie numbers weren't substantially different than guys in the same draft class, like Dante Exum, Nic Stauskas, Doug McDermott, Gary Harris, or Jordan Adams. Maybe none of those guys, Young included, turns out to be much of an NBA player. But it's way too early to judge.

 

[UKcats1988]

He might not be, but you're totally off if you think that you can judge that from his rookie stats.

How many guys do you think have come into the NBA and averaged 10 ppg as rookies the last 5 years? I'll tell you- 21. Slightly more than 4 per draft. And the vast majority of those played on terrible teams, meaning their stats were a function of opportunity as much as ability.

Here are the rookie numbers for 2 guys who have proven to be pretty damn good.

Draymond Green- 2.9 ppg, 3.3 rebounds, shot .327

Jimmy Butler- 2.6 ppg, 1.3 rebounds, shot .405.

And Young's rookie numbers weren't substantially different than guys in the same draft class, like Dante Exum, Nic Stauskas, Doug McDermott, Gary Harris, or Jordan Adams. Maybe none of those guys, Young included, turns out to be much of an NBA player. But it's way too early to judge.

Yes. Most rookies aren't good and are very inefficient, there's a steep learning curve. Even a guy like Wiggins who may end up being a annual all star wasn't that good this year.

 

[cal=8]

I guess he was in the D-league his rookie year? The stats I quoted were from his 2nd year.

 

[UK90]

I guess he was in the D-league his rookie year? The stats I quoted were from his 2nd year.

Huh? You mean the "2d year" that hasn't happened yet?

 

[mj2k10]

I guess he was in the D-league his rookie year? The stats I quoted were from his 2nd year.

Huh?

James Young just ended his rookie year. He did spend time in the D-League (which has become very common, and is not some mark of Cain that the foolish try to make it out to be), but the stats you quoted were from his NBA games.