NBA 2016-17 Season News and Predictions: 5 Best Rookies to Look Out For; Simmons, Dunn Among Top Players
NBA Rookies will soon fulfill their dream of becoming more than just prospects. Based on scouting tapes and college or pro stats, the following players are poised to make it big in the NBA in just their first year.
1. Ben Simmons
Number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers showed his unique skill sets in the Summer League. As a 6'10" power forward, Simmons definitely has the passing vision to match the top point guards in the league. His signature fancy passes will not only sell tickets, they will actually help him become a key figure in the Sixers' lineup with his ability to play big man quarterback for the team.
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Not only does Simmons have the passing ability of an elite point guard, he has the size, athleticism and strength to drive through the basket and attack the rim with strength; something that customary point guards can't do.
Simmons needs to work on his jump shot. He has that weapon in his arsenal but it's not as consistent as one would hope. Surely, he has time to improve that aspect of his game, and with his current skill set, he is definitely the face of a multipurpose player that is the trend in today's NBA game.
2. Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn of the Minnesota Timberwolves has a lot of basketball experience under his belt; having played until his senior year in college. He is a competitive point guard who can play defense as well as offense.
Back in college at Providence, 6'3" guard Dunn averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. During the Las Vegas Summer League, he was the 4th highest scorer at 24.0 points per game, behind top scorer Trey Lyles, Devin Booker and Jordan McRae, doing so with an excellent field goal percentage of 54.3 percent.
Dunn might have a problem with playing time since the Timberwolves already have a strong and experienced point guard in Ricky Rubio.
3. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers had to wait two years before entering the NBA due to surgery. The injury involved broken bones in his right foot which failed to recover on time.
While some experts are still concerned about Embiid's health, his skill upsides cannot be denied. The 7'0" center's strengths include a strong upper body, 7'5" wingspan, excellent agility, finishes above the rim, runs quickly during transition.
4. Dario Saric
Dario Saric of the Philadelphia76ers was drafted two years ago, but he is technically considered a rookie (like Embiid) because he played 2 years abroad instead of playing directly in the NBA.
Among the teams Saric played for overseas are the Croatian national team, Turkish BSL League and the Adriatic League. With all of these experiences, Saric can be considered one of the veterans among the rookies this season.
Saric played for Croatia in the Rio Olympics, where he showcased his incredible skill set, drawing praise from various observers, including his Sixers head coach. In fact, he was dubbed "the Ben Simmons of Croatia" for his ability to make excellent passes.
5. Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield of the New Orleans Pelicans had an excellent showing during the Summer League. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game in Las Vegas.
According to Kevin Pelton of ESPN, "While the Pelicans stocked up on guards this season, Hield is the most prototypical shooting guard on their roster and it doesn't appear Tyreke Evans will be healthy any time soon. So I think Hield has a decent shot to start right away."
The main concern with his game is that those 16.8 points came from an average of 19.6 shots per game, which translates to a field goal shooting percentage of 33.7%, including a meager 24.3 percent from downtown.
Despite these poor percentages, Hield can be a streaky shooter, shooting 4 crucial, consecutive 3-point shots during the later stages of one game.
