Rookie Report, Quantity Two

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We’re simply over per week into the season, and relating to this yr’s rookie class there have been some early standouts. Whereas Golden State’s James Wiseman (the main focus of the first version of the Rookie Report) and Washington’s Deni Avdija have produced as starters, Sacramento’s Tyrese Haliburton and Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball have carried out in order reserves. The second version of the rookie report will start with Haliburton, who’s already being trusted to shut out video games for the resurgent Kings.

All aboard the Haliburton bandwagon: The final consensus on draft night time was that Sacramento bought itself a steal in Haliburton. There have been questions on his perimeter shot, as his type is a bit methodical, and whether or not or not it might translate to the NBA stage. However there was no denying Haliburton’s means to play both on or off the ball, an particularly priceless trait given the presence of De’Aaron Fox.

By means of the primary week of the season Haliburton has been the most effective rookie within the NBA relating to fantasy impression, as he ranks simply outdoors of the top-60 in 9-cat and simply outdoors of the top-80 in 8-cat. No different rookie is presently offering top-100 worth in each codecs, though the aforementioned Ball (extra on him beneath) is a top-100 participant in 8-cat. By means of 4 video games Haliburton is averaging 10.5 factors, 2.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 3-pointers and 0.8 turnovers in 27.0 minutes per recreation.

And he’s taking pictures the ball extraordinarily properly to date, posting splits of 56% from the sphere, 50% from three and 100% from the foul line.

Haliburton and Fox have shared the court docket for a median of 14.4 minutes per recreation, which has helped the rookie relating to getting high quality appears. In response to the NBA’s stats, Haliburton boasts an efficient area purpose share of 87.5% and a real taking pictures share of 89.3% when taking part in alongside Fox. These numbers drop considerably when the 2 aren’t on the court docket collectively (57.5 eFG%, 64.4 TS%), however Haliburton’s offensive ranking will increase from 102.5 to 111.3.

Haliburton makes sound choices with the basketball in his fingers, and he has been extra formidable in catch-and-shoot conditions that many anticipated him to be in the course of the pre-draft course of. A query value pondering is whether or not or not there’ll come a degree this season when Luke Walton decides that Haliburton ought to begin. And in that case, who sits? Whereas some might rush to level to Harrison Barnes, he’s a plus defender who’s able to taking up quite a lot of assignments. Buddy Hield? Whereas he was productive coming off the bench final season Hield didn’t look after the sixth man function, and he had no downside letting folks know both.

Perhaps Haliburton, for this season, is greatest suited to return off the bench with Walton ensuring that he and Fox are on the court docket collectively in crunch time. Down the stretch of Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets, it was Marvin Bagley who misplaced out on this state of affairs. Whether or not or not Haliburton begins video games doesn’t imply complete lot. However there seems to be a willingness to let the rookie shut out video games, which is sweet to see at this level in his profession. Haliburton remains to be rostered in simply 47% of Yahoo leagues, and that quantity ought to enhance considerably.

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Edwards’ function with Cities, Okogie sidelined: Minnesota has taken a considerably measured method relating to Anthony Edwards, even if he was the primary general choose. He’s come off the bench in every of the group’s 4 video games, taking part in simply over 25 minutes per. Edwards is averaging 15.0 factors, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks and a couple of.0 3-pointers per contest, whereas taking pictures 41.8% from the sphere, 33.3% from three and 100% from the foul line. With the Timberwolves taking part in with out their greatest offensive participant, as Karl-Anthony Cities is out resulting from a dislocated left wrist, Edwards shall be known as upon for extra offensive manufacturing.

However he’ll doubtless have to take action as a reserve, even with Minnesota additionally shedding Josh Okogie (left hamstring). With each Cities and Okogie sidelined for Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Clippers, Edwards performed practically 25 minutes off the bench whereas Jarrett Culver moved into the beginning lineup. Culver had a tough night time offensively, taking pictures 0-of-10 from the sphere and going scoreless, whereas Edwards hit 4 3-pointers and completed with 12 factors on 4-of-10 taking pictures.

Culver’s the higher defender of the 2, and there’s a want for Edwards’ scoring means with that second unit. So I’m not anticipating Ryan Saunders to maneuver the ballyhooed rookie into the beginning lineup anytime quickly. Edwards ranks a bit outdoors of the top-100 in each 8- and 9-cat codecs, and he’s presently rostered in 67% of Yahoo leagues. That share feels about proper in the interim, even with Cities sidelined.

Pistons rookies don’t lack for alternatives: In our Rotoworld Fantasy Basketball Draft Information, I took Killian Hayes as my high fantasy choice on this class. Why? As a result of he had already been anointed the start line guard in Detroit, and he was additionally one of many few rookies to play a full season final yr. Issues haven’t labored out properly for Hayes to date, and he sprained his ankle throughout Tuesday’s loss to the Warriors. Hayes’ greatest challenge has been his shot, as he presently has taking pictures splits of 27.6% from the sphere, 23.1% from three and 50.0% from the foul line.

Hayes doesn’t have the “INJ” designation in Yahoo leagues, as he’s thought of to be day-to-day, so it isn’t as if he might be stashed in an IL spot. Whereas I wish to train endurance, particularly with starters, it might be time to desert ship on this occasion.

He’s one in all three Pistons rookies who noticed motion in Tuesday’s loss, with Isaiah Stewart taking part in 23 minutes off the bench and Saddiq Bey 15. Bey began Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Hawks, as each Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin got the night time off, and in half-hour he accounted for 10 factors, seven rebounds, one help and two 3-pointers. Rose’s absence pushed Delon Wright all the way down to the second unit, which in flip freed up a spot for Bey.

As for Stewart, after being a DNP-CD in Detroit’s first two video games he’s performed rotation minutes in every of the final two. Loads of that has to do with Griffin, who entered the group’s concussion protocol throughout Tuesday’s recreation. Ought to he need to miss further time Stewart, the sixteenth general choose within the draft, could have extra alternatives to point out that he belongs within the rotation even when Griffin is wholesome.

The rookie out of Washington is averaging 4.0 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 blocks in 19.0 minutes per recreation. There’s no motive to choose up Stewart proper now, however file his title away for later within the season. If Detroit struggles as many count on, gamers akin to Stewart (and Bey) ought to get to play extra with an eye fixed in the direction of the longer term.

Avdija’s function with Hachimura returning: Wizards ahead Deni Avdija has began every of his group’s 4 video games, posting averages of seven.5 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.8 3-pointers in 26.3 minutes per. In comparison with his time in Israel Avdija’s utilization is kind of low at 9.7%, however that’s to be anticipated given how a lot he’s been used alongside Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal. To his credit score the rookie is taking pictures the ball properly, as he’s above 50% from each the sphere and from three. And as famous above, Avdija is presently ranked second amongst rookies in 9-cat codecs.

One thing value contemplating in relation to Avdija’s fantasy worth is the return of Rui Hachimura, who missed time to a nasty case of conjunctivitis. Initially given a timeline of three weeks, Hachimura has been cleared to play Thursday, albeit with a minutes restriction of 20 minutes. Ought to Hachimura be thrust into the beginning lineup instantly, that will doubtless relegate Isaac Bonga to the bench and shift Advija into the small ahead function.

Washington has used the rookie solely on the 4 up to now, and a transfer to the three might make for some troublesome defensive matchups. However spacing has been a problem for the Wizards, and which may be the most effective argument for conserving Avdija with the starters. He’s been a greater shooter than Bonga, and the winless Wizards are in dire want of a constructive end result. If Avdija is moved to the bench, it might doubtless be as a result of the Wizards don’t have a lot in the best way of constant bench scoring outdoors of Davis Bertans.

At present rostered in simply 26% of Yahoo leagues, Avdija’s share ought to enhance even together with his modest scoring common.

Ball serving to to ramp issues up in Charlotte: With regard to tempo the Hornets have been one of many slowest groups within the NBA final season, rating useless final within the league in tempo. By means of 4 video games this season Charlotte ranks seventh in tempo, and the addition of LaMelo Ball has helped issues. He presently ranks third on the group in tempo (107.6), behind Miles Bridges and Caleb Martin. And Ball can be third amongst Hornets regulars in help share, behind Gordon Hayward and Devonte’ Graham.

Ball isn’t the one motive why Charlotte is taking part in quicker and leads the NBA in assists, however he actually hasn’t hindered the Hornets’ efforts to ramp issues up. Wednesday night time he had the most effective recreation of his younger NBA profession, posting a line of twenty-two factors, eight rebounds, 5 assists, one steal, one block and 4 3-pointers in Charlotte’s win over Dallas. Ball is presently rostered in 77% of Yahoo leagues, and he’s becoming in fairly properly together with his new teammates.

Clock strikes midnight for Tate: Houston will welcome again just a few key gamers for Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Kings, together with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Gordon. And that’s unhealthy information for Jae’Sean Tate, who made probably the most of his alternative after spending all of final season within the G-League. In two video games he averaged 9.0 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.0 3-pointers in 31.5 minutes per off the bench. Unfit of being included in any fantasy roster for both of the Rockets’ first two video games, Tate’s minutes will drop considerably transferring ahead. It was enjoyable whereas it lasted.

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