Top 10 NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates Entering 2016-17

With Ben Simmons likely to spend a great deal of the campaign on the bench with injury, here’s an updated look at projected NBA Rookie candidates for 2016-17.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to recover from osing first overall pick Ben Simmons to a foot injury. That injury will likely keep him out for the first half of the NBA season. The team has mastered the exhibition of patience awaiting many prized assets over the course of Sam Hinkie’s radical rebuild. Still, the further setback of yet another injury following delayed arrivals of Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Dario Saric was a tough pill to swallow.

Despite the hurdle, however, the team remains very optimistic over this year’s opportunity. Their first taste of veteran leadership on the court at the season opener is now history. Meanwhile, their young talents should have a myriad of opportunities to establish themselves as legitimate forces at the next level. The team’s rookie class, especially, is a group worth watching.

Simmons appears to be trending towards a mid-season return, but Philly still wields three highly talented first year players in Embiid and Saric, as well as this year’s 24th overall pick, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. There’s a certain level of uncertainty surrounding all three of them this year. But that seems to be the case with entire rookie class as a whole.

The talent level from the 2016 NBA Draft season did not match up as touted as previous drafts. Some believe this lack of depth forced NBA experts to overstate the potential of some of the most hyped youngsters. Without further ado, here’s the Top 10 Rookie of the Year candidates entering the 2016-17 season:

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Taurean Prince

SF, Atlanta Hawks

Prince was the haul Atlanta brought in during the three-team transaction that sent former All-Star point guard Jeff Teague to Indiana. The Baylor product’s draft stock fluctuated continuously throughout the offseason. Now he is the likely backup small forward for a competitive team in an improving Eastern Conference.

Prince brings his undeniable hustle on a nightly basis. He’s a versatile, athletic 6-7 forward, who uses all of his physical tools on both ends of the floor. He runs the court hard in transition. He is the type of gritty defender that should mesh well with the Hawks’ culture under Mike Budenholzer.

Atlanta is an offense that thrives off of spacing, and they will be able to rely even more so on some of the open shots created on the perimeter with the addition of Dwight Howard underneath, someone who will command significant defensive attention on the low block and coming off of pick-and-rolls. Prince is a strong spot-up shooter from deep, and has the explosiveness needed to run the court and make hard cuts to the rim for a team that could find themselves pushing the pace even more with Dennis Schroder starting on a nightly basis.

Prince’s defense will help earn playing time. He has all the chops of an upper echelon defender who can take on league’s better athletic presences.

The Hawks have built a team-oriented culture in recent seasons. Prince will mold quite well into that rotation by the time the regular season is in full swing. His hustle is going to gain both himself and his teammates extra opportunities, while his two-way productions fits ideally into the backup role behind Kent Bazemore that was looking relatively thin towards the end of last season.

While still a long shot in the discussion, Prince deserves his place in this conversation.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Caris LeVert

SG, Brooklyn Nets

LeVert is another player who comes into the league in an interesting position. The Nets traded up to the 20th spot in the draft specifically targeting the Michigan standout. Despite injury concerns the Brooklyn Nets valued him far above his second round projection. The Nets anticipated a talent-deprived back-court as they traded up. That vacuum will give LeVert ample opportunity to break into the rotation. He actually could find himself as one of the more utilized rookies once his off-season injury woes have passed.

There’s a number of different layers to LeVert’s game. He operates like a point guard at times, while still standing relatively tall for the 2-guard spot at 6-7.

With Jeremy Lin and Greivis Vasquez manning the primary point guard roles for the Nets, it’s likely that we’ll see LeVert playing off the ball for the vast majority of the season, being utilized both as a spacing threat and a secondary playmaker in pick-and-roll situations.

He’s the type of player who can keep the ball flowing offensively. He has both the basketball I.Q. and talent necessary to step into a legitimate role from day one.

While not a knock down shooter, he hit 45 percent from outside during his final season with Michigan. He accomplished that while taking just upwards of four shots per game from that distance. LeVert has proven his value as somebody who can step off the ball and knock down shots when he isn’t controlling the pace of the game. That should translate well for his immediate utility at the NBA level.

LeVert’s defensive prowess is another benefit on a Nets team that could do better than some expect in that regard. Brook Lopez has been notorious for his lack of shot blocking in the past, but recent seasons have shown evident improvement from the big body underneath. Jeremy Lin is also a versatile piece on the perimeter, and players like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Sean Kilpatrick give them some capable athletes to work with defensively. LeVert can cover essentially all three backcourt positions, one through three, and will only become more notable on that side of the ball as his frame matures.

LeVert has both the talent and the opportunity this upcoming season. He fell from a first round projection due to concerns over his injuries. The Nets looked past those concerns from a need at back court. The Nets paid handsomely to acquire him for their thin backcourt . Don’t be overly surprised to see LeVert carry a real chunk of the offensive load in some capacity in 2016-17.

Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

Buddy Hield

SG, New Orleans Pelicans

There are people dubbing Hield the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, among several other things. So, naturally, I’m here to pump the brakes on the proverbial hype train in regards to Hield. The youngster was incredibly fun to watch at Oklahoma last season. The Pelicans will give him plenty of room to operate -but the conditions simply aren’t the same.

Hield’s production during his breakout senior campaign relied upon isolation scoring. He played in an offense that ran, unabridged, through the sharpshooting two-guard. His offense erupted in college basketball by a great scheme. That scheme delivered more than enough opportunities to him to gel incredible offensive production on a nightly basis.

That won’t happen in the NBA.

He could develop into an offensive contributor in the NBA. But the system masked his deficiencies in college. That customized approach to his offense won’t happen in the NBA. There are some concerns that should limit the seemingly overwhelming optimism surrounding him.

The first of those concerns is his athleticism.

Heild isn’t an overly impressive athlete. He has a sub-par wingspan and a general lack of explosiveness. That will limit him against the more gifted perimeter talents in today’s league. Defensively he’ll be outmatched consistently early on, and his inability to get open without countless opportunities to carve out his own offense could prevent him from becoming the secondary option to Anthony Davis that some may be picturing him as. He needs to work on his passing, while also accelerating the speed of his play. He’s a score-heavy offensive piece, and may need to be patient in an offense that won’t rely solely on his output.

For the forseeable future, Anthony Davis presides as the overarching force behind the Pelicans’ offense. Davis’ post presence will open up shots for Hield outside. That combination will give Heilld plenty of chances to make opponents pay as a result. The offense will run through Davis, however, which will limit Heilld’s upside. Davis carried this team all of last season. That won’t change this year.

Assuming the Pelicans don’t make significant strides, Hield will be more of a serviceable rotational player than an all-out featured part of the offense, something that many seem to deem him as of right now. Tyreke Evans and Lance Stephenson are two legitimate contributors who are bound to see considerable time on the wing as well, once the first gets healthy. Hield was more of a sure-thing contributor from my perspective coming into draft night, more so than a superstar lottery bid– and my stance hasn’t changed.

There’s also no guarantee that we see Hield crack the starting rotation this season. He’ll start the year on the bench according to John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, and that is in lieu of injuries to an already-plagued Pellies backcourt.

He’ll have his chances to put up fine statistics, but don’t be considering him your top Rookie of the Year candidate quite yet. He has much more to prove.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown

SF, Boston Celtics

Brown’s selection by the Boston Celtics at third overall in the 2016 NBA Draft confused many. But he boasts an NBA-ready frame and nice two-way skill set. In a shallow draft, those qualities make him somebody capable of working himself nicely into a Boston Celtics roster. His contribution, however, may be limited on a team which should be competitive in the Eastern Conference this season.

Brown had his ups and downs as a freshman at California. But he meshes well with the virtues that Brad Stevens and company like to stress in Beantown. He brings a physical and aggressive wing with extravagant defensive upside. Additionally, he boasts an ideal blend of unselfishness and aggressiveness on offense.

The Celtics are loaded on the wing already, with both Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley clearly deserving the starting roles as it stands–I understand that. But Brown could crack the rotation which could pave the way for his emerging as a very productive rookie. Boston likes to flex their defensive versatility, and Brown plays perfectly into that type of system. He can guard any level of athlete on the perimeter with effectiveness. He also holds the type of killer mentality that should get him ample playing time even when games are on the line.

Brown also has the type of bullish frame that bodes well for his offensive effectivness at the next level as well. He’s a hard slasher who can finish through contact at a high level already. He also possesses the physical tools needed to slide right into the NBA game on either side. Brown could work well off of the likes of an Isaiah Thomas as somebody capable of diving to the basket or stepping onto the perimeter and keeping the defense honest.

His outside shot looked good during Summer League play. If he can maintain any semblance of consistency, he would be a key part of the Celtic’s offensive arsenal.

Boston stands among the best in the league in recent years at maximizing young talent. Brown should be one more link in that chain. Stevens is a coach who understands the minutia of the game. He places rookies into positions to excel, even when the team around them doesn’t mesh perfectly around their skill set.

Brown is somebody who has proven himself willing to do the work it takes to become a vital part of an evolving rotation. Even out of the spotlight, he’s an intelligent young man who reads the game better than many give him credit for. His mental focus and drive on the court is truly among the most impressive not only in this draft class, but in recent years as well.

This is a Celtics team that has done very well as of late with the pieces they’ve compiled, albeit in a funky and somewhat unorthodox manner when looking at their roster. The Celtic’s selection of Brown left many seeing simply a miscast prospect to a team rich in his talents. However you see it, the Celtics are an ideal team to develop Jaylen Brown’s talents to their fullest.

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Dario Saric

PF, Philadelphia 76ers

Dario Saric became a Philadelphia 76ers as a result of trading point guard Elfrid Payton. Additionally, the 76ers obtained a second round pick (Richaun Holmes) as well as restored a first round pick the team had dealt in the Bynum era.

Saric spent the next two years playing overseas with Anadolu Efes, and committed to join the NBA after two years. It was that promise to arrive this year that gave so many impatient fans the patience to #TrustTheProcess.

As a fluid stretch four with a high basketball I.Q. and legitimate range on his outside shot, Saric molds well into today’s pace-and-space oriented league. He also gives the 76ers a level of flexibility they had lacked in the frontcourt in recent years. His ability to polish his game as a professional overseas has helped his stock in terms of debuting NBA-ready. The injury to Ben Simmons gives Saric the opportunity to start, or solidify a solid role in the rotation.

Saric’s play in the Rio Olympics with Croatia wasn’t the boost of confidence some fans were hoping for. Still, there were certainly positives to look at. While he failed to sink a high percentage of his perimeter shots, he remained a dangerous weapon from outside. Saric was also more than capable of putting the ball on the floor and creating opportunities off the bounce.

Now that Saric has arrived to the NBA, he needs to build solid consistancy. He has all the tools to fill in nicely as the offensive utility piece. Perhaps Saric may eventually emerge as the sharpshooting pass-happy forward his Euroleague videos promised. In either scenario, he can help boost the Sixers’ offense and defense for years to come.

Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown ran out of time in last season’s attempt to build Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel into complimentary roles. The experiment failed to generate much successful offense in the paint with two centers manning the middle last season. Saric’s ability to shoot the ball from the outside and help move the ball is something that could help the offense run much more smoothly, especially given the extra boost of playmaking that has been put around him as well. There is legitimate veteran talent in the rotation, and that sets up Saric to be able to rely in a handful of ways on others in the rotation while still garnering a fairly large chunk of Philadelphia’s game plan.

There has been a lot riding on Saric’s eventual debut in a Sixers uniform, and with Simmons out to kick off the season, it’s difficult to give any reason why Saric shouldn’t be given a bountiful chance to become one of the more integral pieces of a budding rotation in Philly. One of the Sixers’ trio of five-men is likely to be shipped elsewhere at some point as well, which would only open up more room in the rotation for Saric to inevitably make an impact. All in all, a skilled rookie on a not-so-great roster makes Saric a worthy name to mention.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Ingram

SF, Los Angeles Lakers

The highly coveted second overall pick is slotted to come off the bench behind Luol Deng to begin the season, which is the main reason why he doesn’t find himself placed higher up in these rankings. As one of the more intriguing talents in this year’s draft class, Ingram’s lanky scoring threat is something Luke Walton will likely be willing to rely on heavily in the second unit for a budding Lakers roster, and his ability in playing either forward position could increase his production even more.

There are obvious concerns surrounding Ingram’s body as his makes his way into the league. Despite his incredible wingspan and excellent mobility at 6-9, he could be challenged by his rail-thin build when facing more mature and physical opponent. He’s the type of knockdown shooter that should find immediate production spacing the floor alongside Los Angeles’ skilled backcourt. Still, his game could be limited as he builds up to driving down the lane. He will need time to develop finishing off tougher shots underneath. That is a timeline that may suffer from his physicality disadvantage.

All things considered, the raw upside Ingram has in a Luke Walton-led regime is undeniably appealing. They’re likely to get out in transition and push the pace consistently, which Ingram will excel. He runs the floor in long strides and is extremely difficult to cover from any position. Despite his lack of bulk, he is at home at the perimeter. The Lakers still don’t have an overwhelming amount of bench talent to draw from, and Ingram will be an integral part of the rotation regardless of how prominently Deng is featured as the starter.

Ingram’s defensive versatility could gain him some extra consideration in the race as well. His ability to stick with almost any position in combination with his physical gifts should offer him ample block shots, while his aptness in turning turnovers into instant offense in the form of a fast break was constantly noticeable during his brief tenure with Duke.

While he may not appear as the most NBA-ready talent in the draft, his overall skill level puts him into these rankings without much doubt whatsoever. He has the pure scoring stature of somebody capable of working his way into the starting lineup with time, and his talents are something the rebuilding Lakers should be highly focused on developing. He has the potential to be the cornerstone of this franchise moving forwards in some capacity, and overlooking him is both difficult and unreasonable.

Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Dunn

PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kris Dunn is set to kick off the season behind Ricky Rubio in the rotation, but the rookie’s prowess as a facilitator and defensive stopper should give Tom Thibodeau plenty of reason to give him consistent minutes from day one–despite his somewhat worrying history with playing youngsters.

Dunn is oft-referred to as the most NBA-ready guard in the crop. He’s earned that reputation with good reason. At 6-foot-4 and great athleticism, he projects very well as an NBA point guard. He sees the floor extremely well, and has the speed and athletic tools needed to compete immediately with the stellar athletes than will accompany him at the position at the next level.

Dunn showed immense improvement as a shooter during his junior campaign with Providence last year, and his operation in pick-and-roll scenarios was among the most prolific in college basketball. With talented a talented big like Karl-Anthony Towns to run alongside in the rotation from time to time, there’s a lot of optimism to be had regarding just how many opportunities he’ll have to put himself into situations in which he can make plays.

Regardless of Thibs’ throwback style, the Wolves are a team built to get out in transition and run the court. That’s just fine for Dunn as he transitions to the next level. He’ll have plenty of young legs to push the pace. Dunn simply needs to get out in space to truly function as the spearhead of the offense. With Dunn’s skillset, that fits right into his wheelhouse.

He’s hitting the league as one of the more polished young playmakers, despite a few turnover issues in college, and has the basketball I.Q. and general skill needed to truly make an impact that few players are capable of making immediately. Rubio’s certainty with the organization is far from settled moving forwards as well, and Zach LaVine‘s natural position still seems to lean towards the two-guard more so than the point.

With a Rubio trade being a legitimate possibility, that only increases the upside in taking stock on Dunn as a Rookie of the Year possibility. He’ll have plenty of chance to make an impression regardless, as he should be one of the focal points of a Timberwolves team being built around youthful players. There’s room for fluctuation based on just how heavily Thibs leans on the former Providence stud, but 4th in these rankings is a safe spot to start.

Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Jamal Murray

SG, Denver Nuggets

I had Murray ranked as my top prospect coming into this draft, and although I may stand relatively alone with that perspective, it’s difficult to deny the potential he has in Denver. While the main concern is going to be playing time with the likes of Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, and Will Barton, Murray’s ability to handle work at both positions in the backcourt should open up plenty of opportunities for the 7th overall pick to exploit.

Athleticism isn’t the strong point of Murray’s game, but his instincts on the offensive side of the ball are simply unmatched when compared to this year’s crop of rookies. His perimeter shooting is really only countered by the aforementioned Buddy Hield from a proficiency standpoint, and his ability to find holes in the defense and position himself for success was something that was evident throughout his season with Kentucky.

Offensively, Murray provides a level of outside scoring that they simply don’t possess at the moment. It’s difficult to picture him not growing into a role as one of their primary offensive weapons in the backcourt as a result. Whether he emerges as a sixth man or in the starting rotation, Murray will score. He shoots the ball far better than their slashing-oriented combination of Mudiay and Barton. He also can slide over to the one spot due to his passing ability. His versatility will give the team options as he acclimates to NBA play.

Murray understands how to fill a number of roles, with should help with the current fluidity of a young Nuggets backcourt. He played mainly as a two-guard alongside Tyler Ulis at Kentucky, operating as one of the country’s most consistent outside scorers throughout the season. He in turn played point guard for the Canadian National Team during his high school days, and has the savvy needed to keep the offense flowing irrespective of where he’s positioned on the court.

There are few 19-year-olds who come into the league with the scoring touch and basketball I.Q. that Murray brings to the table. That’s something that should greatly benefit him moving forwards. He has the talent needed to be the best guard in Denver’s rotation. Given his confidence and well-developed skill set, it’s not impossible to see him reaching that mark during his rookie campaign.

The opportunities will be there in some capacity, and he is someone who should be closely watched as a candidate as the season gets underway.

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Embiid

C, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid went off for 20 points in 20 minutes during his first career game. In his debut, he flashed unreal talent and upside ranking him as the best pure rookie talent. Embiid used his two year hiatus effectively, as he already has a sense of how the NBA works. His 7-foot-2 stature has developed a significant arsenal of offensive shots to match his defensive prowess. He is so far beyond that of typical rookies from a physical perspective that it’s almost easy to forget that he hasn’t played competitive basketball in two years.

Embiid must work to the emerging as the clear-cut number one in these rankings by overcoming the ongoing saga with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team still has a log jam in the frontcourt, and Noel and Okafor will heal. Despite handed the starting gig, Embiid faces minutes restrictions for some time. Since he is the crown jewel, the team will err on the side of being too conservative .

With all that said, Embiid is simply a beast. He showcased perimeter shooting that far exceeds what he offered coming out of college, and put on the type of footwork display around the basket that made a highly talented Jahlil Okafor look inferior in that department. Embiid was already a defensive stud entering the league, and has only added the type of bulk that will increase his dominance on that side of the ball as the year progresses. His evolution as an offensive cornerstone is unbelievably promising.

Embiid has the size needed to work his way wherever he wants on the court, and if given the opportunity will likely surpass anybody positioned ahead of him in this race–it’s simply at matter of those opportunities being present.

His size and skill level don’t come along all that often. We saw Anthony Davis evolve from a defensive freak in college to an all-around superstar once he hit the NBA. If Embiid is capable of reaching anywhere within the vicinity of Davis’ upside this season, then feel free to bump him up a spot to 1st on this list.

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Marquese Chriss

PF, Phoenix Suns

This is a highly unorthodox position, but one that makes a lot of sense when you really analyze the situation. Marquese Chriss is going to be one of the primary bigs on a Suns team that is likely looking to build around some of their younger talent, meaning minutes for Tyson Chandler could legitimately be moved aside in favor of Chriss, especially in the team fails to compete at a high level in the West.

Chriss played legitimate minutes at both four and the five during the preseason, and has all the athletic tools indiciative of somebody who can make the immediate jump to quality production at the NBA level. He’s a freakishly explosive athlete off the perimeter. He has the speed needed to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket with ease. He can even dominate in transition–something that could work well alongside a talented Suns’ back-court.

I projected Chriss as my fourth ranked prospect coming into the draft, behind Ben Simmons, Murray and Ingram. That ranking was solely due to concerns over his rebounding deficiency. He also was out of position on the defensive side of the ball far too frequently. Throughout the off-season, Chriss has improved in both aspects. His incredible leaping ability and height should lead to plenty of blocked shots, regardless of how his physicality plays out early on.

Offensively, Chriss is known as a perimeter shooter coming into the league. He’ll be an excellent fit for a Suns team that likes to spread out the offense. He’s an exceptional talent to throw into pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop scenarios, and has the mobility to carve out space and create his own shot from time to time as well.

Chriss’ caliber is unique among the near-7 footer NBA players. He exhibits all the tools to slide directly into the Suns’ primary rotation once he acclimates to the NBA. He’s explosive enough to create mismatches at either front-court position, and spaces the floor in a manner that meshes well with Phoenix’s current rotation. Defensively, if he’s able to avoid excessive fouling, he should be a sizable contributor from day one.

The Suns loved Chriss throughout the draft process, and almost selected him fourth. Circumstances played out to give them the opportunity to trade up with Sacramento. He fits the vibe of the up-tempo attack, and will earn his minutes as he proves his worth.

In what is really a neck and neck tie with Embiid, Chriss garners the slighted of advantages for this very moment.