2022-2023 Rookie Watch

[TreyMachine 395]

Anyone watching the rising stars game? Franz Wagner is not looking like a great player, but it might be where he just doesn't care about this game and doesn't feel the need to show off. Paolo looking good.

Bones Hyland is looking incredible. 

[TreyMachine 395]

Also, I'm looking at these players and Jalen Suggs should be here. 

[TreyMachine 395]

Super excited to watch Scoot Henderson. Wondering how G League Ignite team will play against the NBA Rookie  / 2nd year guys. I'm assuming the G League players will be playing hard to prove themselves on a nationally televised stage. 

[Jay Magic 1,239]

25 minutes ago, TreyMachine said:

Anyone watching the rising stars game? Franz Wagner is not looking like a great player, but it might be where he just doesn't care about this game and doesn't feel the need to show off. Paolo looking good.

Bones Hyland is looking incredible. 

Franz needs a break. I have never been so unworried about someone in my life. the kids unequivocally a all star moving forward. Low key and gets **** done

[Jay Magic 1,239]

15 minutes ago, TreyMachine said:

Also, I'm looking at these players and Jalen Suggs should be here. 

yep absolute facts!!

[Jay Magic 1,239]

10 minutes ago, TreyMachine said:

Super excited to watch Scoot Henderson. Wondering how G League Ignite team will play against the NBA Rookie  / 2nd year guys. I'm assuming the G League players will be playing hard to prove themselves on a nationally televised stage. 

Scoot has a certain aura about him its crazy. kid has star quality written all over him

[Jay Magic 1,239]

Giddy is very good

[ball junkie 277]

1. Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic

Stats: 19.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.6 APG | ROY odds: -950

Best-case All-Star comp: 2014 Blake Griffin

Previous ranking: 1

Banchero is running away with Rookie of the Year honors, not just due to his scoring prowess as he's also proving capable of winning at the NBA level too. After starting the season 5-20, the Magic are 19-15 since Dec. 5, likely putting them out of the Wembanyama sweepstakes and into the fringes of the play-in game conversation.

Banchero is already one of the NBA's most lethal young shot-creators and has been difficult for even elite defenders to contain in the open floor with his combination of size, strength, skill and aggressiveness. He's an excellent ball handler who can pass on the move, finish aggressively through contact, shoot off the dribble and has terrific touch and creativity around the basket, giving him significant potential initiating pick-and-rolls and pushing off the defensive glass. Better decision-making is the next key in Banchero's development. He relies too much on his iso-pullup game and hasn't been as effective with his 3-point shot (28%) as he needs to be with the way defenses are sagging off him, passing up open jumpers on the perimeter.

Defensively, Banchero's basketball instincts, strength and mobility have allowed him to be more effective than most thought he would be early on in his career. He still has some lethargic moments off the ball and isn't a good enough rim protector or rebounder to see as many minutes at center in the modern NBA, but he has held his own more often than not, especially one-on-one.

Surrounding Banchero with more shooting will be a priority for Orlando moving forward, but the Magic are already ahead of schedule with the depth of talent they've acquired. It has allowed them to notch some impressive victories this season and gives their fans significant reason for optimism. Banchero looks like the gem of the 2022 NBA draft class thus far and still has considerable room to grow long-term.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.

[ball junkie 277]

 

[CTMagicUK 1,477]

I know we've moved on from this game now but I can't get over that shot at 50 seconds ish. It's just a genuinely unbelievable shot for a 6'10, 250lb 20 year old to be making. That's like Kobe, Jordan, Dirk stuff. 

 

[Soul Bro 1,419]

Paulo has company:

Quote

• Paolo Banchero remains No. 1, but he has company in the top tier, and his grip on the Rookie of the Year award is looser than ever. He’s the top option on the Orlando Magic and undeniably deals with more defensive attention than any other rookie because of his polished offensive game. Having said that, Banchero’s production has tailed off in his last 20 games. He’s averaging just under 19 points while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from 3, and he’s getting to the line slightly less often than he did early in the season. Because of that, his true shooting percentage over that time has dipped to 48.1, nearly 10 points below the league average.
• In contrast, as we’ll dive into below, Jalen Williams is surging in his most recent 20 games, averaging 18.1 points while shooting 55.9 percent from the field and 47.4 percent from 3. He has a 64.9 true shooting percentage in that time.
• These are full-season rankings, and Banchero has been playing well from day one. But if he continues along this inefficient trajectory while Williams continues making the star leap I discuss in the next section, there should be a real conversation about Rookie of the Year.

https://theathletic.com/4310380/2023/03/17/nba-rookie-rankings-jalen-williams-jaden-ivey/

[CTMagicUK 1,477]

Comparing the efficiency of Paolo who's been the number 1 option all season Vs Williams who's 8th on the Thunder in usage is legitimately nonsense.