By Jeremy Woo | ESPN, 2024-12-03 19:50:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024-25 NBA赛季已经进行了六周，我们可以更全面地审视一下今年的新秀群体。
正如2024年选秀前的预期，本赛季新秀的表现并不算惊艳。尽管如此，还是有很多球员正在找到自己的定位，取得进步，并且在某些情况下，对他们的球队产生了实际的影响。
杰瑞德·麦凯恩(Jared McCain)在11月为费城76人队带来了突破，道尔顿·克内希特(Dalton Knecht)则在洛杉矶湖人队中脱颖而出，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)在圣安东尼奥马刺队中逐渐适应，而孟菲斯灰熊队在赛季初的强劲表现中也依靠了扎克·埃迪(Zach Edey)和杰伦·威尔斯(Jaylen Wells)。但是，包括扎克里·里萨切尔(Zaccharie Risacher)、亚历克斯·萨尔(Alex Sarr)和里德·谢泼德(Reed Sheppard)在内的状元秀们则起步较慢——只有其中一人进入了本月榜单。
综上所述，有一位新秀取代了我们10月24日上次排名中的第一名。
请注意，这份前八名新秀的排名并非试图衡量球员的长期潜力或交易价值。它仅仅是一个晴雨表，反映了哪些一年级球员在本赛季的这个阶段产生了最有趣和最显著的影响。
以下是这些球员和其他球员目前的排名。
跳转到一个部分：
前八名新秀
又一个雷霆队的年轻人？
1. 杰瑞德·麦凯恩，后卫，费城76人队
选秀順位: 首轮第16顺位，杜克大学
关键数据: 16分，44.8% 投篮命中率，36.4% 三分命中率
先前排名: 未上榜
在费城动荡的赛季中，麦凯恩的出现是为数不多的亮点之一，这使他成为NBA年度最佳新秀的早期领跑者。
在11月连续七场得分20+之后，他在所有新秀中得分领先，这与他作为一名优秀射手的名声相符。他在杜克大学的最后一个赛季场均出手近六次三分，命中率达到41%。76人队对麦凯恩的职业道德感到兴奋，蓝魔队教练乔恩·谢耶尔在接受ESPN采访时强调了这一点，他说麦凯恩是他执教杜克以来遇到的最努力的球员。
76人队众所周知的困境给麦凯恩带来了一些发展上的好处。由于乔尔·恩比德、保罗·乔治和泰瑞斯·马克西都因伤缺阵，他的上场时间比预期要多。虽然费城更希望战绩不是4胜14负，并且面临着重返季后赛的漫长道路，但马克西（24岁）和麦凯恩（20岁）的长期后场组合愿景是球队的一个积极发展。
2. 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，后卫，圣安东尼奥马刺队
选秀順位: 首轮第4顺位，康涅狄格大学
关键数据: 11.3分，3.7次助攻，38.8% 投篮命中率
先前排名: 第4名
11月6日，卡斯尔成功地顶替受伤的杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)进入圣安东尼奥的首发阵容，马刺队在那段时间里取得了8胜5负的战绩。
正如从康涅狄格大学毕业时的预期，卡斯尔的效率并不高，但他还是做出了积极的贡献，并作为阵容中的补充球员获得了重要的上场时间。他经常承担顶级的防守任务，为队友创造机会，并且已经连续12场比赛得分上双。
虽然卡斯尔仍然不是一个非常出色的三分射手（28.9%），但他场均出手四次三分球，这是一个很好的迹象，也显示了他的自信。尽管他的进攻仍在改进中，但圣安东尼奥让他尝试这一点对他的长期成长非常有利。他很好地应对了额外的责任，似乎是马刺队的长期首发球员。
3. 道尔顿·克内希特，得分后卫/小前锋，洛杉矶湖人队
选秀順位: 首轮第17顺位，田纳西大学
关键数据: 11.9分，48.0% 投篮命中率，42.9% 三分命中率
先前排名: 未上榜
11月19日克内希特对阵犹他爵士队时爆发砍下37分（并伴有迈克尔·乔丹式的耸肩），这突显了他作为湖人队重要球员的合法性。他上周进入了首发阵容，并以两场20+的表现作为回应，并且可能会暂时留在首发位置。
虽然一位23岁、在大学篮球界最佳球员名单上名列前茅的球员能够立即产生影响并不令人意外，但克内希特的整体效率和有效性仍然令人印象深刻。
在赛季初担任替补角色后，克内希特迅速跟上了节奏，为湖人队提供了进攻火花，与湖人队的控球手配合默契，并受益于教练JJ·雷迪克愿意突出他的投篮能力。克内希特的防守也比预期要好一些。他和球队的契合度非常好，并且在掉到第17顺位后继续提供着强大的价值。
4. 杰伦·威尔斯，得分后卫/小前锋，孟菲斯灰熊队
选秀順位: 次轮第39顺位，华盛顿州立大学
关键数据: 12.2分，45.9% 投篮命中率，39.6% 三分命中率
先前排名: 未上榜
威尔斯是灰熊队的一个惊喜发现，作为一名二轮秀，他在球队一系列伤病中提供了即时价值。
他投中三分，保护球，并且在赛季前六周表现稳定，在10月31日获得了首发位置并一直保持至今，即使灰熊队已经让德斯蒙德·贝恩、马库斯·斯玛特和卢克·肯纳德回归阵容。11月23日在芝加哥的26分是他迄今为止的最高得分。
虽然不是一个华丽的贡献者，但威尔斯提供了可靠的投篮，并愿意承担艰巨的防守任务，这对一支14胜7负的灰熊队来说是一个重要的稳定因素。因此，孟菲斯能够在贾·莫兰特周围提供充足的进攻空间。
威尔斯可能没有其他一些新秀那样耀眼的天赋，但他迄今为止是这届新秀中表现最好的球员之一。
5. 扎克里·里萨切尔，小前锋，亚特兰大老鹰队
选秀順位: 首轮第1顺位，法国
关键数据: 11.6分，3.5个篮板，0.9次抢断，0.8次盖帽
先前排名: 第3名
里萨切尔在11月6日砍下33分的比赛突显了他成为状元秀的天赋，但他一直在努力保持稳定性，目前的投篮命中率为41%，三分命中率为28.2%。其中一些是可以预料到的，但他仍然首发了22场比赛中的20场。
老鹰队对他防守端的进步感到惊喜，他6英尺8英寸的身材在防守端发挥得很好，他在球队战术中的作用也很积极，场均近一次抢断和一次盖帽。
在评估平淡的2024年选秀状元时，老鹰队考虑了他在特雷·杨和杰伦·约翰逊身边的角色，并重视里萨切尔在无球状态下增加价值的能力。随着戴森·丹尼尔斯现在也加入了这个组合，他作为一名射手的成长就更加重要了。
里萨切尔看起来并没有被他的角色压垮，但老鹰队希望随着他们争夺附加赛席位，他的投篮命中率能够开始更频繁地上升。
6. 扎克·埃迪，中锋，孟菲斯灰熊队
选秀順位: 首轮第9顺位，普渡大学
关键数据: 11.1分，6.9个篮板，61% 投篮命中率
先前排名: 第1名
尽管自11月17日以来就因脚踝扭伤缺阵，埃迪在开局缓慢后逐渐适应，打出了他大学生涯所预示的那种表现，尽管场均上场时间只有20.1分钟。他在中锋位置上扮演着强大的轮换角色，并为灰熊队提供了价值，灰熊队在选秀中优先考虑他来解决他们在该位置上的需求。
虽然他在犯规麻烦上的挣扎值得关注（场均3.1次犯规），但这是一条双行道——埃迪已经可以用他的体型对比赛施加身体上的影响。他高效的进攻方式已经转化为成果，11月4日在布鲁克林的出色表现就证明了这一点，在那场比赛中，他成为了自哈基姆·奥拉朱旺以来第一个在一场比赛中以90%的命中率砍下25分10篮板4助攻的新秀。
虽然埃迪的体型在防守端对战术体系造成了一定的限制，但他场均能贡献一次盖帽和近一次抢断。
7. 伊夫·米西，中锋，新奥尔良鹈鹕队
选秀順位: 首轮第21顺位，贝勒大学
关键数据: 9.0分，7.8个篮板，1.2次盖帽，56.7% 投篮命中率
先前排名: 未上榜
在鹈鹕队大量伤病的情况下，米西被推上了首发位置，他的NBA适应性比预期的要好，尽管这伴随着很多失利。4胜18负的鹈鹕队已经遭遇了九连败。
如果新奥尔良鹈鹕队恢复到完全健康的阵容，他很可能会继续获得上场时间，他打得比老将丹尼尔·泰斯还要好，并且贡献了一些精彩的表现。他提供了一种鹈鹕队一直缺乏的运动型护框能力，这使他成为首轮末段的宝贵补充。
米西的活力和天赋帮助他弥补了经验不足的缺点，为他提供了一个有用的基础表现，可以继续提升。在本周开始之前，他在所有新秀的总篮板数中领先，并且看起来很自然地适应了作为一名吃饼型中锋的角色。
他已经获得的经验——尽管是在球队可能令人沮丧的情况下获得的——对他来说长期来看是个好兆头。
8. 多诺万·克林根，中锋，波特兰开拓者队
选秀順位: 首轮第7顺位，康涅狄格大学
关键数据: 5.8分，6.7个篮板，52.6% 投篮命中率，2.2次盖帽
先前排名: 第6名
虽然目前因膝盖扭伤缺阵，但克林根已经开始以惊人的速度盖帽，每36分钟平均盖帽4.6次，不辜负他作为2024届最佳护框者的声誉。
当德安德烈·艾顿缺阵时，他首发了六场，并在11月13日战胜明尼苏达森林狼队的比赛中砍下了惊人的17分、12个篮板和8次盖帽。
正如预期的那样，他的得分并不多，但克林根在篮板球方面很有成效，并且是一名有影响力的防守者，与他的老将队友轮换上场。很明显，克林根将成为波特兰未来的基石，尽管最终可能需要交易艾顿才能为他打开通往主要上场时间的大门。
我听到的关于……
一位不太为人所知的新秀，他可能会获得早期的机会。
阿贾伊·米切尔(Ajay Mitchell) ，一名与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队签下双向合同的新秀后卫，正在赢得球探们的赞扬。
作为加州大学圣塔芭芭拉分校的选秀球员，米切尔落到了第38顺位，他已经成为雷霆队替补席上的常客，找到了一个稳定的角色，并且在轮换阵容中排在雷霆队的第26顺位新秀迪伦·琼斯之前。
“作为第38顺位新秀，拿着双向合同，却在那支球队的轮换阵容中获得真正的上场时间，这太疯狂了，”一位东部联盟球探告诉ESPN。
虽然场均只有5.5分，但米切尔一直很稳定，投篮命中率为47.7%，并为一支由于伤病而打了很多小球的雷霆队提供了有用的阵容深度。虽然样本量很小，但22岁的米切尔的三分命中率达到了可观的42.3%，这表明他在选秀前评估的一个关键领域取得了一些积极的发展。米切尔为队友创造机会、有效防守以及与其他控球手配合的能力使他成为一名可塑性很强的轮换球员，而且很明显是迄今为止表现最好的双向合同新秀。
“关于米切尔的一件事是，他在那个[中游]级别联赛中非常擅长冲击篮筐，以至于他不需要过多地投三分。我能理解，”一位西部联盟球探告诉ESPN。“但这并不意味着他不会投三分。”
虽然雷霆队已经积累了丰富的年轻后场深度，但米切尔目前的角色预示着他有机会转为标准合同，并以此为基础继续努力。
天赋 vs. 契合度？克内希特、麦凯恩和威尔斯引发了这场争论
观察2024年新秀的早期回报很有趣，尤其是考虑到他们中有这么多人来自选秀順位的更低位置，但重要的是，在事后评估球队如何以及选择了哪些球员时，要记住全局。
在乐透区前列选秀的球队通常是在寻找能够成长为贡献者的球员，而不是即插即用的球员。
然而，值得注意的是，像克内希特、麦凯恩和威尔斯这样的新秀能够立即取得成功的共同点是他们的三分球能力。出色的外线投篮能力是可以立即转化为比赛影响力的，而且高质量的定点射手通常在NBA更开放的节奏和更大的球场空间中能获得更好的投篮机会，尤其是在与更优秀的队友配合时。很容易就能 arguing 说这些球员应该在更早的順位被选中，但NBA球队并不像你想象的那么后悔。
“克内希特[快]24岁了。他是一名轮换球员，这正是我们所想的，”一位NBA高管告诉ESPN。“如果他投进了球，他看起来很棒，如果没有，也许他就不会，但并不是每支球队都需要这样的人。如果你放弃了他，你就知道你放弃了什么。”
联盟消息人士推测，麦凯恩跌至第16顺位更多地取决于他缺乏顶级的身体素质（在联合试训中，他的赤脚身高为6英尺2英寸，臂展为6英尺3.5英寸），以及他在杜克大学中更有限的角色。几乎所有人都对他的无形资产持乐观态度，但麦凯恩在杜克大学主要打无球，并没有获得太多组织进攻的自由。
他受益于更大的发挥空间，因为76人队有时缺乏选择，但他的表现肯定会为他赢得作为得分手和组织者的成长空间。当然，他的投篮能力立即就转化成了比赛影响力。
关于天赋与契合度的争论在选秀初期总是很突出，并且在十几順位时 tends to thin out a bit，而这到目前为止看起来像是一个价值的甜蜜点，麦凯恩、克内希特和特里斯坦·达席尔瓦（第18顺位新秀，他已经为奥兰多魔术队提供了有用的零星上场时间）都是在这个順位被选中的。
我们将拭目以待，看看其他新秀需要多长时间才能在表现上赶上他们。
点击查看原文：2024-25 NBA rookie rankings: Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, more
2024-25 NBA rookie rankings: Jared McCain, Dalton Knecht, more
Now that we’re six weeks into the 2024-25 NBA season, we can take a broader look at the rookie class as a whole.
In keeping with the expectations that were set heading into the 2024 draft, the results this season haven’t been spectacular. Nonetheless, plenty of players are carving out roles, making developmental strides, and in some cases, having a meaningful impact for their teams.
Jared McCain broke out for the Philadelphia 76ers in November, Dalton Knecht has stepped up for the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephon Castle has gotten more comfortable for the San Antonio Spurs, and the Memphis Grizzlies have relied on Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells during a strong start. But it’s been a bit of a slower roll for the top picks in the draft – including Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Reed Sheppard – only one of whom cracks this month’s list.
With all that, there’s a new rookie who takes over the No. 1 spot from our last ranking on Oct. 24.
Please note this ranking of the top eight rookies is not an attempt to gauge players’ long-term potential or trade value. It’s simply a barometer of which first-year players have made the most interesting and notable impact at this stage of the season.
Here’s how these players and others stack up so far.
Jump to a section:\
Top eight rookies\
Yet another OKC youngster?\
1. Jared McCain, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Drafted: No. 16, Duke\
Key stats: 16 PPG, 44.8% FG, 36.4 3P%\
Previous ranking: NR
McCain’s emergence has been one of the few bright spots in Philadelphia’s tumultuous season, positioning him as an early leader in NBA Rookie of the Year conversations.
After a streak of seven 20-point games in November, he leads all rookies in scoring, living up to his billing as an excellent shooter coming out of Duke, where he made 41% of his 3s on nearly six attempts per game last season. The 76ers have been thrilled with McCain’s work ethic, a trait that Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer highlighted when he told ESPN that McCain was the hardest worker he’d been around at Duke.
The Sixers’ well-chronicled struggles have had some developmental benefits for McCain. He has more minutes than anticipated because of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all missing time with injuries. And while Philadelphia would rather not be 4-14 and facing a long climb back into the playoff picture, the vision of a long-term backcourt pairing of Maxey, 24, and McCain, 20, is one positive development for the franchise.
2. Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
Drafted: No. 4, UConn\
Key stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.7 APG, 38.8% FG\
Previous ranking: 4
Castle successfully slid into San Antonio’s starting lineup on Nov. 6 to replace the injured Jeremy Sochan, with the Spurs going 8-5 in that stretch.
As expected coming out of UConn, Castle’s efficiency hasn’t been great, but he has managed positive contributions and is logging important minutes as a complementary player in the lineup. He regularly tackles top defensive assignments and makes plays for teammates, and he has scored in double-digits in 12 straight games.
While Castle still isn’t a very good 3-point shooter (28.9%), it’s a good sign and a show of confidence that he’s attempting four per game. Although his offense remains a work in progress, it’s great for his long-term growth that San Antonio is letting him experiment. He has handled the extra responsibility well and appears to be a long-term starter for the Spurs.
3. Dalton Knecht, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Drafted: No. 17, Tennessee\
Key stats: 11.9 PPG, 48.0% FG, 42.9 3P%\
Previous ranking: NR
Knecht’s 37-point explosion (complete with Michael Jordan shrugs) against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 19 underscored his legitimacy as an important player for the Lakers. He moved into the starting lineup last week, responded with a pair of 20-point performances, and might be staying there for the time being.
And while it’s no surprise that a 23-year-old who was on the short list of best players in college basketball has been immediately impactful, Knecht’s overall efficiency and effectiveness has still impressed.
After starting the season in a bench role, Knecht has gotten up to speed quickly, providing an offensive spark for the Lakers, playing off of L.A.'s ball handlers, and benefiting from coach JJ Redick’s willingness to feature his shooting. Knecht has also looked a bit better defensively than expected. The fit here has been excellent, and he continues to provide strong value after falling to the 17th pick.
4. Jaylen Wells, SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 39, Washington State\
Key stats: 12.2 PPG, 45.9% FG, 39.6 3P%\
Previous ranking: NR
Wells has been a pleasant find for the Grizzlies, providing immediate value as a second-round selection filling in amid a series of team injuries.
He knocks down 3s, takes care of the ball, and has been consistent throughout the first six weeks, carving out a starting role on Oct. 31 and staying there, even as the Grizzlies have returned Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard to the lineup. A 26-point game in Chicago on Nov. 23 has been the high mark for Wells so far.
While not a flashy contributor, Wells provides reliable shooting coupled with a willingness to tackle tough defensive assignments, which has been an important stabilizer for a 14-7 Grizzlies team. Memphis has been able to provide plenty of spacing around Ja Morant as a result.
Wells might not have the starry upside of some other rookies, but he’s been one of the better players in the class thus far.
5. Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Atlanta Hawks
Drafted: No. 1, France\
Key stats: 11.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks\
Previous ranking: 3
Risacher’s 33-point game on Nov. 6 underscored the talent that vaulted him to the top of the draft, but he has struggled with consistency, shooting 41% from the field and 28.2% from 3 thus far. Some of that was to be expected, but he has still started 20 of 22 games.
The Hawks have been pleasantly surprised by his progress on the defensive end, where his 6-foot-8 frame plays up well, and his role within team concepts has been a positive, averaging nearly a steal and a block per game.
In evaluating what was a flat top of the 2024 draft, the Hawks considered his role alongside Trae Young and Jalen Johnson and valued Risacher’s ability to add value without the ball in his hands. His growth as a shooter is even more important with Dyson Daniels now in that mix.
Risacher hasn’t looked overwhelmed by his role, but the hope will be that his shots start to fall more frequently as the Hawks compete for a play-in spot.
6. Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Drafted: No. 9, Purdue\
Key stats: 11.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 61% FG\
Previous ranking: 1
Although he has been sidelined since Nov. 17 with an ankle sprain, Edey settled in after a slow start, delivering the type of production his college career suggested he’d be capable of, albeit in 20.1 minutes per game. He’s playing the strong side of a platoon role at center and providing value for the Grizzlies, who prioritized him in the draft to address their need at the position.
While his struggles with foul trouble are noteworthy (3.1 average fouls per game), it’s a two-way street – Edey can impose himself physically on the game already at his size. His efficient offensive diet has translated, underscored by an impressive showing on Nov. 4 in Brooklyn, in which he became the first rookie since Hakeem Olajuwon to go for 25/10/4 on 90% shooting in a game.
While Edey’s size creates limitations defensively in terms of scheme, he has averaged a block and nearly a steal per game.
7. Yves Missi, C, New Orleans Pelicans
Drafted: No. 21, Baylor\
Key stats: 9.0 points, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 blocks, 56.7% FG\
Previous ranking: NR
While thrust into action amid a high number of Pelicans injuries, Missi has been more NBA-ready than anticipated, albeit it has come amid a lot of losing. The 4-18 Pelicans have dropped nine straight.
He has likely earned himself continued playing time if New Orleans ever returns to full strength, playing ahead of veteran Daniel Theis and delivering some strong showings. He provides a level of athletic rim protection that the Pelicans have lacked, making him a valuable addition late in the first round.
Missi’s motor and tools have helped to compensate for his lack of experience, giving him a useful production floor as a baseline to improve on. He leads all rookies in total rebounds entering the week by a solid margin, and looks like a natural fit as a rim-runner style center.
The experience he has already gained – while occurring during likely frustrating circumstances for the team – bodes well for him in the long term.
8. Donovan Clingan, C, Portland Trail Blazers
Drafted: No. 7, UConn\
Key stats: 5.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 52.6% FG, 2.2 blocks\
Previous ranking: 6
Although currently out with a knee sprain, Clingan has begun to block shots at a prolific rate, averaging a whopping 4.6 per-36 and living up to his reputation as the top rim protector in the 2024 class.
He made six starts when DeAndre Ayton missed time, and turned in an eye-popping 17 points, 12 rebounds and 8 blocks in a Nov. 13 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As expected, he is not doing a ton of scoring, but Clingan has been productive on the glass and an impactful defender while platooning with his veteran teammate. It’s pretty clear Clingan will be a foundational piece of Portland’s future, although it might take an eventual Ayton trade to open up a pathway to major playing time.
What I’m hearing about …
A less-heralded rookie who could earn early opportunities.
Ajay Mitchell, a rookie guard who is on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder is garnering praise from scouts.
A draft pick out of UC Santa Barbara who fell to the 38th pick, Mitchell has become a fixture off the Thunder bench, finding a consistent role and playing ahead of Oklahoma City’s 26th pick, Dillon Jones, in the rotation.
“Being the 38th pick, on a two-way, and playing real minutes on that roster is wild,” an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN.
While averaging just 5.5 points per game, Mitchell has been steady, shooting 47.7% and supplying useful depth for a Thunder team that has played a lot of small ball because of injuries. Though it’s a small sample, the 22-year-old Mitchell has made a respectable 42.3% of his 3s, pointing to some positive development in a key area of his pre-draft evaluation. Mitchell’s ability to make plays for teammates, guard effectively, and fit alongside other ball handlers has made him a malleable depth player, and pretty clearly the best rookie two-way performer thus far.
“One thing with Mitchell, he was so good getting to the rim at that [mid-major] level that he didn’t have to settle for a ton of 3s. I can understand that,” a Western Conference scout told ESPN. “But it didn’t mean he couldn’t shoot it.”
While the Thunder have assembled a wealth of young perimeter depth, Mitchell’s current role bodes well for his chances of converting onto a standard contract and working from there.
Upside vs. fit? Knecht, McCain and Wells fuel the debate
It has been interesting to see the early returns on 2024 draftees, particularly with so many of them coming from further down in the draft order, but it’s important to keep the big picture in mind when evaluating in hindsight how and who teams selected.
Teams picking near the top of the lottery are generally looking for players who will grow into contributors, not ready-made producers.
However, it’s worth noting that a common thread behind the immediate success of rookies like Knecht, McCain and Wells is their 3-point shooting prowess. Elite perimeter shooting is immediately translatable, and quality spot-up shooters generally find themselves with better looks when playing in the wide-open pace and larger floor of the NBA, particularly when operating off the gravity of better teammates. It’s easy to make the argument that those guys should have been drafted earlier, but NBA teams aren’t necessarily pinching themselves as much as you might assume.
“Knecht is [almost] 24. He’s a rotation player, which was what we thought,” one NBA executive told ESPN. “If he’s making shots he looks great, if not, maybe he doesn’t, but not every team needed a guy like that. If you passed on him, you knew what you were passing on.”
League sources speculated that McCain’s fall to the 16th pick hinged more on his lack of elite physical tools (6-foot-2 barefoot with a 6-3½ wingspan at the combine), as well as his more limited role at Duke. There was near-universal optimism about his intangibles, but McCain played primarily off the ball at Duke, and wasn’t granted a ton of freedom to make plays.
He has benefited from more room to play, as the Sixers have been bereft of options at times, but his performance is certainly going to buy him room to grow as a scorer and playmaker for teammates. His shooting, of course, has translated immediately.
The argument for upside versus fit is always salient early in the draft and tends to thin out a bit in the teens, which has looked like a sweet spot for value so far, with McCain, Knecht and Tristan Da Silva (the No. 18 pick who has given the Orlando Magic serviceable spot minutes) coming off the board in that order.
We’ll see how long it takes for other rookies to catch them in terms of production.
By Jeremy Woo | ESPN, via ESPN