Sleepers 2k19
In a class with Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett, there isn’t much room to share the spotlight. Zion has been sensational in the preseason, Ja has been showing flashes of Westbrook, and RJ is playing just fine. However, while you’re focusing all your attention on these guys, there a few other rookies who are earning their roster spots and more. This happens every year, a few guys show out and end up proving themselves to be the steals of the draft. The exception being last year, where all top 5 picks in the draft managed to make the All-Rookie First Team, a feat which hadn’t been achieved in years. This year, unless RJ, Garland, and Hunter show out in the regular season, it’s looking like we might see a shake up in who the best rookies truly are. Here are the three rookies who are going to easily outshine their draft positions.
Tyler Herro - SG - Miami Heat
Rd 1 Pick 13
Herro was one of those picks, who on draft day, seemed iffy. A lot of Heat fans were confused as to why their team would take a wing out of Kentucky, when they just signed Jimmy Butler. With players like Bol Bol and Sekou Doumbouya left on the board, most people assumed they’d take a bigger guy, but they must’ve known what they would be getting with Herro. He has been incredible so far in the preseason, and it’s looking like he could be a big part of the rotation in Miami this year. Through his first three games, he’s shot 8/15 from three, and went off for Miami’s first 14 points in their game against the Hawks. I’ve watched some highlights of his, and I kid you not when I say, this kid doesn’t miss He was taking some shots that Harden would consider tough shots, and he was draining them. This Miami team was in desperate need of shooters and scorers to put around Jimmy, and they just found one with Herro. I don’t know if he is going to start, but at the very least, he can be a solid sixth man and scorer off the bench. On a team that just lost their best player in franchise history, the future looks bright in Miami.
Matisse Thybulle - SF - Philadelphia 76ers
Rd 1 Pick 20
This guy might be one of the best defenders in the league already. He played four years at Washington, and averaged around 4 steals and 2-3 blocks in his senior season. That’s some crazy defensive ability. The Sixers took him with a pick they traded the Celtics for, and they got exactly what they should have expected. Through 4 games this preseason, he’s averaging 1.5 blocks and 3 steals against NBA level competition. He has the length and size to be a great wing defender in the league. If he continues this production at the start of the regular season, he could be Philly’s lead defender come playoff time. He could be getting assignments like Giannis and Jimmy Butler. His three point shooting leaves room for some improvement, but anything can be worked on. Through the four games he’s shooting just over 30%, which isn’t good by any means, but at least he’s willing to take them, unlike some of his teammates. If he can develop a decent three point shot, there will be a place for him in the NBA for years to come.
Carsen Edwards - PG - Boston Celtics
Rd 2 Pick 33
This is a personal favorite for me, as he’s a hometown guy now. Edwards had been doing okay through the first three games, averaging a little over ten points a game. He was looking to earn some minutes in a Celtics rotation where the front court looked to be full. However, in his fourth game of the preseason, Edwards exploded. He made 9 threes in a single quarter, and ended the game with 30 points. Brad Stevens went on record saying he’d never seen anything like it, and that made me think Carsen might be getting a few extra minutes come regular season time. He played a huge role in the summer league, where up until the playoffs, the Celtics looked outstanding. His role at Purdue was simply to carry the offense and score the ball, and he did so extremely well. His new goal is to, hopefully, be the main guy scoring off the Celtics bench. He changed his number to 4, and I’m getting strong Isaiah Thomas vibes from his glory days. If Carsen can bring that type of scoring and enthusiasm to Boston, he’ll be loved by the citys instantly.
