Early look at the ROY chances for the Raptors rookies...

[ebrian]

Who knows? But JV looks hungry and sounds like he is smart. I think he has a real desire to excel. Most of the things that could hold back him being a very high caliber player are learnable/trainable. He will increase in size and strength by simply working out and eating right. It just so happens that the Raps have one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the world. He already has very good fundamentals with his shot. He needs to work on his post up game and making sure he can use either hand with authority. The fouling out early is eminently correctable.

I don't believe we need to wait 4 years for this kid.

We've already waited 1 year, and I don't think 3 more is unreasonable. When you look at past history of raw big men being drafted, that's about how long the learning curve is. JV is going to take 2-3 NBA years to develop, which is why all this playoffs and ROY talk sounds crazy to me.

[StaytheCourse]

"ROY talk sounds crazy to me."

The kid is a consensus #2 player if in this year's draft.

I don't think its crazy to think he'll be considered!

[ReubenJRD]

"ROY talk sounds crazy to me."

The kid is a consensus #2 player if in this year's draft.

I don't think its crazy to think he'll be considered!

I agree, if anything, are we also expecting Anthony Davis to average 20/10 in his first year? My little brother could probably defend him in the post.

[IROR]

Hopefully there is a chance...Barnes, Lillard and Davis are my finalists as they are going to be key offensive contributors from game one. I'm a big fan of Lillard, so he is my early favourite.

[ceez]

Gonna go with Davis or Barnes. Davis is just really good and will impact the game right away cause he's going to play a ton and Barnes is going to be counted on to score, especially when curry and whatshisface (the aussie) inevitably go down for the season.

[ezz_bee]

I'd love to see a Raptor be considered for ROY.. but the NBA is going to be pumping "the brow" hard core. Davis is going to be their new poster child and as such they will do everything to market the kid and turn him into the next best thing (deservedly or not).

That marketing power will be hard to over come for any of the other rooks. I think it can be done if Davis ends up being mediocre, but the fact that he was already on the USA squad has already given him a huge head start.

I'd agree that Davis has a huge start, but it's not like Jonas is being ignored. Obviously I read more Raptor related news than other teams so my perspective is probably a bit skewed, but every article I've read about the raps mentions something along the lines of "If he was drafted this year he would be the consensus number 2 pick" I've read this line multiple times for different guys (including ESPN guys) so he is on their radar, and they are going to be watching him. YES the Brow has an advantage but I think that JV has an advantage over everyone else.

MKG - Already a leader in the Charlotte locker room. Will start and get all the touches he can handle. The ROY award always seems to come down to stats, so this may hurt MKG a bit as he seems to be good across the board, but not great at any one particular stat.

Not that I'm disagreeing with you but I haven't heard/read anything to this effect. Any chance you remember where you heard/read this? Also absolutely no love for JV as ROY?

Early Vegas Lines

Anthony Davis (NO) 6/5
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (CHA) 7/1
Bradley Beal (WAS) 19/2
Harrison Barnes (GSW) 19/2
Thomas Robinson (SAC) 19/2
Jonas Valanciunas (TOR) 10/1
Dion Waiters (CLE) 20/1
John Henson (MIL) 25/1
Kendall Marshall (PHO) 25/1
Marquis Teague (CHI) 25/1
Royce White (HOU) 25/1
Andre Drummond (DET) 30/1
Austin Rivers (NO) 30/1
Damian Lillard (POR) 30/1
Jeremy Lamb (HOU) 30/1
Jared Sullinger (BOS) 30/1
Maurice Harkless (PHI) 30/1
Tyler Zeller (CLE) 30/1
Terrence Ross (TOR) 35/1
Donatas Motiejunas (HOU) 40/1
Andrew Nicholson (ORL) 40/1
John Jenkins (ATL) 40/1
Meyers Leonard (POR) 40/1

So Vegas his him ranked 6th? I'm okay with those odds.

Year Player Team
2010-11 Blake Griffin L.A. Clippers
2009-10 Tyreke Evans Sacramento
2008-09 Derrick Rose Chicago
2007-08 Kevin Durant Seattle
2006-07 Brandon Roy Portland
2005-06 Chris Paul New Orleans/Oklahoma City
2004-05 Emeka Okafor Charlotte
2003-04 LeBron James Cleveland
2002-03 Amare Stoudemire Phoenix
2001-02 Pau Gasol Memphis
2000-01 Mike Miller Orlando
1999-00 Elton Brand and Steve Francis Chicago and Houston
1998-99 Vince Carter Toronto
1997-98 Tim Duncan San Antonio
1996-97 Allen Iverson Philadelphia
1995-96 Damon Stoudamire Toronto
1994-95 Grant Hill and Jason Kidd Detroit and Dallas
1993-94 Chris Webber Golden State
1992-93 Shaquille O'Neal Orlando
1991-92 Larry Johnson Charlotte
1990-91 Derrick Coleman New Jersey
1989-90 David Robinson San Antonio
1988-89 Mitch Richmond Golden State
1987-88 Mark Jackson New York
1986-87 Chuck Person Indiana
1985-86 Patrick Ewing New York
1984-85 Michael Jordan Chicago
1983-84 Ralph Sampson Houston

Source: NBA.COM

That's the list of the players who won ROY since I was born, and that I remember watching play. (Except for Ralph Sampson and Chuck Person).

If you count all SF as Guards (like Kevin Durant), I get a 17 to 10 split for in favour of Guards. But I don't think the list of past winners precludes the Brow or JV from winning.

Having not been able to watch the NCAA tourney it's too difficult for me to make predictions, but I will say that JV will be in top 3 consideration, partly because after Davis, he's going to get the most hype.

[omgsomuchpotential]

I agree, if anything, are we also expecting Anthony Davis to average 20/10 in his first year? My little brother could probably defend him in the post.

I really hope he manages to fill up like this until his 4th/5th season, so he could dominate.

[Hugmenot]

Training camps are more than 1 month away and people are already complaining that JV is not getting his fair share of consideration for ROY.

Wow, just wow!

[ReubenJRD]

I really hope he manages to fill up like this until his 4th/5th season, so he could dominate.

IS THAT ACTUALLY JV? Not photo-shopped? If not, oh man..

[omgsomuchpotential]

IS THAT ACTUALLY JV? Not photo-shopped? If not, oh man..

Nah man, let's just hope he fills up!

[omgsomuchpotential]

Some more eye-candy

[ReubenJRD]

Nah man, let's just hope he fills up!

Some more eye-candy

*sigh* It was good while it lasted.

[StaytheCourse]

I really hope he manages to fill up like this until his 4th/5th season, so he could dominate.

He may not get to here but he will get stronger! He's already added some muscle from his U17 days - I think I've seen him listed at 250 recently.

The Raps strength and conditioning guy (McKechnie) is probably the best in the NBA.

[ReubenJRD]

He may not get to here but he will get stronger! He's already added some muscle from his U17 days - I think I've seen him listed at 250 recently.

The Raps strength and conditioning guy (McKechnie) is probably the best in the NBA.

McKechnie was recently with LA before coming with us. LA has had some of the best staff in the recent decade.

[BallaBalla]

Why doesn't anyone like MKG to win? If he plays 75 + games this year, the fact that he is on the bobcats and the way he plays his position, he could pile on the stats.

[ebrian]

"ROY talk sounds crazy to me."

The kid is a consensus #2 player if in this year's draft.

I don't think its crazy to think he'll be considered!

Draft position means nothing for ROY talk. Some players are just ready to go and others aren't. JV may have a better career than some of the guys drafted below him, but he won't have a better first season. Guys like Beal, Lillard, Waiters, Davis, Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist all have a better chance of having a better rookie season than JV. Most big men (European ones notwithstanding) take longer to develop.

[Sam17]

Draft position means nothing for ROY talk. Some players are just ready to go and others aren't. JV may have a better career than some of the guys drafted below him, but he won't have a better first season. Guys like Beal, Lillard, Waiters, Davis, Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist all have a better chance of having a better rookie season than JV. Most big men (European ones notwithstanding) take longer to develop.

I agree, I really don't think either one of the Raptors rookies will be in the ROY discussion. JV really doesn't seem like he's going to come in and put up big numbers especially cause of how raw he is offensively and his lack of post game. He gets a lot of his points off alley-oops and tip ins. He's the consensus #2 player because of potential, not because he's expected to make an immediate impact in my opinion. And Terrence Ross probably won't get the required minutes to be in the ROY race.

Davis, Lillard, Beal, and Kidd-Gilchrist have the best chance at it.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Draft position means nothing for ROY talk. Some players are just ready to go and others aren't. JV may have a better career than some of the guys drafted below him, but he won't have a better first season. Guys like Beal, Lillard, Waiters, Davis, Barnes and Kidd-Gilchrist all have a better chance of having a better rookie season than JV. Most big men (European ones notwithstanding) take longer to develop.

Totally agree. It will be nearly impossible for JV or Ross to get enough playing time and have significant enough impact to compare with what some of those players will accomplish this season. We all know that scoring tends to be given preference for ROY voting most of the time and all those players are going to be spoon-fed playing time and opportunity to score, especially Davis, Beal, MKG and Barnes.

Robinson could be a darkhorse if Sacramento is an improved team and he meshes well with Cousins, to form a dominant front court at both ends of the court.

However, I don't think any player will have the opportunity, let alone be showcased, the way Davis will. I think the ROY is his to lose.

[ebrian]

I agree, if anything, are we also expecting Anthony Davis to average 20/10 in his first year? My little brother could probably defend him in the post.

I'd expect it. Is your little brother in the NBA? Blake Griffin averaged 23/12 in his first full year in the NBA and didn't have nearly as high expectations going into his first season as Anthony Davis does. I'd be surprised if Davis averages less than 15/10 this season. On the other hand I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if Valanciunas averages that in his 2nd year in the NBA.

[Sam17]

I'd expect it. Is your little brother in the NBA? Blake Griffin averaged 23/12 in his first full year in the NBA and didn't have nearly as high expectations going into his first season as Anthony Davis does. I'd be surprised if Davis averages less than 15/10 this season. On the other hand I'd be (pleasantly) surprised if Valanciunas averages that in his 2nd year in the NBA.

Blake did have some pretty high expectations though, but I doubt anthony davis' stats will be anything close to Griffin's rookie year.