HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

The 2011-2012 rookie class really came together during the draft process due to all of the negativity associated with them as a group. They’re eager to show everyone just how ridiculous it is to label a class before they ever step foot on the court as professionals. The sooner games begin the quicker they can get to proving everyone wrong, but right now they’re missing out on very important development time with the cancellation of summer league and the lockout. Whenever the season does get underway, though, the following rookies appear to be in the best position for success based on the fit with their new team and their abilities. 

The Top Five

Kyrie Irving – Cleveland Cavaliers (Point Guard)
After losing All-Star small forward LeBron James to free agency last summer the Cavaliers knew that finding their next franchise player would be the key to becoming contenders again. They hope that they have that in Irving, a dynamic playmaker with the most star power of all the first-year players. He’s going to be given the keys at point guard from day one. He’ll being playing a significant amount of minutes in an up-tempo system that he should thrive in.

Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott has coached some of the league’s best point guards and is an ideal mentor for Irving. With Scott there to watch him along the way, Irving should be a major contender for Rookie of the Year.

Derrick Williams – Minnesota Timberwolves (Small Forward/Power Forward)
Nobody in the NCAA last year was as productive and efficient as Williams was, giving the Timberwolves organization great confidence that he can really excel as a reserve. Without a spot for him in the starting lineup right now, Williams is going to have to accept his role as the 6th man and make the most of it. That’s the only way that a bigger role will be created for him.

There are a lot of things up in the air regarding the Timberwolves right now, like who their coach is going to be and what kind of system he is going to run. Regardless, though, Williams is a gamer who will find ways to contribute. He considers himself the favorite for the league’s top-rookie honor and it’s hard to not feel like he’s got a very legitimate shot at it.

Jan Vesely – Washington Wizards (Small Forward/Power Forward)
The Wizards fell in love with Vesely very early in the process and it’s easy to see why when you imagine what he can do filling the lane on a John-Wall ran fastbreak. At 6’11 Vesely has the potential to be a matchup nightmare as long as he recognizes when to use his speed and when to utilize his size.

His shooting percentages from this past year are nothing to write home about, but Vesely’s form is not too terrible and he should become more consistent with some more hard work.

Kemba Walker – Charlotte Bobcats (Point Guard)
Even after a career-year, expect Bobcats point guard D.J. Augustin to really be pushed for minutes by Walker. Walker is one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft with elite-level quickness and scoring ability. Having the player-friendly Paul Silas as his head coach should really help him in his transition because one of the most important things with Walker is accepting that he will make mistakes. He can’t be handcuffed like he may have been under former Bobcats head coach Larry Brown.

Don’t be surprised if Walker’s assist numbers also impress. He’s a better playmaker than he gets credit for.

Kawhi Leonard – San Antonio Spurs (Small Forward)
Indiana Pacers guard George Hill, who was traded by San Antonio in exchange for Leonard on draft night, showed that if you play defense you’re going to play for Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Leonard just so happens to be a defensive standout with abilities on that end that will remind some Spurs’ supporters of former Defense Player of the Year Bruce Bowen.

The Spurs and Richard Jefferson are headed for an inevitable divorce. The Leonard trade confirmed that. They may not trade RJ this upcoming season, but even in the meantime between a deal being made Leonard will be a significant part of what they do.

The Next Five

Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors (Small Forward)
With the backcourt of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis still intact in Golden State, there is a need for a shot maker at the small forward position. That’s exactly what Thompson is. He’ll make teams pay for focusing in heavily on Curry and Ellis.

Thompson’s ability to do more than just spot-up shoot will go a long way in newly-hired Warriors head coach Mark Jackson’s book. With Vladimir Radmanovic and Al Thornton serving as his main competition for minutes, Thompson should find himself on the floor regularly as a rookie.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Marcus Morris – Houston Rockets (Small Forward/Power Forward)
Despite already having forwards Chase Budinger, Marqus Blakely, Luis Scola, Terrence Williams and Patrick Patterson under contract the Rockets had Morris ranked very high on their draft board. They were ecstatic to see him fall to them at 14 and undoubtedly plan on him being a part of their regular rotation immediately.

As a smooth, versatile player who simply goes about his job with a professional’s approach, Morris will produce at a level as a rookie that is hard for his classmates to match.

Jimmer Fredette – Sacramento Kings (Point Guard)
As much as Fredette’s weaknesses are talked about, he actually landed in a situation in Sacramento where he could have a lot of his doubters eating crow. On the outset it seems like he’s a very good fit to play in the backcourt with third-year pro Tyreke Evans. He can relieve Evans of some of his ball-handling duties while also being able to play off of him when he does dominate the ball.

Fredette does not have the makings of a defensive stopper to say the least, but right now he’s looking like he’s going to play a good deal as a rookie.

Enes Kanter – Utah Jazz (Power Forward/Center)
It would have been very easy to put Philadelphia 76er center Nikola Vucevic or Phoenix Suns big man Markieff Morris in this spot over Kanter. While he is a well-rested and talented big man, there are already four very good post players in Al Jefferson, Mehmet Okur, Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap in Utah. They’re going to force Kanter to earn his minutes, but he’ll be better for it down the line.

If he does earn consistent minutes, Kanter should be able to produce just based on pure skill. He knows how to score on the low block and is a big body to go up against defensively.

Brandon Knight – Detroit Pistons (Point Guard)
Although the Pistons invested the 8th overall selection in Knight, veteran guards Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey are not just going to roll over and let him take their minutes. He’s really going to have to take it from them. However, as a fiery competitor who is already very good at a young age, Knight will probably make one of them expendable eventually.

With an improving core of big men and some shot makers out on the perimeter, the pieces are in place for Knight to seriously contribute.

Don’t Sleep On These Two

Marshon Brooks – New Jersey Nets (Shooting Guard)
There is a real opportunity for Brooks to make his way into the starting lineup as a rookie in New Jersey. Brooks is an explosive scorer who doesn’t believe he can be defended one-on-one. With point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez on the court, Brooks is going to see a lot of single coverage for him to potentially take advantage of.

He’s also an underrated defender and rebounder. He may actually be the most complete shooting guard on the Nets’ roster right now.

Alec Burks – Utah Jazz (Shooting Guard)
Burks’ track record makes it impossible to keep him off of this list. He’s been proving people wrong nearly his entire life as a basketball player, so doubting him in the league would be a mistake. He’s got a gift for scoring the basketball and is in a situation in Utah where he has some very talented big men to play off of.

To play in Utah he’ll have to defend well and be able to knock down the open three, his biggest weakness right now. He’s been working on it religiously since the end of his collegiate season and has reportedly made some vast improvements.

Honorable Mentions: Nikola Vucevic – Center (Philadelphia 76ers), Markieff Morris – Power Forward (Phoenix Suns, Norris Cole – Point Guard (Miami HEAT), Iman Shumpert – Point Guard (New York Knicks), Tristan Thompson – Power Forward (Cleveland Cavaliers).

Yannis Koutroupis is a senior NCAA and NBA analyst for HOOPSWORLD. You can follow him on twitter.