Dallas guard Luka Doncic is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors midway through the season, writes Ben Nadeau of Basketball Insiders as he selects his all-rookie teams. Doncic has transformed the Mavericks and has a chance to be the first rookie selected for the All-Star Game since 2011. Joining him as Nadeau’s first-team selections are the Suns‘ Deandre Ayton, the Grizzlies‘ Jaren Jackson Jr., the Knicks‘ Kevin Knox and the Hawks‘ Trae Young.
The Cavaliers‘ Collin Sexton, the Hawks‘ Kevin Huerter, the Nets‘ Rodions Kurucs, the Kings‘ Marvin Bagley Jr. and the Suns‘ Mikal Bridges make up the second team, while the Bulls‘ Wendell Carter Jr., the Knicks‘ Allonzo Trier, the Sixers‘ Landry Shamet, the Clippers‘ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves‘ Josh Okogie get honorable mention honors.
There’s more NBA-related news to pass along:
- Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez of the Bulls are among the most likely players to be traded before the February 7 deadline, according to Shane Rhodes of Basketball Insiders. Parker couldn’t take advantage of an opportunity when Lauri Markkanen missed the start of the season with an elbow injury, but Rhodes suggests a change of scenery might help. Lopez has seen his playing time reduced this year, but the Bulls are determined to work out a trade rather than consider a buyout. Rhodes lists the Knicks‘ Enes Kanter, the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic and the Mavericks‘ Dennis Smith Jr. as other players with a good chance of being dealt.
- After this week’s sellout for the Wizards and Knicks in London, the NBA is looking at other European venues, relays Martyn Herman of Reuters. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum indicated that Paris is likely the next destination and Berlin may follow. “There has been a lot of interest in teams wanting to go to Paris because France is a hotbed for basketball,” Tatum said. “We have nine French players in the NBA now. It’s just a matter of building the right business case and having the right partners in those areas. It is an important market for many of our marketing partners. It’s just a matter of time.” He added that Spain and Italy don’t have arenas yet that are capable of hosting a game.
- Former Celtics first-round pick James Young was waived this week by the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days. It’s the latest setback for Young, who was waived by the Bucks shortly before the season began.
Weird to see Knox so high… a NYC bias?
I have him way behind Marvin Bagley III, and a good ways behind Wendell Carter Jr too.
Knox is a great player for the Knicks, don’t get me wrong. He’s just not nearly as good as the other two – and the stats (both normal and advanced) definitely back up that claim.
then you haven’t been watching
But I do see Knox’s 9.4 PER and -0.4 WS…
So he must be something to watch, I guess?
He started off real bad too, I think since Dec he’s averaging 16-17 PPG with pretty good splits. He’s inconsistent too being so young he’ll have games where he’s like 1-10 with 2 points but then he’ll put up 20+ the next. Might be a little high on the list right now but I think projects to be one of the best in this rookie class.
They kinda play different positions. Would be weird to put MB and WCJ at sf.
Very, very fair point… I completely missed that since I only have seem him play maybe once (even then, likely off the bench) and he’s listed as a PF on his basketball reference page.
The fact that Doncic is just 19 with experience he has is scary.
Luka about to be an all star his rookie year I think he’ll be the first player since Blake griffin in 2011 to have that honor.
playing games in china/mexico was a financial gimmick – playing in europe should’ve happened yrs ago
All rookie teams, when eventually selected, are not position dependent. KAT, Okafor, KP and Jokic all made 1st team in 2016. But you still evaluate guys on their “position” / game and their age / experience. Knox has been up and down over the year, but he’s flashed the full star’s skill set at the premium big wing spot. The people who evaluate NBA talent have, and are going to continue to, notice this if he continues trending up. He was on the first team of the summer league (which included 1st and 2nd year players), and he was EC rookie of the month in Dec. If he didn’t get hurt, I’d have thought Mitchell Robinson over Carter.
It’s really difficult to believe that there’s not one single arena in all of Italy and/or Spain that could host an NBA game…
Prediction…..
Ingram to ppay Point.
Parker to sign at Lakers (be a worthless trade, but can see a buyout happening) as Lakers desperately needing that second scorer while Bron is out
Knox may benefit from a NYC bias, but it’s Brooklyn’s Rodion Kurucs that suffered for it! The guy’s got juice, esp for a Euro.
—
Doncic yes, but the next 3 guys at guard– Young, Sexton, & Huerter– have not done as well as Shamet and Alexander, who are only 3rd string.
Sexton was supposed to be a tough defender who can’t shoot but the opposite turned out. At present he’s too focussed on opportunities to have an all-around game. He’s not selfish I think but is just kind of head-down by nature.
Heurter’s best stat is the way his team plays when he’s in at guard.
Shamet is hardly noticeable but that fits his situation.
The English are not basketball fans, but London has a lot of internationals. Europe is wide open for moneymaking opportunities.
Take a home-and-away from two teams & play two in Europe with them. That would encourage conversations about them.
Bulls should package Parker for a deal with Dennis Smith Jr