Rookie Report: Grading the Top 5 Picks at the Quarter Mark and Predicting Their Long-Term Impact.

Cooper Flagg: Dallas Mavericks

A mixed bag. The talent is clearly there on show. It doesn’t help that the team around him is seriously struggling. Anthony Davis has been struggling with fitness, Klay Thompson is past his prime, D’Angelo Russell has also been a serious issue in terms of decision making as the point guard.

The Dallas Mavericks has some work to do and better hope that with Kyrie Irving coming back from an ACL injury later this season, that things will go well for them.

With that being said, Cooper Flagg has some serious talent on display and will have a great legacy in Dallas, provided he doesn’t get traded for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

Grade: A-

Long Term Impact: A

Dylan Harper: San Antonio Spurs

Compare to other Rookies he is not as strong

For a unanimous second overall pick, he is having a quiet start. He is averaging 13, 3 and 3 whilst averaging 20 minutes per game.

However, because how strong the team is around him. He doesn’t have too much pressure to perform straight away. We are yet to see him step up in big occasions (partly because he doesn’t need to).

With the team around him and as long Victor Wembanyama is around him, it is unlikely for him to be a franchise player, at least for the Spurs. I do think there will be a time when the Spurs will have to trade one of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.

Grade: B-

Long Term Impact: B-

VJ Edgecombe: Philadelphia 76ers

He is mostly definitely the surprise package of the lot. He got to work straight away. He scored 34 points in his debut. For reference, His 34 points were the most all-time in an NBA debut in Sixers franchise history, surpassing the previous record of 30 set by Allen Iverson, and the third-most all-time in NBA history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain(43; 1959) and Frank Selvy (35; 1954).

He has been staying consistent ever since averaging 15,5 and 4. He is even displaced Jared Mccain off the starting position and bare in mind Jared McCain had a solid season last year averaging 15, 2 and 2.

Considering there were debates on who should be the third overall pick between him and Ace Bailey, the 76ers definitely made the right choice with this one.

His long term impact will be big. Him and Tyrese Maxey seems to be an unstoppable duo and will carry this franchise for the next 5 years.

Grade: A

Long Term Impact: A+

Kon Knueppel: Charlotte Hornets

He is also a revelation in the NBA draft. At Duke, he was always playing second fiddle to Cooper Flagg. After drafted by the Hornets at number 4, Knueppel has been amazing. He became the third rookie in league history to average 20 or more points per game on 50/40/90 shooting splits across a span of ten or more games.

He was that good that there are currently trade talks for star player Lamelo Ball as the Hornets are thinking of building their franchise around Kon Knueppel and its young core.

Grade: A

Long Term Impact: A+

Ace Bailey: Utah Jazz

Bailey encountered some turmoil at the draft. His agent at the time told him not to workout for prospective NBA teams in order to be drafted by a team Ace wanted to go by the Wizards, Pelicans or the Nets who had lower draft picks. This caused quite some controversy as critics argued that he should be grateful to have the chance to be drafted in the first place.

Bailey did not get his top choice of NBA teams as Utah Jazz draft him at no. 5 and he’s having a ok start to his NBA career averaging 10, 3 and 1.

Obviously this would draw some criticism from experts because as someone so entitled, experts were expecting more from Bailey.

Utah Jazz is currently a scramble right now. It is tough to see anyone in this franchise will have a long term impact for the team. Unless Bailey makes a massive step up in the remainder of this or in the next season to carry this franchise, there is a chance the Jazz will construct another rebuild, hence trading away Bailey.

Grade: C+

Long Term Impact: C+