Site Note, and a Comment Starter: Your Rookie Sleeper

by David A. Arnott on Jul 9, 2009 12:06 AM EDT

Site Note: I haven't posted much recently because I've been preparing for an extended trip to see my family on the West Coast, and today I spent nine hours in airports and on planes. I'm happy to see the Official Parents and Official Brother of Rufus on Fire for the first time in nearly a year (yup, I'm one of those Charlotte transplants), and the Official Girlfriend of RoF is thrilled that we're going to be spending the next couple of weeks in California.

All that is just to let you know that I'll be keeping up as best I can until Saturday, when I'll start posting submissions to the RoF Basketball Fiction Contest. I haven't yet determined a grand prize winner, but it's come down to three stories that I like a lot. More on this in the coming days.

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Comment Starter: Everyone generally agrees that Blake Griffin was the best pick for the Clips at number one, that Stephen Curry was the best available shooter, and that DeJuan Blair (knees notwithstanding) was drafted ridiculously late. But who's the one guy you think is being underrated, and you just don't understand why?

Call me crazy, but, in retrospect, Taj Gibson was extremely impressive for USC. Really, what does Earl Clark have on Gibson? The Bulls nabbed a guy who blocked shots and rebounded like crazy. He didn't seem like a particularly great scorer in college, but he wasn't ever his team's first option, so I'm not sure what his ceiling is in that facet of his game. If his floor is Leon Powe Lite, then the Bulls did just dandy grabbing him late in the first round.

Who's your rookie sleeper?

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hopefully

Derrick Brown at # 40!

by dudemanhey on Jul 9, 2009 12:50 AM EDT reply actions

that would be great

by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jul 9, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I've said it again, and again, and again

Patrick Mills out of St. Mary’s in the second round.

Look him up, see what he did to J. Kidd, Deron Williams and Chris Paul at the Olympics and tell me why this young, raw, Australian prospect deserved to be a 2nd rounder.

Or, maybe it’s my home country pride carrying me through on this one.

by James Dator on Jul 9, 2009 1:46 AM EDT reply actions

+1

I even wrote a post about this kid. I think he’s going to be really good.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Jul 9, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

He's not even gonna play in the league, is he?

Last I heard he was gonna be sent overseas, and he’s got a tough road to hoe in Portland with as much young talent as they have at the position.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 9, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, they’re shipping him overseas for now. I took the post to mean a sleeper from this year’s rookie class. Not a player who will make an impact as a rookie who was underrated.

by James Dator on Jul 9, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

That's what sleeper tends to mean.

Most any player who gets drafted eventually could be a contributor if everything falls together right for them. It’s the ones who surprise and produce early who are going to be the great values.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 9, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Gerald Henderson....

I’m a homebody.

Blogging at RidiculousUpside, where my terrible writing meets people's eyes.

by Aisander D on Jul 9, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

Chase Budinger.

Case of the beet bandit. Missing beets from all over the farm, no footprints. Inside job. Mose in socks. Boom. Case closed. -Dwight Schrute

by mjschaefer on Jul 9, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

Another guy who is blocked on the depth chart.

But he certainly has got some skills if a team can mask his deficiencies in rebounding and on defense.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jul 9, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Easy pick

Budinger is easy to choose since most mocks had him going in the first round and he fell so far. Any productivity from him would get him labeled a steal considering how late he was chosen.

For first round sleepers, Tony Douglas may just be the guy because he’ll play in a system that will certainly give him a chance to score in bunches.

I like B.J. in Dallas too as a long term prospect, but apparently the blog police don’t want us talking long term prospects in this particular section.

by and1droid on Jul 9, 2009 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

Long-term picks are not a bad thing...

They’re just not “sleepers” in the typical sense. I agree that Douglas has a chance to do some doin’ up in NY. He should be able to step in and replace what Nate Robinson does there sooner than later, and who knows…if he improves his playmaking skills, he could be the guy they want to take over for Duhon, who they see as a better bench player. Mullens might be a decent player too, but he’ll see a lot of pine early with Collison and Krstic potentially under contract for the next couple years.