The 2012 NBA entry draft was heralded by many as having the deepest talent pool of recent drafts. There was a consensus number one selection in Anthony Davis, and after that, players were up for grabs. Here’s the thing about the NBA draft; bad teams draft earlier in the draft and in theory have the best chance of landing an NBA ready player. That being said, there are draft day gems, late-round picks that jump in and show that they were overlooked. Here is a look at some players who are looking to step in and contribute, some of which slipped down the ladder on draft day and are ready to prove those general managers wrong. Here are ten players that are poised to make an impact...not all for the better.
Dion Waiters, 4th overall – Cleveland Cavaliers
He had an unimpressive NBA Summer League, make that a woeful Summer League. Waiters shot a pathetic 30% from the field, had a near 1:1 assist to turnover ratio and committed more fouls per game than he registered assists. Wafers looks to have packed on the pounds, already been called out by Kyrie Irvin and fallen into Coach Scott’s doghouse. This isn't the start any player would hope for, much less a player the Cavaliers viewed as their 3rd best draft option behind Kidd-Gilchrist and Beal. Avoid Waiters in all leagues till he shows he can run with the big dogs in the Association.
Thomas Robinson, 5th overall – Sacramento Kings
He finished his Summer League with decent enough averages of 13 ppg and 9.8 rpg. Robinson played a little loose at times, and as a result his turnovers were high. Sacramento got themselves a player in Robinson, a 6’9” 250lb forward who can penetrate, rebound and shoot the mid-range jumper. Look for Robinson to get minutes right away and contribute with solid rebounding numbers. If Robinson can find a consistent way to score, he along with DeMarcus Cousins will make a formidable pairing in the front court.
Damian Lillard, 6th overall – Portland Trailblazers
Damian Lillard finished off a very impressive Summer League, culminating in being named as co-MVP. Lillard was the most impressive rookie by far, averaging 26.5 ppg, 4 rpg and 5.3 apg. Lillard shot the ball well and took care of it by not turning it over, with the exception of one game where he committed 7 turnovers. Look for Lillard to be starting for the Blazers early on in the season as the Blazers are committed to the youth movement. Fantasy owners can commit to Lillard as he will get his opportunity in Portland to show off his skills.
Terrence Ross, 8th overall – Toronto Raptors
Terrence Ross did not play well in Summer League action. For the 8th overall selection, drafted as a shooting guard to aid in perimeter scoring, Terrence shot the ball terribly, posting a 37% mark from the field and a dismal 73% from the free throw line. Ross also barely registered any assist or rebounds in those five games. Ross isn’t going to endear himself to teammates or fans with that kind of effort. Similarly Ross isn’t going to win over any fantasy GMs with these numbers. Ross should go undrafted in all leagues.
Jeremy Lamb, 12th overall – Houston Rockets
The UCONN product had himself a solid Summer League as he led the Rockets contingent in scoring at 20 ppg over five contests. Lamb shot the ball well and showed he wasn’t afraid to let it fly when he had a good look. This confidence will serve him well as the Rockets are going to be a young team in need of scoring. Should Jeremy Lamb be consistent enough early on in the season, look for the Rockets to unload Kevin Martin and his nearly $13 million dollars in salary. The Rockets will be a bad team, so they might as well run the young guys out there and see what they can do. Fantasy owners should see Lamb as a decent pickup, particularly in salary cap leagues as he will come cheap.
John Henson, 14th overall – Milwaukee Bucks
He was drafted for his defensive capabilities; he left UNC as the all-time shot blocker averaging close to 10 rpg for the Tar Heels. Henson had a solid Summer League, where he contributed not just defensively but also scored at an average of 18.3 ppg. If Henson can keep the defensive intensity up in training camp, look for him to steal minutes at the center and power forward spots. Henson will get fantasy owners points as he blocks shots, grabs as many offensive as defensive rebounds and can score on easy putbacks.
Terrence Jones, 18th overall – Houston Rockets
The forward may have just played his way into a starting role with the Rockets. It is going to be difficult for the Rockets to overlook his athleticism and willingness to rebound the basketball. Jones finished the five-game Summer League with averages of 18.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg in only two starts; with his best game being a 24 point, 12 rebound with zero turnover outing. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on Jones, if he gets the starting nod; he should be great value in all leagues.
Jared Sullinger, 21st overall & Fab Melo, 22nd overall – Boston Celtics
Sullinger and Melo were drafted to shore up a front line on the Celtics that needs size and strength to compete. Neither of these players will be called upon to score with any consistency, but they will be needed to rebound. As Kevin Garnett ages, Doc Rivers is more inclined to get him a rest during regular season games. Look for Sullinger to fill the void up front and be tasked with gobbling up the boards. Both players have limited fantasy value. Neither should be considered as fantasy options at the forward spots no matter how deep your league is.
Marquis Teague, 29th overall – Chicago Bulls
This Kentucky product has thus far shown that another year in college would have served him well. Teague did not fare well in NBA Summer League action, where he was abysmal from the floor shooting 30%. This horrid shooting percentage didn’t deter Teague from still jacking up shots, as he launched 18 in one and 17 in another game; he made four in each. Teague didn’t rebound the ball or pass it well. His best passes went for points to the other team, as he committed an average of 3.8 turnovers per, highlighted by two games of five and six turnovers. Teague is just out of his league, and until he matures into an NBA player, he should stay off your fantasy roster.
Conclusion
Drafting rookies onto your fantasy team can be a risk-reward proposition. There are some factors one should be mindful of when thinking of adding a rookie to your roster: What team does he play for? Are they a playoff team or in a rebuilding mode where they are more likely to give a young player a chance? What does the team’s depth chart look like? Will the rookie get a chance to see the court, or is he stuck behind a perennial All-Star? In most cases, drafting a rookie comes with a buyer beware warning, but if you do your homework, there are bargains out there that will have your co-general managers wondering how you managed to find such a draft day gem.