Post by nova on Jun 12, 2011 17:40:06 GMT -5
40 Most Valuable Players Under 25 - Part 3 of 3: #10-1[/u]
#10 Julian Rooks PG 24 6'2'' 185 C+ A- B+ A- C B - Cleveland Cavaliers
One of the most underrated players in the league, Rooks has quietly evolved into one of the league's best PG's. A quality scorer, passer, and defender, Rooks has no real flaws. He turns it over a bit more than most would like, but that's not hurting his value too much. In terms of trade value, his is really not as high as you'd think, for whatever reason teams don't seem to consider him a great PG. Yet, his production says otherwise, as does the fact that he's on one of the best teams in the league.
#9 J.J. Erving SF 21 6'6'' 220 B B+ C B C+ A - Orlando Magic
The third member of the Magic in the top 15, Erving is one of the more intriguing young swingmen in the league. The production hasn't quite been there yet, but he's shown flashes of being a star, and he's developed quite a bit in two TC's, so there's no reason to think he won't eventually develop into one of the better swingmen in the league. The #2 pick in the 2022 draft, the Magic are relying on Erving to become their franchise piece. Alongside Tanner Thompson, he gives them a lethal combination on the wing, and the Magic are a team that seemingly should have a bright, bright future.
#8 Cam Adams PG 24 6'7'' 218 B B+ A+ B C C - Dallas Mavericks
In his first three seasons in the league Adams had been one of the league's perennial underperformers. However, after being traded to Dallas, the Mavs made a critical move that fundamentally altered Adams' value. They began playing him at PG. He responded by putting up very impressive numbers and becoming a stat-sheet stuffer. There are still questions about his consistency and whether he's really a 'winner,' but this season he proved he can play PG and that he's a true playmaker. He'll earn a max contract this offseason as a result, and likely be one of the league's more sought after PG's the next few years.
#7 Juno Tremont PF 23 6'9'' 224 A- C C+ A- B B - Los Angeles Lakers
Tremont is a player who while already very good, seemingly still has room for improvement. After signing a max contract last offseason, he played fourth fiddle on this year's Lakers team and still managed to average 19.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 2.9 APG. As a top option, he'd probably be capable of doing 22/10. He's a fundamentally solid big man: he can score, rebound, pass, play defense, and he doesn't turn it over. He can even block the occasional shot and steal the occasional ball. He's not a superstar, but he's the future of the Lakers and is highly regarded around the league.
#6 Kevin White SF 22 6'7'' 224 A- A- B- B B+ C - Philadelphia 76ers
A huge steal in the 2020 draft, White has proven scouts wrong and become one of the most dominant young players in the league. He's coming off a season where he averaged 24.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.6 APG, and along with Antonio Ramsey, he is part of one of the league's best 1-2 duos. White isn't as dominant or consistent as J.D. Quincy or Dean Hollis, but he's right on that next level. If the 76ers are going to survive their CY next year, White will be a huge reason why. He's a fantastic young SF with a great career ahead of him, and there's no doubt any team in the league would love to have him.
#5 Bradley Barker PG 20 6'0'' 185 C+ A- A- B D+ A - Charlotte Bobcats
In only his second season, Barker had an absolutely break-out year and helped lead his team to the playoffs. He's proven to be an incredible PG with unbelievable instincts. Averaging 24.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 9.0 APG, and 2.2 SPG with only 1.6 TPG, Barker has entrenched himself as an elite PG and one of the league's most exciting and dynamic players for the next decade. The Bobcats are a solid team, but Barker is what really makes them one of the best teams in the league. And he's only 20. It's scary to think how good he'll be in three or four seasons. He might even rack up an MVP award or two before he's done if he keeps improving at this pace.
#4 Durell Valentine C 23 7'0'' 290 B+ C- D- B- A A - San Antonio Spurs
Valentine is a dominant young post player. He's coming off a fantastic season where he averaged 23/12 on 51% shooting for the Spurs. He is the future of the Spurs, there's just no doubt about it. The reason he comes in at 5 is because he has almost no passing instincts and is a mediocre defender in every sense. However, he's still a phenom. He could easily become a 25/14 type big man with further development, and it seems as if the Spurs are in no rush to move him, which is probably the smart move, why should they? He's just a stud.
#3 Tracy Parker SG 24 6'6'' 206 B A B- B+ C- B - Detroit Pistons
Parker, Valentine, and Barker could all really be interchanged. They're all fantastic young players who are the future of their franchises. The reason Parker gets the edge is because he seems to be the only one of the three with a true ability to completely take over a game. In a three game stretch this season, he scored 51, 53, and 64 points. Back-to-back-to-back. He is absolutely unstoppable offensively and can rebound, make passes, and play defense too. His game is virtually flawless, and he's only in his third season. With a few more TC's under his belt, he could easily become the league's best swingman, and that's why he comes in at #3.
#2 J.D. Quincy SF 23 6'5'' 223 A- A- B- A- B+ B - Dallas Mavericks
Star. That's the only word there is to describe Quincy. He's an incredible young player, and is the best of an impressive collection of young players in Dallas. Not only is he a great scorer, rebounder, and passer, but he's an excellent defender. He blocks nearly 3 shots per game and grabs 1.5 SPG. His only flaw is that he does turn the ball over a bit more then one would like. The Mavericks have him locked up for the next six seasons, and as a result, should be a team to watch out for, especially if they can also resign Cam Adams. The Suns decision to trade Quincy was a controversial one, but boy are Dallas fans happy they did move him, he's now theirs, and boy is he a good one.
#1 Dean Hollis SF 22 6'10'' 220 B+ A C A- B B - Los Angeles Clippers
Numero Uno. There's simply no doubt who #1 is. Dean Hollis might not only be the best young player in the league, he might be the best player in the league, period. And if not, he's not far off, and he probably will one day. He lead the league in PPG this season in only his third season and is also a tremendous rebounder, good passer, and good defender. The Clippers have a solid supporting cast around him, but there's no question that Hollis is the franchise player. If they lose him when his contract expires next season, it'll set the franchise back several seasons. If they can keep him, they'll have arguably the league's most valuable player on their roster. It's scary to think that he could become an even better player, but he could. And that's why he's #1.
#10 Julian Rooks PG 24 6'2'' 185 C+ A- B+ A- C B - Cleveland Cavaliers
One of the most underrated players in the league, Rooks has quietly evolved into one of the league's best PG's. A quality scorer, passer, and defender, Rooks has no real flaws. He turns it over a bit more than most would like, but that's not hurting his value too much. In terms of trade value, his is really not as high as you'd think, for whatever reason teams don't seem to consider him a great PG. Yet, his production says otherwise, as does the fact that he's on one of the best teams in the league.
#9 J.J. Erving SF 21 6'6'' 220 B B+ C B C+ A - Orlando Magic
The third member of the Magic in the top 15, Erving is one of the more intriguing young swingmen in the league. The production hasn't quite been there yet, but he's shown flashes of being a star, and he's developed quite a bit in two TC's, so there's no reason to think he won't eventually develop into one of the better swingmen in the league. The #2 pick in the 2022 draft, the Magic are relying on Erving to become their franchise piece. Alongside Tanner Thompson, he gives them a lethal combination on the wing, and the Magic are a team that seemingly should have a bright, bright future.
#8 Cam Adams PG 24 6'7'' 218 B B+ A+ B C C - Dallas Mavericks
In his first three seasons in the league Adams had been one of the league's perennial underperformers. However, after being traded to Dallas, the Mavs made a critical move that fundamentally altered Adams' value. They began playing him at PG. He responded by putting up very impressive numbers and becoming a stat-sheet stuffer. There are still questions about his consistency and whether he's really a 'winner,' but this season he proved he can play PG and that he's a true playmaker. He'll earn a max contract this offseason as a result, and likely be one of the league's more sought after PG's the next few years.
#7 Juno Tremont PF 23 6'9'' 224 A- C C+ A- B B - Los Angeles Lakers
Tremont is a player who while already very good, seemingly still has room for improvement. After signing a max contract last offseason, he played fourth fiddle on this year's Lakers team and still managed to average 19.4 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 2.9 APG. As a top option, he'd probably be capable of doing 22/10. He's a fundamentally solid big man: he can score, rebound, pass, play defense, and he doesn't turn it over. He can even block the occasional shot and steal the occasional ball. He's not a superstar, but he's the future of the Lakers and is highly regarded around the league.
#6 Kevin White SF 22 6'7'' 224 A- A- B- B B+ C - Philadelphia 76ers
A huge steal in the 2020 draft, White has proven scouts wrong and become one of the most dominant young players in the league. He's coming off a season where he averaged 24.2 PPG, 10.3 RPG, and 4.6 APG, and along with Antonio Ramsey, he is part of one of the league's best 1-2 duos. White isn't as dominant or consistent as J.D. Quincy or Dean Hollis, but he's right on that next level. If the 76ers are going to survive their CY next year, White will be a huge reason why. He's a fantastic young SF with a great career ahead of him, and there's no doubt any team in the league would love to have him.
#5 Bradley Barker PG 20 6'0'' 185 C+ A- A- B D+ A - Charlotte Bobcats
In only his second season, Barker had an absolutely break-out year and helped lead his team to the playoffs. He's proven to be an incredible PG with unbelievable instincts. Averaging 24.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 9.0 APG, and 2.2 SPG with only 1.6 TPG, Barker has entrenched himself as an elite PG and one of the league's most exciting and dynamic players for the next decade. The Bobcats are a solid team, but Barker is what really makes them one of the best teams in the league. And he's only 20. It's scary to think how good he'll be in three or four seasons. He might even rack up an MVP award or two before he's done if he keeps improving at this pace.
#4 Durell Valentine C 23 7'0'' 290 B+ C- D- B- A A - San Antonio Spurs
Valentine is a dominant young post player. He's coming off a fantastic season where he averaged 23/12 on 51% shooting for the Spurs. He is the future of the Spurs, there's just no doubt about it. The reason he comes in at 5 is because he has almost no passing instincts and is a mediocre defender in every sense. However, he's still a phenom. He could easily become a 25/14 type big man with further development, and it seems as if the Spurs are in no rush to move him, which is probably the smart move, why should they? He's just a stud.
#3 Tracy Parker SG 24 6'6'' 206 B A B- B+ C- B - Detroit Pistons
Parker, Valentine, and Barker could all really be interchanged. They're all fantastic young players who are the future of their franchises. The reason Parker gets the edge is because he seems to be the only one of the three with a true ability to completely take over a game. In a three game stretch this season, he scored 51, 53, and 64 points. Back-to-back-to-back. He is absolutely unstoppable offensively and can rebound, make passes, and play defense too. His game is virtually flawless, and he's only in his third season. With a few more TC's under his belt, he could easily become the league's best swingman, and that's why he comes in at #3.
#2 J.D. Quincy SF 23 6'5'' 223 A- A- B- A- B+ B - Dallas Mavericks
Star. That's the only word there is to describe Quincy. He's an incredible young player, and is the best of an impressive collection of young players in Dallas. Not only is he a great scorer, rebounder, and passer, but he's an excellent defender. He blocks nearly 3 shots per game and grabs 1.5 SPG. His only flaw is that he does turn the ball over a bit more then one would like. The Mavericks have him locked up for the next six seasons, and as a result, should be a team to watch out for, especially if they can also resign Cam Adams. The Suns decision to trade Quincy was a controversial one, but boy are Dallas fans happy they did move him, he's now theirs, and boy is he a good one.
#1 Dean Hollis SF 22 6'10'' 220 B+ A C A- B B - Los Angeles Clippers
Numero Uno. There's simply no doubt who #1 is. Dean Hollis might not only be the best young player in the league, he might be the best player in the league, period. And if not, he's not far off, and he probably will one day. He lead the league in PPG this season in only his third season and is also a tremendous rebounder, good passer, and good defender. The Clippers have a solid supporting cast around him, but there's no question that Hollis is the franchise player. If they lose him when his contract expires next season, it'll set the franchise back several seasons. If they can keep him, they'll have arguably the league's most valuable player on their roster. It's scary to think that he could become an even better player, but he could. And that's why he's #1.
