Post by nova on Jun 10, 2011 17:06:21 GMT -5
40 Most Valuable Players Under 25 - Part 1 of 3[/u]
40. Donovon Beals PG 20 6'0'' 182 C B B A C B - Milwaukee Bucks
The youngest player on a veteran Bucks team, Beals has only recently begun to receive actual playing time. He has improved tremendously in three TC's and is a great defender. The rest of his game is still raw, but could further develop. He's very much still a question mark in terms of production since he's never played many minutes before the last nineteen games. Still, an intriguing young PG.
39. Lorenzo Baylor SF 20 6'8'' 200 C C+ A C C+ A - New Orleans Hornets
A rookie, Baylor is having an impactful rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 7.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG off the bench. His overall game is very raw, but Baylor has shown a lot of promise, and at age 20, he still seemingly has loads of upside. A unique player, Baylor will never be a star, but he could carve a niche as a great role player, and perhaps a starter if he can improve the rest of his game and maintain himself as an excellent ball handler.
38. Cameron Claxton PF 20 6'11'' 240 C B C+ B+ B+ A - Memphis Grizzlies
Another rookie, Claxton is similar to Baylor in that neither of them have prototypical games for their positions. Claxton has no post game to speak of, but is a great jump shooter. A good passer, rebounder, and defender, Claxton is having a very good rookie season. There are questions about whether he can truly be an effective starter since he doesn't score a lot and he's not great at anything, but he's a talented young player with upside and thus he belongs on the list regardless.
37. Matt Wesley SF 22 6'7'' 229 C+ A- C+ C B+ B - New York Knicks
Wesley is a player that has really had a solid start to his career. Through three seasons in the BBS, he's averaged 16.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.3 APG. An excellent mid-range shooter, Wesley is part of a new youth movement in the Big Apple, and is one of the reasons they're in the playoff hunt this season. He'll never be a star, but he's a great complimentary player. He'd be an ideal 6th man off the bench, but even as a starter, he's solid and will likely draw some interest on the trade market.
36. Titus Alexander C 21 7'3'' 245 B- C- D+ A B+ B - Atlanta Hawks
Alexander is the first of several Hawks on this list, and also the largest. A behemoth, Alexander is having a solid rookie season in Atlanta and looks to have a solid future as a defensive/rebounding center. He doesn't have a ton of upside, but good big men are hard to come by, and if he can carve a niche out for himself as a great defender and rebounder who can also score when needed, he'll be a valuable commodity for a long time.
35. Kareem Cunningham PG 20 6'4'' 192 C- A- B+ C+ C A - Denver Nuggets
Cunningham is the type of player that is really tough to gauge for a list like this. There are things to like and things to hate. He absolutely cannot score in the paint and he's incredibly turnover prone. However, he's a good shooter and can be a great playmaker. He's got upside, so there's time for him to refine his flaws, and if he can do so, he'll wind up significantly more valuable than some of the players ahead of him, but he's got a lot of work to do, as turnover-prone PG's who can't play defense are frowned upon in BBS.
34. Pavel Petrovin C 22 7'1'' 288 C+ D+ D A- A- B - Denver Nuggets
Back-to-back Nuggets. Petrovin was without a doubt a reach at #2 overall in the last draft. With that said, he's still a very solid player and one who a lot of teams will likely attempt to trade for. A quality defender and rebounder as a rookie, if Petrovin can further improve these aspects of his game, he'll be a great asset and exactly the type of player that helps teams win championships. It's unlikely that he'll ever be much of a scorer, but that shouldn't really hurt his value too much.
33. Nolan Ellison SF 24 6'10'' 230 A- A- C B C C - San Antonio Spurs
Ellison has very quietly entered the league and put up solid numbers for the Spurs. In only his second season, he's scoring over 20 points per game and rebounds at a decent clip as well. What is he now is likely what he'll be in five years: A good scorer who plays decent defense but turns the ball over too much. There's no real upside left, which hurts his value, but he'll probably end up being more productive then a handful of the players ranked above him.
32. Marcus Jay SG 23 6'5'' 210 C+ A+ C B- C A - Washington Wizards
Jay is a bit of an enigma. He hasn't really improved a whole lot since entering the league, and yet, he's still productive and talented enough to warrant interest from teams. More then anything, it seems as if he's being misused in Washington. He's an incredible shooter and could be a lethal scorer in an outside-focused offense. And there's still time for the rest of his game to come around. If he can improve his defense even marginally, there's no question he's a starting caliber SG.
31. Douglas Washington SF 24 6'7'' 210 B+ B+ B B+ C B - Orlando Magic
Washington is a player that's seemingly been on the brink of breaking out for a few years now, but just has yet to do so. He's having a solid season for the Magic, and still looks like a damn good player, and yet, the production just doesn't match what appears on paper. He's only 24, so there's still time for him to break out, and if he does, he could be a dangerous player, but as of now, it seems like he's merely going to be a 16/6/3 type of player.
30. Rashid Muhammad PF 20 6'9'' 235 C+ B- C+ B C+ A - Atlanta Hawks
Muhammad is one of the tougher players to rank on this list. He's only a rookie, he's made some strides already, but he's just so raw that it's hard to imagine him ever being more then just a solid starter. However, he's also oozing with raw talent and upside, so it's not out of the question that he becomes a dynamic player, the type that can be an all-star. As it stands though, if Muhammad can develop into a quality starter, that should be marked as a success. He's got a lot of value, but he could also easily fizzle out and become a journeyman.
29. Ethan Talley SG 20 6'5'' 190 C A C+ B- C- B - Phoenix Suns
Talley is the seventh rookie on this list, and much like some of the others, is one that will probably be quite good, but not great. His game is a work in progress. He's going to make his living on his shooting skills, but if he can improve his ability to drive to the basket and his passing and defense, he could become a very good SG. At this point though, he doesn't look like he'll ever be much more of a scorer then what Marcus Jay already is. And yet, because of his superior ball handling and defense and his youth, he's still probably more valuable.
28. Franz Reinhart C 23 7'0'' 234 B- B C B+ A- B - Atlanta Hawks
Another Hawk on the list, Reinhart is a big man with a unique game. He can score from anywhere on the floor. He plays solid defense and grabs rebounds, but he is a terrible shot blocker, which really diminishes his value. He's an above average passer though, and last season he produced at a terrific rate. His numbers are down this season, likely because the Hawks have a dearth of talented young bigs. He is what he is; a solid big man who'll likely average 18/10 but never really be a true impact player.
27. J.T. Irish SF 23 6'6'' 200 C A C+ A- B+ B - Boston Celtics
Only a second year player, Irish is already playing like he's a veteran. He's quietly having a very impressive season for the Celtics, averaging 15.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG on very solid shooting percentages. As it stands, he's already a damn good player. If he can further improve his game, it'll only increase his value. He'll never be a star, but he's an excellent role player and the type that could put the team over the edge and help them win a title.
26. Dalmar Ghedi C 24 7'0'' 252 C C- D+ A A- C - Golden State Warriors
Perhaps the most valuable player on the entire Warriors roster, Ghedi is also one of the most underrated in the entire league. He's not great, but he does two things very well: He's an excellent defender and an excellent rebounder. He blocks nearly 3 shots per game, and is surprisingly efficient when he does attempt shots. He's exactly the type of big man that winning teams need. At 24, he's on a reasonable contract and should be sought after more.
25. Marvin McCleod SF 24 6'7'' 233 A- B- D+ A- C C - Memphis Grizzlies
McLeod is a player, who productivity wise, probably belongs higher, but there are things holding him down. Namely, he's never been on a winning team, he's a poor ball handler, he's on a very large conract, and he's seemingly tapped out potential wise. And yet, he'll likely still be a 20-22 PPG player for several years. He's a talented swingman no doubt, but he's not a special player that teams really feel they need to have.
Part 2 to come tomorrow, Part 3 to come Sunday
40. Donovon Beals PG 20 6'0'' 182 C B B A C B - Milwaukee Bucks
The youngest player on a veteran Bucks team, Beals has only recently begun to receive actual playing time. He has improved tremendously in three TC's and is a great defender. The rest of his game is still raw, but could further develop. He's very much still a question mark in terms of production since he's never played many minutes before the last nineteen games. Still, an intriguing young PG.
39. Lorenzo Baylor SF 20 6'8'' 200 C C+ A C C+ A - New Orleans Hornets
A rookie, Baylor is having an impactful rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 7.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG off the bench. His overall game is very raw, but Baylor has shown a lot of promise, and at age 20, he still seemingly has loads of upside. A unique player, Baylor will never be a star, but he could carve a niche as a great role player, and perhaps a starter if he can improve the rest of his game and maintain himself as an excellent ball handler.
38. Cameron Claxton PF 20 6'11'' 240 C B C+ B+ B+ A - Memphis Grizzlies
Another rookie, Claxton is similar to Baylor in that neither of them have prototypical games for their positions. Claxton has no post game to speak of, but is a great jump shooter. A good passer, rebounder, and defender, Claxton is having a very good rookie season. There are questions about whether he can truly be an effective starter since he doesn't score a lot and he's not great at anything, but he's a talented young player with upside and thus he belongs on the list regardless.
37. Matt Wesley SF 22 6'7'' 229 C+ A- C+ C B+ B - New York Knicks
Wesley is a player that has really had a solid start to his career. Through three seasons in the BBS, he's averaged 16.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.3 APG. An excellent mid-range shooter, Wesley is part of a new youth movement in the Big Apple, and is one of the reasons they're in the playoff hunt this season. He'll never be a star, but he's a great complimentary player. He'd be an ideal 6th man off the bench, but even as a starter, he's solid and will likely draw some interest on the trade market.
36. Titus Alexander C 21 7'3'' 245 B- C- D+ A B+ B - Atlanta Hawks
Alexander is the first of several Hawks on this list, and also the largest. A behemoth, Alexander is having a solid rookie season in Atlanta and looks to have a solid future as a defensive/rebounding center. He doesn't have a ton of upside, but good big men are hard to come by, and if he can carve a niche out for himself as a great defender and rebounder who can also score when needed, he'll be a valuable commodity for a long time.
35. Kareem Cunningham PG 20 6'4'' 192 C- A- B+ C+ C A - Denver Nuggets
Cunningham is the type of player that is really tough to gauge for a list like this. There are things to like and things to hate. He absolutely cannot score in the paint and he's incredibly turnover prone. However, he's a good shooter and can be a great playmaker. He's got upside, so there's time for him to refine his flaws, and if he can do so, he'll wind up significantly more valuable than some of the players ahead of him, but he's got a lot of work to do, as turnover-prone PG's who can't play defense are frowned upon in BBS.
34. Pavel Petrovin C 22 7'1'' 288 C+ D+ D A- A- B - Denver Nuggets
Back-to-back Nuggets. Petrovin was without a doubt a reach at #2 overall in the last draft. With that said, he's still a very solid player and one who a lot of teams will likely attempt to trade for. A quality defender and rebounder as a rookie, if Petrovin can further improve these aspects of his game, he'll be a great asset and exactly the type of player that helps teams win championships. It's unlikely that he'll ever be much of a scorer, but that shouldn't really hurt his value too much.
33. Nolan Ellison SF 24 6'10'' 230 A- A- C B C C - San Antonio Spurs
Ellison has very quietly entered the league and put up solid numbers for the Spurs. In only his second season, he's scoring over 20 points per game and rebounds at a decent clip as well. What is he now is likely what he'll be in five years: A good scorer who plays decent defense but turns the ball over too much. There's no real upside left, which hurts his value, but he'll probably end up being more productive then a handful of the players ranked above him.
32. Marcus Jay SG 23 6'5'' 210 C+ A+ C B- C A - Washington Wizards
Jay is a bit of an enigma. He hasn't really improved a whole lot since entering the league, and yet, he's still productive and talented enough to warrant interest from teams. More then anything, it seems as if he's being misused in Washington. He's an incredible shooter and could be a lethal scorer in an outside-focused offense. And there's still time for the rest of his game to come around. If he can improve his defense even marginally, there's no question he's a starting caliber SG.
31. Douglas Washington SF 24 6'7'' 210 B+ B+ B B+ C B - Orlando Magic
Washington is a player that's seemingly been on the brink of breaking out for a few years now, but just has yet to do so. He's having a solid season for the Magic, and still looks like a damn good player, and yet, the production just doesn't match what appears on paper. He's only 24, so there's still time for him to break out, and if he does, he could be a dangerous player, but as of now, it seems like he's merely going to be a 16/6/3 type of player.
30. Rashid Muhammad PF 20 6'9'' 235 C+ B- C+ B C+ A - Atlanta Hawks
Muhammad is one of the tougher players to rank on this list. He's only a rookie, he's made some strides already, but he's just so raw that it's hard to imagine him ever being more then just a solid starter. However, he's also oozing with raw talent and upside, so it's not out of the question that he becomes a dynamic player, the type that can be an all-star. As it stands though, if Muhammad can develop into a quality starter, that should be marked as a success. He's got a lot of value, but he could also easily fizzle out and become a journeyman.
29. Ethan Talley SG 20 6'5'' 190 C A C+ B- C- B - Phoenix Suns
Talley is the seventh rookie on this list, and much like some of the others, is one that will probably be quite good, but not great. His game is a work in progress. He's going to make his living on his shooting skills, but if he can improve his ability to drive to the basket and his passing and defense, he could become a very good SG. At this point though, he doesn't look like he'll ever be much more of a scorer then what Marcus Jay already is. And yet, because of his superior ball handling and defense and his youth, he's still probably more valuable.
28. Franz Reinhart C 23 7'0'' 234 B- B C B+ A- B - Atlanta Hawks
Another Hawk on the list, Reinhart is a big man with a unique game. He can score from anywhere on the floor. He plays solid defense and grabs rebounds, but he is a terrible shot blocker, which really diminishes his value. He's an above average passer though, and last season he produced at a terrific rate. His numbers are down this season, likely because the Hawks have a dearth of talented young bigs. He is what he is; a solid big man who'll likely average 18/10 but never really be a true impact player.
27. J.T. Irish SF 23 6'6'' 200 C A C+ A- B+ B - Boston Celtics
Only a second year player, Irish is already playing like he's a veteran. He's quietly having a very impressive season for the Celtics, averaging 15.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG on very solid shooting percentages. As it stands, he's already a damn good player. If he can further improve his game, it'll only increase his value. He'll never be a star, but he's an excellent role player and the type that could put the team over the edge and help them win a title.
26. Dalmar Ghedi C 24 7'0'' 252 C C- D+ A A- C - Golden State Warriors
Perhaps the most valuable player on the entire Warriors roster, Ghedi is also one of the most underrated in the entire league. He's not great, but he does two things very well: He's an excellent defender and an excellent rebounder. He blocks nearly 3 shots per game, and is surprisingly efficient when he does attempt shots. He's exactly the type of big man that winning teams need. At 24, he's on a reasonable contract and should be sought after more.
25. Marvin McCleod SF 24 6'7'' 233 A- B- D+ A- C C - Memphis Grizzlies
McLeod is a player, who productivity wise, probably belongs higher, but there are things holding him down. Namely, he's never been on a winning team, he's a poor ball handler, he's on a very large conract, and he's seemingly tapped out potential wise. And yet, he'll likely still be a 20-22 PPG player for several years. He's a talented swingman no doubt, but he's not a special player that teams really feel they need to have.
Part 2 to come tomorrow, Part 3 to come Sunday