NBA Rookie Report Cards: Picks Seven Through Ten
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So far in this series, the top six picks of the 2022 NBA Draft have been given a letter grade based on their rookie seasons. Picks one through three can be found here and picks four through six can be found here Today, we round out the top ten.
The grades assigned to these rookies will not solely revolve around their first-year performance but rather will focus on the level of optimism they’ve earned regarding their future outcome relative to draft position.
Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers: A
Seventh Overall Pick
After sitting out his entire freshman season at Kentucky, Sharpe was somewhat of a mystery heading into the NBA Draft. It had been about a year since he played meaningful basketball, so whichever team selected him would be taking a risk. After his AAU career for Team UPlay, the Canadian wing’s raw talent was clear, but the sample of him providing value with his skills was small. Nonetheless, Portland’s front office had seen enough and took him with the seventh pick last June.
Sharpe started the season off well and continued to average 8 points in steady minutes throughout his first 70 games. All throughout, he flashed incredible upside with his tantalizing athleticism and versatile shot-making. However, when Damian Lillard got shut down, the season completely turned around for the 6-foot-6 slasher. His potential began to materialize, and he averaged 23.7 points and 4.1 assists in the ten games to close the season. This clear display of a star in the making earned him an A grade.
Dyson Daniels, New Orleans Pelicans: B-
Eighth Overall Pick
Daniels was a riser in last year’s draft cycle, managing to find a spot in the top ten come June. He played solid minutes for New Orleans at times throughout the season and even started eleven games. The Australian had some great moments defensively as a versatile 6-foot-7 team defender. The G League Ignite product also recorded three games with at least eight assists.
Still, he couldn’t play too much for the Pelicans in big moments due to his damaging offense. It’s certainly not expected of rookies to be able to thrive in high-leverage moments, but this inability spoke to the biggest hurdles Daniels will have to overcome to be a true impact player. He can’t really score from anywhere on the court right now, shooting 31.4% from deep, 49.2% inside the arc, and 65% from the stripe. Daniels hasn’t shown enough to make me feel too optimistic about his growth in these areas, so he receives a B- grade at this point.
Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio Spurs: B+
Ninth Overall Pick
Sochan is a unique blend of old-school power forward, new-age offensive versatility, and one-of-a-kind flair. The former Baylor Bear flies around with his flamboyant hair attacking the glass and making impact plays on defense. Additionally, he mixes in some clever ball handling and passing chops resembling modern-day jumbo creators.
It’s unclear what his primary role will be going forward, but that bridge can be crossed when the Spurs get there. For now, they can simply be impressed with the sheer level of goodness he’s displayed by 19 years of age. The 6-foot-9 Polish forward averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per contest this season. While not yet flashing high-end offensive upside, Sochan is clearly becoming an impactful player at the NBA level, earning him a B+ grade.
Johnny Davis, Washington Wizards: B
Tenth Overall Pick
The start of Davis’ career was disastrous in the eyes of many. But how meaningful are the first few months of a player’s professional career? Through his play late in the season, the Wizards guard emphasized the value of patience with first-year players.
The former Wisconsin Badger undeniably had a clunky start, but once he established some comfort in the league, he looked great. In his last seven games, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged nearly 15 points and eclipsed that mark five times. More importantly, he had some stellar defensive flashes. Davis displayed that he’s well on his way to becoming one of the best guard defenders in the league, earning him a B grade.
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