Any predicitions? Unless the NBA fixes it like they used to fix the Lakers' games, I think it'll go to Darko. LeBron will definitely NOT be a pushover, though. He should score around 15ppg and he'll do a lot to help out Cleveland, but if Darko is as good as the few video clips of him I've seen suggest, he'll be amazing. The guy is a 7-footer with a prettier shot than Nowitzki. Between the signing of this guy and the firing of Carlisle, things should be pretty interesting in Motown next year. Conversely, while LeBron and Darko will do well, I don't think Carmelo will do anything. He definitely made the right choice leaving Syracuse (I mean, what else could he possibly do there?), but he's not on the level of Darko and LeBron.
My darkhorse rookie picks: Chris Bosh (Kevin Garnett/Darko style player) and Jarvis Hayes (coolest player I've seen in college in 4 years).
I kind of expect a tie between Darko and LeBron. (A tie you say? Would the NBA "fix" it? Ask Grant Hill and Jason Kidd.)
If you read the NBA Insider piece about Darko practicing in front of the Pistons 92-year old scout it's like Darko will be scoring 40 in his first month in the league. I actually got goosebumps reading it.
There was another article where Darko was working out in the gym next to where the Pistons were practicing for Game 4 of the Nets series and some of the Pistons went over to check him out. This was before the lottery, so the Pistons didn't know where they would be picking, and Joe Dumars said he had to stop watching after five minutes because he didn't want to want Darko any more, and Richard Hamilton said he wished they could have Darko for THE NEXT GAME.
It seems obvious that if they were all just basketball players and it was, say 1981, the draft would go 1. Darko, 2. LeBron, 3. Carmelo. No one can pass on LeBron though.
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I'd go with Darko because LeBron has so much hype around him, that it's going to take him a couple years to settle in. Darko will have less pressure and will be able to just worry about playing good basketball.
I'd say Darko, unless some team finally decides to take the leap and draft me.
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Here's the question no one brings up with Lebron going to Cleveland: How are they going to pry the ball away from Ricky Davis? My early bet is on Carmelo Anthony, simply due to the fact that no one else on the Nuggets has the ability to put the ball in the hoop. By default, that should make Anthony a 20 point scorer.
I consider the switch from Pathetic to Loser to be a promotion.
It's really hard to say right now. Who would've thought around this time last year that Amare Stoudemire would win Rookie of the Year, especially with all the talk about Yao? Barring injuries and players coming out of nowhere like Amare, I would guess Darko would win over LeBron, just because LeBron has very high expectations placed on him.
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Being a C-USA biased observer and a lover of dark horse pics I am going to say that Dwayne Wade comes out of close to nowhere and pulls the Amare for this year.
I've got a gut feeling that LeBron has been hyped so much that whatever he does in his first year he'll be considered a disappointment. Darko has no pressure on him, so he'll be free to just let it rip. He's my pick for top rook.
Look for LeBron to average around 15ppg first year.
No no no. This Lebron hype is out of control. Maybe he's great, maybe he's going to be the best player ever. Who knows? But he has NEVER played anyone above the high school level. There is no way he is going to have a rookie of the year season with his inexperience/expectation/Clevelandness
My pick Carmelo or Jarvis.
I wish it was Matt Bonner though :(
(edited by Quezzy on 3.6.03 1429) Lance's Response:
Originally posted by QuezzyNo no no. This Lebron hype is out of control. Maybe he's great, maybe he's going to be the best player ever. Who knows? But he has NEVER played anyone above the high school level. There is no way he is going to have a rookie of the year season with his inexperience/expectation/Clevelandness
My pick Carmelo or Jarvis.
I wish it was Matt Bonner though :(
(edited by Quezzy on 3.6.03 1429)
wait thats not 100% true. LeBron was invited to and played in some Cavs workouts last year AND if i recall he was personally invited to play in some of Micheal jordans private workouts in Chicago last offseason and in 2001. They say he did pretty good against the pro players, which is where all his hype really got rolling.
Carmelo's already displayed the ability to make his teammates better. If he can do the same to Denver and brings them up to 9th or 10th place in the conference, I don't see why Carmelo can't be next year's Rookie of the Year.
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Unless LeBron blows his knee out or something he'll probably get it due to the popular vote. Most people will probably see Darko as just another European shooter.
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/04/04/naismith-hall-of-fame/?ls=iref:nbahpt1 From nba.com, it has been announced that the former 2 time Defensive Player of the Year ("The Worm" Dennis Rodman)