“Underperforming NBA Rookies: Players Who Struggled to Meet High Expectations”

The regular season came to an end a few days ago and the NBA is on its way to the semifinals with the eight best teams of the course. The last rookies of the year have been Scottie Barnes and Paolo Banchero, but many of the Draft choices, a moment when everything can change for the teams, especially in the future, They have not taken effect and have not given the expected result. Solobasket has created a list with seven rookie players, sophomores and from the third year that much more was expected, hoping for his best version in the 23-24 season. Injuries, fitting into the team or not settling in the league, possible causes of the little prominence of players who came out in high positions in the Draft and key in many of them to the reconstruction.

jalen suggs – orlando magic

He ends his second season in the NBA as the first, disappointing. He pick number five of the 2021 Draft, coming from the Gonzaga factory, was one of the pillars of the reconstruction from Orlando, but in two courses he has only played 70 parties, lowering the scoring average in his second to 9.9 points. He started the season injured and the 21-year-old Suggs never quite started, even when he was healthy. For Mosley it seems that he will continue as a differential element in the next season, but it is not entirely clear where he will fit within the quintet, even if he appears in the second unit. Reading him from pick&roll Next to Banchero and Wagner he is interesting, but he continues to have problems with lost balls.

The quality and play shown by Markelle Fultz and the two picks The first-round pick in the 2023 Draft puts his role in jeopardy.

james wiseman – golden state warriors

The San Francisco franchise may have tired very quickly, or they may have seen that their evolution was not as expected for a second pick in the 2020 Draft. His move to Detroit Pistons did improve their production, but in three years he has only played 66 games. Injuries and illnesses have marked his short career in the NBA.

He was on his way to pick up the baton for the Curry-Thompson-Green generation, but Myers and Kerr got tired of waiting and surgeries in the middle. But as the weeks pass, it seems that the agreement has not been good for the Pistons either. The Michigan team, without a coach, has plenty of centerswith the same pick two, adding to Duren, Bagley III and Stewartbut not shooters, as is Bey who set a course for Hawks.

All three are poor outside shooters (Stewart was injured). Playing two strictly post-and-paint threats not only eased opposing defenses, but clogged up the middle, so there was no room for Jaden Ivey or Killian Hayes to drive to the basket.

The question will be if Wiseman Will it be important to the new coach or will it be a bargaining chip. Problem? Few teams will find a home for the Nashville, Tennessee native, as he has no market because he simply hasn’t played enough and has a long history of injuries.

scottie barnes – toronto raptors

The fourth pick in the 2021 Draft y rookie of the year he was expected to be a cornerstone of Nurse’s team and the Canadian franchise. He is a big part of the Raptors’ future, averaging 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He has traced his stats of season rookiehaving moments of brilliance like the 29 points against the Sixers in March, very close to the triple-double.

But following the words of You’re in, more was expected. Barnes’ scoring didn’t improve much from last year, if at all. He finished last year with 15.3 points per game and will finish this year with roughly the same number with slightly worse shooting efficiency.

This is a wake-up call rather than a clear disappointment. It was okay, but not up to expectations. “I feel like I probably need a different level of conditioning for the way I want to play.Toronto wants Barnes to become a modern forward who can handle the pick-and-roll, scrutinize others, punish smaller defenders and create mismatch nightmares for whoever is defending him.

With Nurse no longer in the franchise, it looks like Barnes is the only untouchable of all the roster. Offseason important for the team of Canada, with Becky Hammon or Sergio Scariolo as possible options.

james bouknight – charlotte hornets

Everything that happened in the Hornets has been a disappointment. Little can be saved from the season in the North Carolina franchise, and the pick eleven of the 2021 draft out of UConn, ends a second season again well below expectations, either due to injuries, lack of opportunities or because he will not have a place in the NBA.

It seems unlikely that he will be a mainstay of the rotation next season for Clifford. This course he has spent with Greensboro Swarm of the G League, but in the final stretch he was part of the Hornets taking advantage of the injuries of the roster. “It’s super excitingsaid his companion backcourt Dennis Smith Jr. on the development of Bouknight. “I don’t think NBA fans understand how talented Bouk really is. You can see him make 20 3-pointers in a row, and that’s normal for him. Super talented, super athletic, so for him to come in and have an impact like that.“.

in his season of rookie He only played 304 minutes, seeing him having difficulties to have good percentages, but also his decision-making with the ball in his hands is worrisome, being in the offensive field and his speed of processing the biggest concern that the Hornets have about the young player who will enter in its third season.

At defensive end, James Bouknight has worsened as the season progressed. He is everywhere on defense. He misses on single plays, is too slow on closeouts and bites too hard on fakes. His defensive failings are more mental than anything and we expect them to improve as he gains more experience.

ousmane dieng – oklahoma city thunder

From New Zealand to the Draft and pick 11. The Williamses, especially Jalen, have excelled as rookies on the Thunder, with Holmgren starting in the 23-24 season and Dieng has been a more regular fixture in Oklahoma City Blue than OKC.

Due to Dieng’s age and potential, he was best suited to expand his game this season and learn through the G League. Dieng was able to show glimpses of his potential when he was playing with the Thunder, and he should have Thunder fans excited for his future. It is not a disappointment, but despite being a hidden gemyou must show that the NBA is your place.

He also had a wrist injury, being inconsistent, but at 6-foot-10, he’s the size of an inside, but possesses guarding skills. As such, he can play multiple positions at both ends and brings versatility to Oklahoma City. He played 39 games, averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.. In nine games with the Blues, he produced 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

He General Manager Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti is one of the league’s top scouts, and he gave up three first-round picks to acquire Dieng. That tells us everything we need to know about the positive side of him.

Be ready to give everything, every day and just work.

Ousmane Dieng with media at end of season interviews pic.twitter.com/4BaQfb1Cmn

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) April 16, 2023