Where Are They Now: Beginning of 2016 Regular Season
Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns)
Bledsoe is in the second year of a five year contract and is now the leader of this team. They fell apart the second half of the season last year and so there will be quite a bit of pressure to improve this year and make the playoffs.
Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
Booker signed a two year contract with Phoenix, but would not become a restricted free agent until 2019. He'll have to prove himself in order to last that long. Shooting guard may be one of the hardest positions to make it in the NBA because you have to hit your shots. If you can't score you won't last long in the NBA. Booker had a great opening game to his career shooting 6 of 7 and scoring 14 points in 21 minutes. The fact that he's getting a chance to play of a guard heavy team is a good sign for Booker.
Willie Cauley-Stein (Sacramento Kings)
Similar to Booker Cauley-Stein signed a two year deal with the Kings. Though Cauley-Stein was getting a lot of attention leading up to the draft he probably won't be seeing real minutes until later in the year. Usually defensive first players have to work their way into playing time as it takes a while to adjust to the speed and physical play of the NBA. In his first game he played 8 minutes and scored 2 points and got two rebounds. Best of all he committed no fouls.
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
Cousins is in the second year of a 4 year contract. Everyone had such high hopes last season for Cousins and the Kings, but when Cousins got sick and the coach got fired, well it all seemed to fall apart. No one is expecting any improvement this year from the Kings and so Cousins will spend another year likely wasting away.
Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans)
Davis is in the final year of his original four year deal. Next year he will begin a 5 year extension so he's not coming into free agency anytime soon. Davis and the Pelicans surprised everyone by making the playoffs last year. Hard to imagine they will make it again this year. Still Davis may be the best player in the NBA.
Archie Goodwin (Phoenix Suns)
I wonder what Goodwin thought when they drafted Booker. Oh boy another shooting guard. Goodwin needs to show some real improvement this year. He's on a team that is planning on playing small and use a lot of guards to hopefully he can get plenty of playing time.
Chuck Hayes ()
Hayes is currently not playing in the NBA though he was with the Clippers in preseason. Maybe he'll get a little more playing time, but perhaps not. For a guy who came into the League undrafted Hayes put together a solid 10 year career.
Terrence Jones (Houston Rockets)
Jones is in the 4th year of a four year deal. The Rockets would still have the option on him next year before he becomes a free agent. Jones has been a productive player and has many fans in the NBA media, but his health is an issue. Let's hope that Jones can stay healthy and have a productive year.
Enes Kanter (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Kanter is in the first year of a four year deal he signed with Oklahoma City. It will be interesting to see what he can contribute to this team which some are picking to win it all this year. In their season opener Kanter had 15 points and 16 rebounds in 24 minutes played. I think they'll take that.
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Charlotte Hornets)
Kidd-Gilchrist had to undergo surgery in the offseason and is expected to miss the entire season. He got hurt in a preseason game. Luckily for Kidd-Gilchrist he is in the last year of his rookie contract and has signed an extension with Charlotte. Though Kidd-Gilchrist has struggled offensively he is considered now one of the best small forward lock down defenders in the NBA. He will be missed.
Brandon Knight (Phoenix Suns)
After coming over from Milwaukee last year Knight, Milwaukee, and Phoenix struggled. Knight is in the first year of a five year contract with Phoenix and with Phoenix being UK West we are really hoping he can get it going again this season.
Trey Lyles (Utah Jazz)
Lyles is under a two year contract with Utah. I would expect him to spend quite a bit of time in the D League this year working on his game.
Jodie Meeks (Detroit Pistons)
Meeks came into Detroit last year as their big acquisition. He was hurt and then didn't do much when he came back. He is in the second year of a three year deal and needs to show that he can still shoot the ball. He was brought in to be a scorer and so far has not been able to produce.
Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia 76ers)
Noel is on his third year of a three year contract. The 76ers have two more years of options before he becomes a restricted free agent. I expect Noel to have a breakout season this year. He developed quite a bit last year and should continue to improve.
Patrick Patterson (Toronto Raptors)
Patterson is in the second year of a three year deal with Toronto. He is an important bench player for Toronto and will hopefully have a good year.
Tayshaun Prince (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Prince is still around signing a one year deal with Minnesota. Keep gettin' them checks Tayshaun.
Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers)
Randle is on the second year of his rookie contract. After missing all of last season people are anxious to see what he can do this year. He opened up OK scoring 15 points with 11 rebounds.
Rajon Rondo (Sacramento Kings)
The best Rondo could come up with was a one year deal with the worst franchise in professional sports. It will be interesting to see just how badly this all goes this year. Sadly that will be the only interesting story out of Sacramento I fear.
Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Number 1 pick in the draft carries a lot of weight. I think Towns will be a solid NBA player, but I'm not sure he can be as good as Cousins or Davis or Wall or even Rondo when he was at his peak. It will be fun to watch him this season to see what he can do. In his first game he scored 14 points and had 12 rebounds. A good start to what will be a long season.
John Wall (Washington Wizards)
Wall is in the second year of a 5 year contract. He has improved steadily each year. Now he needs to lead the Wizards as far as health and talent can take them. Curious to see what he can do this year.
James Young (Boston Celtics)
Young has yet to play and I would imagine he'll spend some time down in the D Leagues. Curious to see if he can catch on to a roster spot for Boston this year or if he gets shipped somewhere else. He's in the last year of his contract with Boston if they don't opt to keep him.
Labels: Basketball, NBA, Sports
Go, Wizards!