NBA Rookie Preseason Grades: East
Scottie Barnes, Isaiah Jackson and Cam Thomas grade out as the top rookie pre-season performances in the Eastern Conference
Also: Check out my Preseason Rookie Grades: Western Conference.
The NBA preseason gives us another chance, post-summer league, to check in on the progress of the 2021 draft class.
The NBA scouts and GMs I spoke with take preseason results more seriously for rookies in contrast to what they learn from summer league. In the preseason, competition is stronger, minutes are more realistic and roles are more defined. It follows that, going from summer league to the NBA preseason, we saw reduced minutes and production for virtually every prospect listed here.
The same “Inevitable Truths” that applied to our summer league draft grades apply here:
Inevitable Truth No. 1: We are going to overreact.
Inevitable Truth No. 2: Our cognitive biases are going to get in the way of good analysis.
Inevitable Truth No. 3: I’m going to ignore Inevitable Truths 1 and 2 and give my opinions anyway.
Given that, I’m going to grade each team's 2021 rookies based on their performance in the preseason.
Let’s start with the East today and finish with the West on Tuesday.
Player performances are graded relative to draft position and expectations.
TORONTO RAPTORS
Scottie Barnes (4)
Grade: A-
5 games: 26.3 mpg, 9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.8 tpg, 1.2 spg, 1.2 bpg, 0% from 3
Dalano Banton (46)
Grade: C+
5 games: 14.4 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3 apg, 2.2 tpg, 0.2 spg, 0.8 bpg, 14.3% from 3
David Johnson (47)
Grade: D
3 games: 8.4 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1 apg, 1.3 tpg, 0.3 spg, 0 bpg, 20% from 3
Justin Champagnie (ND)
Grade: B+
5 games: 18.4 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.4 tpg, 1.6 spg, 0.8 bpg, 27.3% from 3
Raptors fans must be feeling much better about Toronto passing on Jalen Suggs after Barnes posted a terrific preseason. He showed he can defend all five positions and that overall he’s ahead of where most scouts thought he’d be. Barnes led all rookies and his team in assists per game and posted an impressive (especially for a rookie) 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. His 3-point jump shot is still a major work in progress, but he showed off a nice midrange jumper.
Everything I saw this preseason says that Barnes was worthy of a top-4 pick and might become the best player in this draft class.
Champagnie, who went undrafted, was the other impressive young player for the Raptors. He’s a ballhound who uses his motor and toughness all over the floor. His rebounding and defensive numbers were impressive. Like Barnes, he needs to develop a passable 3-point shot. If he does, Champagnie can potentially escape the label of undersized 4.
Banton also looks like he’s got real potential as another big point guard who’s a jump shot away from sticking in the league. We’ll be watching his development closely.
This is an excerpt of my NBA Rookie Preseason Grades: East provided to free subscribers.
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