Written by Zack Reynolds at The Lottery Mafia
Which NBA rookies on lottery teams will make an impact early in the season?
There are 14 lottery picks in the NBA Draft, but a far greater number of rookies make their way onto lottery-bound teams.
Just because a player is drafted by a lottery team, it does not necessarily mean the player will get instant playing time. A year ago, Dante Exum had to wait until midseason to get consistent minutes. Other players dealt with injuries. Nik Stauskas fell into a poor fit, and wound up being traded after his rookie season.
Similar storylines will be seen in the 2015 class – which rookies will make the most of their early opportunity?
Karl-Anthony Towns | C | Minnesota Timberwolves
It makes sense that the No. 1 pick will get a chance to shine early. Towns will slide into the Timberwolves’ starting unit right away, starting over incumbent centers Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic. A shot-blocking menace that can create his own shot from the low post, expect to see Rubio/Towns pick and rolls and pick and pops in addition to the numerous isolation sequences that will be present for Andrew Wiggins. His numbers could be gaudy for the Wolves.
To continue reading this article, click here.
