Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer has the chance to make more of an impact than No.1 and No.2 picks AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, some NBA insiders say.
Boozer is the most equipped to meet the challenges of adjusting to the NBA, ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo says.
“And while the adjustment to the NBA level from a size, athleticism and pace perspective will pose some immediate challenges for him, there’s not much doubt that Boozer will be able to solve for that. He has always been advanced for his age and should be a productive rookie on a team that’s relatively well-constructed around him,” Woo said.
“How many games the Grizzlies will win this season with what’s still a very young and evolving team is the correct follow-up question. Whatever success they have will be tied to Boozer’s readiness to help carry them.”
Sports Illustrated’s Amir Motameni thinks that Boozer could even win Rookie of the Year and explains how there are few areas that will determine if he stands out from a loaded rookie class.
“Unlike some other rookies who may not have significant roles, Boozer is expected to have a lot of opportunity,” he said.
Memphis isn’t drafting him third overall to bring him along slowly. He should get the minutes and touches to put up numbers right away, and for an award like Rookie of the Year, that matters.
“I don’t think Boozer needs to average 20-plus points to win it, but he probably needs to be somewhere in the 17-to-19 point range while putting up strong rebounding numbers around 7-9 per game. The Grizzlies need to allow him to play through mistakes instead of pulling back his role when he struggles. The Grizzlies are in a full rebuild, so I can’t see a world where they hold him back at all.”
Does Boozer have what it takes to be a star?
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