Top Five NBA ROY Candidates

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Last year, the first overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft was Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins lived up to expectations in his rookie season and ran away with the NBA ROY (Rookie of the Year) award. This year, Karl-Anthony Towns was the No.1 pick in the draft, and the expectations for him are to follow in Wiggins’ footsteps. Although Towns screams potential, he is not the only candidate for the award. Here are the top five candidates for the ROY award:

Just Missed the Cut

1. Jahlil Okafor, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Okafor will be entering a crowded front court in Philadelphia that already has shutdown rim protector Nerlens Noel, last year’s third overall pick, Joel Embiid (if his injury doesn’t sideline him), and Dario Saric, who is expected to make his first career NBA appearance. Okafor simply will not have enough playing time to put up numbers worthy of being named ROY.

2. Cameron Payne, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

Payne will be coming off of the bench for most of the season, as the Thunder already have All Star Russell Westbrook plugged into the starting lineup. While Payne may have an extremely successful career, he will not get enough playing time to warrant receiving enough votes.

3. Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets

Fun fact: with the Hornets drafting Frank Kaminsky, it is the third straight year that the Hornets have drafted a big man from the Big Ten (Cody Zeller in 2013 and Noah Vonleh in 2014). Kaminsky, just like Cody Zeller in his rookie year, will not get enough minutes to put up numbers worthy of being named ROY.

The Candidates

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Towns is going to get starter minutes right away for the young Timberwolves starting five, as he is a major upgrade over Nikola Pekovic. Towns brings a combination of great defense and solid offense that cannot be topped by any other prospect that was in the draft. Look for Towns to average around 10 rebounds and over two blocks per game this upcoming season.

2. D’Angelo Russell, PG, Los Angeles Lakers

Russell’s excellent passing and finesse from the three-point line will be crucial to the Lakers’ success in 2015. Russell is a dynamic playmaker that can take over games whenever he wants to. Look for him to average over 15 points and seven assists per game next year.

3. Myles Turner, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

With the Pacers looking to play with a faster pace, they selected Myles Turner with the #11 pick; a versatile big man who can space the floor for Indiana. With Roy Hibbert looking like he is on his way out of Indiana, Turner should get significant minutes and put up solid scoring and rebounding numbers for a playoff-caliber team.

4. Jerian Grant, PG, New York Knicks

Grant will step into an immediate role with the Knicks and will rack up a large amount of assist numbers, as he will be giving the ball to the Knicks’ superstar Carmelo Anthony almost every time down the court. Grant can easily average over 10 points and 10 assists for the Knicks en route to a return to the playoffs.

5. Rashad Vaughn, SG, Milwaukee Bucks

Vaughn will bring excellent scoring and athleticism that the Bucks expected to get when they signed O.J. Mayo in July of 2013. With a desperate need for a scoring guard, look for Vaughn to be thrusted into a starting role for the Bucks and average over 17 PPG.

The ROY

After looking at who will have the best opportunity to put up numbers and get the most playing time, the ROY in 2015 will be D’Angelo Russell.