Before We get into it.

Here’s our weekly plug for our latest YouTube Video. Lunchtable Matchups get’s a video makeover. It’s two of the games greatest giants, the methodical force of precision that was the 1996 Bulls, against the unyielding surge of athleticism released in south beach in 2013.

One team dissected you with calculated dominance, the other ran you over and left you staring at the ceiling.

Give it a watch

Okay let’s get back to the Newsletter. while this rookie class was thought to be one of the worst in recent years, the reality is there’s a vast amount of skill throughout the group—some of it just hasn’t had the chance to shine yet.

Projecting NBA players in the draft is already difficult, but an overlooked challenge is projecting young players in and out of the g league with little to no minutes.

No matter what, we see the vision with this group of rookies we selected, and hopefully, we can look back at this newsletter one day and see that the roles and minutes came.

Justin Edwards

Overcast skies and bloated contracts have defined Philly’s season, but Justin Edwards is a rare bright spot.

The hometown kid has been a consistent and versatile wing for Nick Nurse on a roster longing for any semblance of normality.

The Kentucky product's jumper looks leagues better than it did in his one year in college, while that athleticism that fueled his high school ranking seems perfectly intact.

Complimentary wings don’t grow on trees, but the 76ers may have found one in their own backyard.

Cody Williams

Everyone knew Cody Williams would need time to acclimate to the league, and he still does, but steady progress is being made.

The lengthy wing is starting to show up on the defensive end thanks to his relentless activity and endless arms. He’s a passing lane hazard with the ability to spark a fast break at the turn of a hat.

On the other end Williams is a willing slasher who benefits from a myriad of passing lanes thanks to his height. 

Utah’s still figuring out what they have, but we’re already in the C-Dub fan club

Ajay Mitchell

OKC’s backcourt is stacked, which makes it easy to overlook Ajay Mitchell. But the lefty playmaker deserves more attention.

The fluid lefty is a masterful pick and roll operator with the patience of a shaolin monk and the decisive vision of a seasoned playmaker.

He can confidently step into a long ball if you go under, masterfully seal you and push on if you go over, and quickly attack a mismatch when you switch.

With SGA, Dort, Cason Wallace, and even occasionally Jalen Williams standing in his way you might not see all that much of him, but the kid from UCSB can flat out play.

Donovan Clingan

Portland has plenty of bigs. Ayton. Timelord. A steady supply of fives to throw into the fire. But few in the league deter slashers and alter shots like Cling-Kong.

With a ridiculous 7’2 frame and rigorous discipline when it comes to verticality, the two time national champ challenges everything in sight, putting a towering fence around the rim.

He’s still developing offensively, but he’s already proven to be a capable P&R weapon with some advanced passing skills. The rose city renaissance is real. 

Terrance Shannon Jr.

It was hard to project Terrance Shannon Jr to the next level, the bruising slasher was given free reign up at Illinois and some worried that fitting into a role would prove difficult.

Well so far, TSJ has been willing to do whatever it takes to stay on the court, from defending with every ounce of energy he can muster, to keeping the ball moving around the perimeter.

Every team centric intangible you want to see from a developing prospect has been right there, alongside that overpowering athleticism. Gotta love an adaptive talent.

Devin Carter

Nothing catalyzes prospect growth like stability, and unfortunately for Devin Carter, the Kings have been searching for that all year.

But even in the midst of coaching changes and roster movement, the Providence product has flashed the athleticism and discipline that made him a draft day darling in the first place. 

With explosive lateral movement skills and the strength to hold his ground against physical slashers, the bones of a high level two way guard are already in place.

Now it’s just about refinement and investment. Hopefully the Kings front office can give him the opportunity he deserves.

Oso Ighodaro

It’s been an absolute mess in Phoenix. A bumbling mishap that started all the way back in the summer of 2023. This year's greatest failure has been the absence of a viable big man, and while Oso Ighodaro isn’t there yet, we expect he will be soon. 

The 7-footer has a rare IQ for a roaming big. He excels in setting timely screens, sometimes leaning on his feel for the game to create open looks for teammates out of thin air

With defensive tools to anchor the paint, Oso could be Phoenix’s center of the future. Too bad they need one right now.