The Sixer Sense
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Top 5 NBA Rookie of the Year Candidates for 2017

By Christopher Kline

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

5. SG Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

While this may be the epitome of sleepers, the unexpected 20th overall picks has a legitimate case to be made here, starting with the fact that the Nets don’t have much in front of him. After spending three years at Michigan, the oft-injured LeVert saw his stock seemingly drop over the course of the pre-draft process, with most analyst and pundits slotting him as a mid-second round pick– including myself.

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However, a Nets team that is currently deprived of perimeter depth was clearly desperate to get their hands on a draft pick, and LeVert was their preferred talent. Despite injuries and the draft stock fluctuation  there’s reason to believe LeVert can produce at a high clip. There’s a legitimate chance he’s handed the starting shooting guard spot from day one, and possesses a highly versatile game that could allow him to produce in a variety of categories.

Standing at 6-7, LeVert is a skilled comboguard with the court vision needed to operate as the Nets’ primary ball handler at times, something he’ll likely be asked to do when Jeremy Lin isn’t in the ball game. He’s a skilled pick-and-roll player, something that should bode well alongside Brook Lopez, and is a viable off-ball shooter who could get the majority of his points when working off of Brooklyn’s core pieces.

Defensively, LeVert doesn’t have the strongest build, but makes up for that with his length and exceptional anticipation skills. He’s a highly intelligent player on both sides of the ball, and is able to put himself in position to make plays, even when he’s at a disadvantage of sorts.

The Nets are going to be a horrendous team next season, and that could open up a plethora of avenues for LeVert to make a statement as one of the more unexpected rookie producers. He’ll likely be given a plentiful amount of playing time, and in the process be allowed to do much more with the basketball than your typical rookie two-guard. He has all the tools to produce in a number of facets as a skill all-around player, and Brooklyn could give him a shot to truly showcase the full expanse of his game.

This may be considered a long shot, but in a weak draft and the right scenario, there’s no reason to rule LeVert out. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised to seem him impress in some capacity this season.

Next: 4. Chriss