30. Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies
After starting 74 games as a rookie, Dillon Brooks played 18 games last season, averaging 18.3 minutes per contest. The reason was injury, which derailed his sophomore campaign before it truly began. There’s room for optimism as a result.
If Brooks can return to form, he will occupy a valuable niche in Memphis’ rebuild. He’s an effective shooter and a strong-bodied defender at 6-foot-6, allowing him to guard multiple positions. Brooks has made the transition from college four to NBA wing smoothly. Expect a bounce-back.
- PG: Ja Morant | Position Rank: 26th
- SG: Dillon Brooks | Position Rank: 30th
29. Wesley Matthews, Milwaukee Bucks
Wesley Matthews is a fine stopgap, but that’s about it. The Bucks made the decision to let Malcolm Brogdon walk — one that, from a financial standpoint, makes sense. But Matthews provides little more than a quality spot-up shooter at this stage in his career.
Once an All-Defense candidate, Matthews has deteriorated on that side of the ball. His offense never quite reached the level teams expected either. He’s a sweet shooter, but doesn’t score efficiently inside the arc. His 38.6 field goal percentage in 23 games with Indiana last season is cause for concern.
- PG: Eric Bledsoe | Position Rank: 13th
- SG: Wesley Matthews | Position Rank: 29th
28. R.J. Barrett, New York Knicks
It’s always difficult to peg a rookie much higher than this. R.J. Barrett was historically productive in high school and college, and he brings NBA genes to the table. His fit in New York’s jumbled rotation is questionable, though, and Barrett has some inefficient tendencies that might overwhelm his rookie campaign.
In the long run, expect Barrett to become a productive, impactful leader in New York’s rebuild. But as far as 2019-20 goes, Barrett will struggle with turnovers, shoot a middling percentage from deep and settle for low-quality shots.
- PG: Elfrid Payton | Position Rank: 24th
- SG: R.J. Barrett | Position Rank: 28th