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THE FRONTRUNNERS GROUP
Luka Doncic
The best prospect from the draft class according to many was able to be snagged by the Dallas Mavericks, who traded a lot to get him. Doncic is an elite playmaker who is a gifted offensive talent. He can attack in any way effectively while also being the best passer in this class. He does struggle defensively, and there are some worries about to what extent his success in the Euroleague will translate to the NBA. Another concern is that, he is not considered athletic by NBA standards in comparison to his peers. He is talented and skilled and should be able to succeed at the next level. In terms of team success, the Mavericks are in a good position for their future. They have a strong backcourt of Doncic and Smith jr. with some scoring from Barnes. In terms of this individual award, Luka may not put up the biggest numbers because of the existing talent on his team, but he will definitely be in the race and he could win if leads this Dallas team.
Deandre Ayton
The number one pick in the draft believes him and Booker could recreate the dominant Shaq - Kobe dynamic. Ayton is physically gifted, and is an offensive threat who could give you 20 points and 10 rebounds on any night. He may be a liability on defence which may hurt his case, along with the fact he will need to share the offensive touches with Devin Booker. There is a possibility that Ayton puts up the bigger numbers than any other rookie, but don't be too surprised if Bagley has stronger stats in the rookie season. The Phoenix Suns are in a nice spot right now, they have their shooting guard and centre for the future. The Shaq-Kobe dynamic may be extreme and exaggerated, but there is no denying this Suns team has talent to build around. Ayton has been one of the best players in this class for years, and he has the potential to be an offensive force similar to Karl-Anthony Towns. Currently he could be the favourite to win the award according to many.
Marvin Bagley III
Bagley was able to fall to a team still stuck in a long rebuilding stage. The Kings have been a struggling franchise for years and has currently has the longest postseason drought in the league. The team has some potential pieces with Fox and Bagley, but the team still lacks an identity. Bagley will be able to put in and get major minutes, and will likely be the number one scoring option for the team. This is why I predict him to have the more eye-dropping stats because of the lack of talent on the team. He will be similar to Ayton, and put up 20 + points and 10 plus rebounds. I think Bagley may have the best chance of winning the award based off his role on the team and what his usage rate will be. Hopefully the Kings will be able to turn it around with him and Fox as their core.
