With NBA preseason officially underway, we now have game film from each of the four top draft picks for 2015 in each of the major sports. As such, the evaluation process can begin.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves in breaking down every missed shot by Emmanuel Mudiay, Shane Ray’s snap count behind Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, Mikko Rantanen’s plus/minus and the balls and strikes on Brendan Rodgers, it’s important to set some expectations for this group of highly touted youngsters.
How much impact should they have, and how soon? Exactly where do expectations for these top draft picks rank, amongst one another, and within their respective clubs? Read on to find out.
No. 4 – Mikko Rantanen
The 18-year-old Finnish forward can play both the center and wing positions, but will likely stay on the right wing for Colorado. He should find out on Tuesday if he’ll be sticking with the big club in his first year.
He’s described as a “physically strong power forward with very good playmaking abilities, smart, active and involved on every shift. He has very good speed and quickness for a big man and plays with authority. He’s difficult to check, protects the puck well and has good hands.”
If Rantanen stays in the NHL, Colorado will have four of its own top-10 draft picks playing at the forward position. Rantanen will have the least amount of pressure of the bunch, as the youngest and the lowest pick, but he’ll feel the heat that is quickly building around Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon.
No. 3 – Brendan Rodgers
The No. 3 overall pick in the MLB draft in the same year that saw his club trade away the face of the franchise at his position, there are some big shoes to fill for shortstop Brendan Rodgers.
He started his pro career with a bang, grabbing four hits and a home run, but the 19-year-old from Lake Mary, Fla. won’t ultimately be graded on what he does at rookie ball.
The Rockies see him as the future of the shortstop position, but still have to figure out what to do with Jose Reyes in the meantime. And if they move Reyes soon, as he clearly wants to play for a winner, they’ll have to use Cristhian Adames or Trevor Story as a stop-gap until Rodgers is ready.
In simple terms, Rodgers needs to progress and fast. The Rockies would like to see him in the big leagues by the age of 23, when Nolan Arenado is in his prime and Carlos Gonzalez may still have a little left in the tank.
No. 2 – Shane Ray
Talk about a way to start your career as a pass rusher, learning from guys like DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller. It should be every rookie outside linebacker’s dream. And it is, in many ways for Shane Ray; but it also means less time on the field for the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft.
Ray knows he’s biding his time and needs to learn his craft from the two sack masters ahead of him on the depth chart, but he can’t become complicit in his role as a backup. He has too much physical talent, so he must put the off-field issues that caused him to drop out of the top-10 in the draft in the rear-view mirror.
Miller, his mentor, knows that all too well. Those two can be a pass rushing force for years to come, but it’s going to require serious focus by Ray and some additional maturation on both their parts.
No. 1 – Emmanuel Mudiay
No pressure, young Mr. Mudiay, but the hype you’ve brought to town is setting the stage for some major expectations.
Denver thinks it got the steal of the draft with Mudiay at the No. 7 pick, and many outside observers agree.
The early return on Mudiay has the media fawning over him and his work ethic has been so far unquestionably unparalleled.
Denver’s first “Son of the Congo,” Dikembe Mutombo, was an iconic figure who helped turn around the franchise (before his departure saw it take another major decline). Can their second son deliver in the same fashion?
Above all the other top draft picks in 2015, Mudiay has the most pressure on him. He’s been up to the task through the offseason, but now the games are starting to be played.
Keep your eyes on this one. It’s going to be one to watch.