BLAKE GRIFFIN – Even
Griffin is looking forward to his debut next season with a Clippers team that is starting to show some promise. Can a healthy Griffin take next them to the next level?
HASHEEM THABEET – Even
Since returning to his team after being sent down to the Developmental league, Hasheem is now a regular starter for the Grizzlies. Thabeet provides virtually nothing on the offensive end – but that was kind of expected coming out of college – while doing a decent job on the glass and contributing plenty of blocks.
JAMES HARDEN – Even
Scored 23 points in his late March return from a six-game injury absence but has been fairly inconsistent since then, though he can be a dangerous 3-point threat.
TYREKE EVANS – Up
Returned from a recent stint on the sidelines due to injury with a pair of double-doubles, and will join Kevin Durant as the only rookies in the past five years to average at least 20 points. He clearly has the best numbers in the Rookie of the Year race, but Brandon Jennings has the team success factor in his favor.
RICKY RUBIO – Down
Where in the world is Ricky Rubio? If you are thinking that he's in Spain, you are correct. The sudden depth at the point guard position for Minnesota has allowed team president David Kahn to afford letting Rubio stay in Spain for another season since the 18-year-old felt he needed to mature more before entering the NBA. The Timberwolves had an agreement in principle with his former Spanish team, DKV Joventut, to buy out his contract. Better luck next year.
JONNY FLYNN – Up
Continues to show a good inside-outside game and has remained a decent distributor of the basketball, though next season he’ll look to cut down on turnovers and poor shots. He’s a regular threat to score 15-20 and hand out 5-8 assists.
STEPHEN CURRY – Up
Though he’ll likely finish behind Evans and Jennings in the Rookie of the Year race, Curry keeps impressing with his offensive ability – not just scoring. He opened April with a pair of double-digit assist efforts and he recently scored at least 25 points in five consecutive games, making 19 3s, and is scoring about 21 per game since the All-Star break.
JORDAN HILL – Up
A forgotten man on the Knicks bench for much of the season, Hill has become a respectable contributor for Houston since being acquired at the trade deadline. He’s rarely taken bad shots since that deal and has done a good job rebounding the ball.
DEMAR DEROZAN – Down
Recently lost his starting job with Toronto pushing to make the playoffs, and he’s endured a major drop-off in points and assists.
BRANDON JENNINGS – Even
The long NBA season may have caught up to Jennings, though Milwaukee’s surprise run to the top six in the East keeps him a top Rookie of the Year contender. His big scoring outbursts have been rarer of late, his shots are falling with a lot less frequency and his assist-to-turnover ratio is worse than 2-to-1 over the past couple of weeks.
TERRENCE WILLIAMS – Up
Quietly has been very impressive in the final month of the season, even cracking New Jersey’s starting lineup. Williams had a triple-double recently and has become a regular threat to score 20. He can play the point when Devin Harris takes a break but also has proven to be a capable scorer playing off the ball, plus he’s a very good rebounder despite being 6-foot-6.
GERALD HENDERSON – Down
Has fallen out of favor in Charlotte, relegated to mostly garbage-time minutes.
TYLER HANSBROUGH – Down
Was never able to return from an inner ear infection which kept him sidelined since mid-January.
EARL CLARK – Down
Recently recalled from the D-League but still unable to crack the Suns’ rotation.
OTHER FIRST-ROUNDERS:
AUSTIN DAYE –Even
Playing time has finally increased so he’s putting some points on the board and even had a double-double recently in a rare start, but that’s the only time since January he’s scored in double figures.
JAMES JOHNSON – Down
The returns of Joakim Noah and Luol Deng in Chicago cut into Johnson’s playing time, plus he’s been less effective at the offensive end and on the glass.
JRUE HOLIDAY – Up
Holiday has kept his job as Philadelphia’s starting point guard since late January and has increased his scoring output over the final month. He’s a 3-point threat who can also drive inside, grab boards and find the open man, but he’ll need to take better care of the basketball next season.
TY LAWSON – Down
Missed nearly all of March due to injury and has been ineffective since returning, failing to build on an impressive mid-season stretch in which it appeared he would become a valuable member of the Nuggets’ bench.
JEFF TEAGUE – Down
Never was able to claim consistent minutes in Atlanta’s rotation.
ERIC MAYNOR – Even
Has done a decent job as Russell Westbrook’s backup for the Thunder, limiting his turnovers and getting his fair share of assists, but needs to become a better jump shooter.
DARREN COLLISON – Up
It wasn’t expected Collison would see big minutes as a rookie, but Chris Paul’s injury woes forced the Hornets to give him an extended look and the former UCLA star shined. He can score 20-25 as easily as he could dish out 10-15 assists, and he’s displayed good shot selection despite being only 22 years old.
OMRI CASSPI – Even
Went through a difficult March but has come up with some double-figure scoring efforts in April, showing he could be a key part of the young Kings’ future.
TAJ GIBSON – Up
Has been a starter virtually all season and only seems to be getting better, including a recent stretch in which he posted seven double-doubles in nine games.
DEMARRE CARROLL - Down
Has received increased minutes lately but has failed to take advantage.
WAYNE ELLINGTON – Down
Has all too often struggled to get good looks and brings almost nothing else to the table other than an occasional 3.
SERGE IBAKA – Even
Remains a key reserve for the playoff-bound Thunder, often scoring in double figures and grabbing 5-10 boards.
SECOND-ROUNDERS:
SAM YOUNG – Even
Remains way too inconsistent a shooter but has shown flashes of the ability to be a big-time scorer.
DEJUAN BLAIR – Even
Production has dropped and so have his minutes, but Blair could be important off the bench if the Spurs are to do anything in the playoffs because he can be an influence in the post due to his rebounding and defensive ability.
CHASE BUDINGER – Up
Once the Rockets fell out of playoff contention, Budinger saw his playing time go up and showed he’s not just a 3-point threat. Developed into a consistent scorer in the season’s final weeks.
JONAS JEREBKO – Even
The long season may have worn down the 23-year-old Swede, who has been scoring with much less frequency but still helps out on the glass as a starter for the Pistons.
DERRICK BROWN – Down
Only received garbage minutes for the final two months of the season.
WELSEY MATTHEWS – Up
The former Marquette standout has played a key role in helping the Jazz climb the Western Conference ladder as the starting shooting guard following the trade of Ronnie Brewer. Matthews contributes in many phases, able to score from 3-point range or a drive inside.
MARCUS THORNTON – Up
Thornton earned a starting job in late March after regularly producing off the bench and he’s maintained a vital role in the Hornets’ offense since his promotion, regularly scoring 15-plus points and becoming a dangerous 3-point man.
A.J. PRICE – Even
An injury to T.J. Ford let Price get more experience down the stretch and he’s shown some flashes that could make him a viable backup point guard for years to come.
