Hoops Habit
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Current Status Of 2014-15 NBA Rookies: Part 2

By Nathan Giese

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver (middle) poses with draft prospects in attendance before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver (middle) poses with draft prospects in attendance before the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Nik Stauskas (Michigan) waves to the crowd as he walks to the stage after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Nik Stauskas (Michigan) waves to the crowd as he walks to the stage after being selected as the number eight overall pick to the Sacramento Kings in the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Nik Stasukas, 8th overall, Sacramento Kings

Status: Right player, Wrong team

I’ve long been a fan of Nik Stauskas. His progression from a three-point specialist in his freshman year to doing everything for Michigan and winning that Big Ten Player of the Year Award during his sophomore year was remarkable to watch. The growth in his overall skill led him to being a lottery pick, jumping to the eighth overall selection by the Kings. That’s a very nice spot for a player who’s improved so much in such a short amount of time but still has more room to grow as well.

Unfortunately, Stauskas is probably in the worst possible position he could be in. The Kings have two players in Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins that are going to demand the ball, which can and probably will take away from his potential production. In Summer League play, Stauskas averaged just under 10 points per game while shooting 47 percent from three-point range. We know he can shoot, but what he’s able to do in Sacramento beyond shooting the three is still very much up in the air.

Stauskas is a good player with a chance to be great, but it’s more likely he becomes average with the Kings. We saw what happened with Jimmer Fredette and last year with Ben McLemore. Hopefully Stauskas doesn’t follow that same path.