Hoops Habit
Fansided

2016 NBA Rookie Ladder: Porzingis And Towns Duel For No. 1

By Nathan Grubel

Dec 4, 2015; New York, NY; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) battles for the ball with Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (2) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; New York, NY; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) battles for the ball with Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (2) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 11
Next
Nov 10, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica (88) against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Nemanja Bjelica (88) against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 104-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Nemanja Bjelica, Minnesota Timberwolves

Bjelica’s numbers regressed slightly last week because he hasn’t gotten the same opportunities he got earlier in the season.

He was the Timberwolves’ option late in games at power forward for a good part of November, but it now seems coach Sam Mitchell and his staff have put their confidence in Gorgui Dieng moving forward. Dieng has gotten more minutes and touches than Bjelica of late, something that’s a little concerning for the rookie’s development.

Bjelica still possesses the tools to succeed as a modern-day stretch-4, but if he doesn’t have the trust of the coaching staff to be on the floor there’s not much he can do to improve his stock.

Next: Another Denver Big Man