2016 NBA Rookie Ladder: Top 10 Risers And Fallers

4. D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

It took a while for D’Angelo Russell to break away from the chains on Byron Scott‘s bench, but now that he’s claimed a starting role for good in the Lakers’ rotation he’s put on a show almost every time he’s stepped on the floor.

Russell went No. 2 in the draft for a reason. He’s a 6-foot-5 point guard who can play both on and off the ball, make plays for himself and others and possesses a deadly three-point stroke when he’s on a hot streak.

Not only does he have a nice jump shot, but off the ball he’s proven himself as a deadly option cutting to the basket in the halfcourt. This is probably his most underutilized skill as a basketball player as he’s sneaky leaving his man and setting himself up for easy opportunities.

He’s a smart player who has as much potential as a scoring juggernaut as anyone else in this draft class. I like watching Russell both when he has the ball and when he doesn’t. He seems to somehow always make good things happen now that he has a better understanding of the professional game and has cut down on his turnovers.

I can’t wait to see him develop under the bright lights in Los Angeles as the years go on.

Next: Next Klay Thompson?