NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Rookie Of The Year Award In 2016-17

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Kris Dunn (Providence) shows off the inside of his coat after being selected as the number five overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kris Dunn

This will be contingent on the Minnesota Timberwolves either trading Ricky Rubio or wistfully watching him nurse another injury on the sidelines, but in terms of pure talent and upside, Kris Dunn has to be in the running among our preseason ROY favorites.

In his senior season at Providence, Dunn put up 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game on .448/.372/.695 shooting splits. In his only two Summer League games, he averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

As an athletic, 6’3″ guard, there are questions about his perimeter touch and his ability to lead a team as the floor general. But he’s also got the personality of a Rottweiler on the basketball court, with his closest NBA comparison being a defensive-oriented Russell Westbrook.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau prizes defense over everything else, and if Rubio is injured or traded, Dunn is a natural long-term replacement — which may apply even if Rubio is healthy and stays on the roster. The Wolves will try playing the two together, and Rubio is (and should be) ahead of Dunn in the rotation. But if there’s an opening, this promising rookie will pounce on it.