Expected role is a crucial and often misinterpreted part of evaluating NBA rookies. Development is not linear, and not every first-rounder is going to come in and play a major role just because of their draft selection. However, if players don’t make an impact in Year 1, media and fans can disregard them.
Rookie wing Wendell Moore Jr. — the No. 26 pick in this year’s draft — will be an interesting case study in this regard. Because he has complementary, low-ceiling skills and won the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award in his final season at Duke as a junior, some might expect Moore to earn real minutes right away with the Timberwolves’ rotation up in the air after the Rudy Gobert trade.