http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=OffseasonPredictions09-BestNewcomer There has been much player movement this offseason, with big names changing teams and conference pecking orders. So, on the second day of our Summer Forecast series, we ask 53 of ESPN's best basketball minds: Who will be the best newcomer this season? Here's the voting breakdown: 2009-10 predictions: best newcomer RANK PLAYER VOTES 1 Richard Jefferson (14) 2 Shaquille O'Neal (8) T-3 Ron Artest (6) T-3 Vince Carter (6) T-5 Shawn Marion (3) T-5 Andre Miller (5) T-5 Hedo Turkoglu (3) T-5 Rasheed Wallace (3) Also receiving votes: Blake Griffin (2), Emeka Okafor (2), Trevor Ariza (1), Jamal Crawford (1), Terrence Williams (1)
I'll go for the "sleeper" out of that group and say Shawn Marion will have the biggest impact on his new team. I think the Mavs are going to win 60+ games next year.
That's alot of over the hill players on the down side of their careers. ESPN's best basketball minds are stupid.
Richard Jefferson? Wow. He'll be good but he's not the same player he used to be in New Jersey. If I was voting, I'd pick Vince Carter.
well look at the fact that he dosent have too do much with ginobili,parker,and duncan he brings scoring, and alot of pressure off the big 3
What defines "best newcomer"? Who's going to have it easiest? Is this limited to those in the league with 10+ seasons under their belt? If they phrased it more specifically, like "Whose game, if translated to their new team seamlessly, would affect their team the most." and using their last season's numbers as a ballpark, you eliminate half of those players already listed, most of them being the ones that placed.
Given that it's ESPN, I'm kinda surprised that Shaq isn't heading the list. That said, my vote for this year would be Hedo or Miller. Long term, Griffin then Ariza.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=OffseasonPredictions09-WorstNewcome Summer Forecast: Worst newcomer RANK PLAYER VOTES 1 Zach Randolph (12) T-2 Ron Artest (6) T-2 Rasheed Wallace (6) T-4 Trevor Ariza (4) T-4 Shaquille O'Neal (4) T-6 Vince Carter (3) T-6 Hedo Turkoglu (3) Also receiving votes: Tyson Chandler (2), Ben Gordon (2), Emeka Okafor (2), Charlie Villanueva (2), Allen Iverson (1), Dahntay Jones (1), Shawn Marion (1), Quentin Richardson (1), Ben Wallace (1), Paul Westphal (1)
