Rookie Disappointments

The 2008 NBA draft boasted a handful of marquee players, including Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, and Michael Beasley, who have lived up to expectations so far this season. The same cannot be said for first round selections seven through ten. Eric Gordon of the Clippers was expected to compete for playing time with Cuttino Mobley, however Gordon is averaging just 2 ppg this season for the 0-5 Clip Joint. Joe Alexander, selected 8th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks after a stellar postseason performance, has played in only two games and has yet to score his first points in the NBA. D.J. Augustin was selected 9th by the Charlotte Bobcats and has struggled under Larry Brown, a notorious hater of young players. Amazingly, former Stanford C Brook Lopez is only shooting two percentage points higher than the 5-11 Augustin. The seven-footer has shot only 38 percent for the Nets this season while averaging 6.7 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The forecast looks dim for all four of these players. Lopez will get big minutes and likely has the best change to improve, while Augustin is very undersized, has little upside, and will spend this season getting yelled at by Larry Brown. Gordon and Alexander need to improve before becoming legitimate NBA players, but both clearly have solid potential.