NBA Rookie of the Year Longshots: These Players Could Upset Cooper Flagg

It’s quite possible the overall quality of NBA rookies last season might have been the worst in NBA history.

Yeah, that’s saying a lot. But look at the names of the guys voted onto the All-Rookie first team:

Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher, Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, and Alex Sarr.

They’re as hard to spell as they are to pronounce. And they were even harder to watch.

Heck, even John Calipari wouldn’t recruit that fearless fivesome.

Not that they were bad choices, mind you. The second team was far uglier.

Castle was a near-unanimous choice as Rookie of the Year despite averaging just 14.7 points, shooting 29 percent on 3-pointers, and playing for a team that, despite the presence of Victor Wembanyama, failed to make the playoffs.

If last year’s rookie class had anything going for it, it’s this:

It might be better than this year’s group.

Yes, the new freshman pledges are led by a blue-chipper, Cooper Flagg. He is more of a lock to win Rookie of the Year honors than Wembanyama was two years ago.

Predicting Flagg will walk away with this year’s hardware is child's play. Profiting on it is a bit tougher.

Flagg is a minus-225 favorite in the current BetMGM listings. In layman’s terms, that’s a $225 investment with a chance of winning only $100.

On the baseball diamond, that’s a little like Clayton Kershaw pitching against the Rockies.

Alas, a shrewd businessman would note: Investing $225 for six months and getting $325 in return six months later is a 44-percent return on your investment. Where else can you get that?

Of course, that’s presuming your bank doesn’t go bankrupt. Or in this case, Flagg doesn’t play the season at half-staff.

If the new Maverick were to contract Anthony Davis-itis while in Dallas and missed 18 or more games – which would make him ineligible for NBA honors – then all of a sudden a huge pot of Flagg investment money would be up for grabs.

That would be a longshot seeker’s dream.

Ah, now I got your attention. So, if you’re looking to risk a little to make a lot, here are four show ponies that could upset (pun intended) Man ‘o War this season:

Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans (+10000)

New Orleans seems to have decided to tank this season. We’ll know for sure when they trade Zion Williamson for Jonathan Kuminga and some draft picks in a few months. But for now: It’s a tug-of-war between Jordan Poole and Fears to see who bogarts the most shots. Fears is bigger and stronger, and that could lead to the 20-point scoring average that gets votes at season’s end.

Yang Hansen, Trail Blazers (+6000)

Fans flocked to Las Vegas last summer to get up-close-and-personal with Bronny James, and most got exactly what they expected – another LeBron flop. This year, the star attraction in Vegas was Yang, and what some believe they witnessed was a second coming of Yao Ming. The 7-foot-1 Chinese import blocked shots, passed the ball unselfishly, and even buried 3-pointers. 

He’s guaranteed eyeballs – and playing time – on a Portland team that, unlike New Orleans, should be competitive.

Nikola Topic, Thunder (+10,000)

Don’t forget that this year’s rookie class isn’t the same as this year’s draft class. As long as you haven't played in the NBA, you still get ROOKIE stamped on your forehead this season. Topic was another of Sam Presti’s brilliant draft-and-stashes last year. He’s experienced and appears ready to step in when last season’s league leader in contact – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – takes one too many hits this time around.

Ace Bailey, Jazz (+1500)

This year’s draft was unusual in that the top three picks – Flagg, Dylan Harper, and VJ Edgecombe – were all selected by teams likely to make the playoffs. That could (especially with the latter two) cut into playing time. But no such issues for the No. 5 pick, Bailey, who is likely to challenge Fears for the distinction of scoring the most meaningless fourth-quarter points in the league. 

Hey, they all count in an ugly Rookie of the Year race.