We've covered how each team in the East and West will finish. Now our panel takes a stab at which first-year player will have the best start to his professional career.
We asked the ESPN Forecast team to rank its top three choices for the 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year, with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one. (Here's how ESPN Forecast works.)
To participate in the discussion and perhaps get your opinion published on this page, #ESPNForecast is the Twitter hashtag to use. Or you can just follow along @ESPNNBA.
Rookie of the year projections
1. Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves | Center
First-place votes: 11
Total points: 87
@ESPNNBA Towns is hyped as one of the NBA's next stars! His versatile skillset combined with his NBA body is sure to be lethal #ESPNForecast
- JuMu (@JuMuJazz) August 19, 2015
2. Jahlil Okafor
Philadelphia 76ers | Center
First-place votes: 9
Total points: 71
#ESPNForecast Okafor will win ROY. This guy is the type of player that can turn a franchise around.
- Chip (@TheFightJournal) August 20, 2015
3. Emmanuel Mudiay
Nuggets | Point guard
First-place votes: 8
Total points: 56
Mudiay was my choice for ROY in #ESPNForecast Towns was No. 2, Okafor No. 3 https://t.co/33zuK0eEZn
- Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) August 19, 2015
After an up and down season in China, and the Lawson departure, Mudiay is going to get burn and is a serious ROY Contender #ESPNForecast
- David Ray (@DR_NBADraft) August 19, 2015
4. D'Angelo Russell
Lakers | Point guard
First-place votes: 4
Total points: 51
D'Angelo Russell could end up being the best player in the draft in 3-4 years. Huge upside, the Lakers made a great pick. #ESPNForecast
- Jacob Barber (@The_Only_Jake) August 19, 2015
5. Justise Winslow
Heat | Shooting guard
First-place votes: 0
Total points: 12
@ESPNNBA @MiamiHEAT @IAmJustise He has no shot at ROY his teams in the position to win the East not gonna force minutes upon a rookie #Truth
- Owen Schwalb (@odawggong) August 19, 2015
Justice Winslow at #5 for ESPN's ROY race. Lots of talent/upside but playing behind a healthy Bosh & Whiteside will limit mins #ESPNForecast
- Henry Hornecker (@HenryEbright503) August 19, 2015
Others receiving votes: Myles Turner (Pacers) 3, Mario Hezonja (Magic) 3, Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings) 1, Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) 1, Devin Booker (Suns) 1, Stanley Johnson (Pistons) 1.
