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2021-22 NBA Awards: S-and-S Staff Roundtable

By Dylan Jackson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets argues with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks after he is fouled by him in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 15: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets argues with Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks after he is fouled by him in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 15, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 08: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets is guarded by Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rockets defeated the Cavaliers 84-76. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 08: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets is guarded by Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rockets defeated the Cavaliers 84-76. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

2021-22 NBA Awards Predictions: All-Rookie First Team

DJ: Cade Cunningham (DET), Leandro Bolmaro (MIN), Jalen Green (HOU), Jalen Johnson (ATL), Evan Mobley (CLE)

It’s so incredibly difficult to pick anyone outside of the top-5 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, but I think each of Cunningham, Mobley, and Green make it. Bolmaro is an interesting player, winning the ‘Most Spectacular Player’ award in the Liga ACB – and Johnson has a chance to impress in expanded minutes on a playoff team.

SS: Cade Cunningham (DET), James Bouknight (CLT), Jalen Green (HOU), Davion Mitchell (SAC), Evan Mobley (USC)

Opportunity is everything when it comes to this award and while I’m skeptical about how much playing time James Bouknight will get, I do believe that he’s ready to contribute immediately and he’ll be flashy enough to catch the eye of the voters.

JP: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Green (HOU), Jalen Suggs (ORL), Evan Mobley (CLE), James Bouknight (CHA)

Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green are the two best players from the draft. They are locks to be on the first team as long as they stay healthy. Suggs and Mobley will both get productive minutes for bad teams, making it easy for them to contribute big. Bouknight fell to 11 in the draft, but so far he looks NBA ready and will be a key contributor for Charlotte off the bench. Maybe all-rookie first team is a stretch, but you can always hope.

GM: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Suggs (ORL), Jalen Green (HOU), Scottie Barnes (TOR), Evan Mobley (CLE)

EB: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Green (HOU), Moses Moody (GS), Alperen Sengun (HOU), Evan Mobley (CLE)

The top three picks from the 2021 draft make the first team, as well as two players entering vastly different situations. Moses Moody will benefit as a shooter playing alongside Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, while Alperen Sengun will be called upon to be a major contributor on a rebuilding Houston Rockets team. Sengun was the MVP of the Turkish league this past season as an 18-year-old.

JH: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Suggs (ORL), Jalen Green (HOU), Scottie Barnes (TOR), Evan Mobley (CLE)

A lot of high draft picks will perform up to par and make the first team All-Rookie. There are always surprises and injuries so you never know but this is set up to be a very good rookie class.

MW: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Suggs (ORL), Jalen Green (HOU), Evan Mobley (CLE), Alperen Sengun (HOU)

QE: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Green (HOU), James Bouknight (CHA), Trey Murphy (NO), Evan Mobley (CLE)

Is James Bouknight a homer pick? Possibly. Do I still become more convinced every day that he will become the star SG that, along with Lamelo Ball, will lead Charlotte to an NBA title? Yep. Other than that, the Draft’s top three picks should all contribute from day one and earn them All-Rookie First Team honors. Trey Murphy is a bit of a wildcard here, but I picture him playing a similar role to Pistons forward Saddiq Bey last season. The Pelicans needed shooting, and Murphy should address that immediately.

JF: Cade Cunningham (DET), Jalen Green (HOU), Josh Giddey (OKC), Davion Mitchell (SAC), Cam Thomas (BKN)

I don’t have much faith that any of this year’s rookie bigs will be smashing successes. All of these guys can either score, playmake at a high level, or do both. Cam Thomas might be a bit of a hot-take, but if Kyrie Irving ends up missing as many games as it seems he might (putting Patty Mills in a starting spot), he’ll get a bigger green light off the bench. And when you can score like this guy, that’s all you need.

Final tally: Cade Cunningham (DET) unanimous, Jalen Green (HOU) unanimous, Evan Mobley (CLE) 8, Jalen Suggs (ORL) 4, James Bouknight (CLT) 3, Scottie Barnes (TOR) 2, Alperen Sengun (HOU) 2, Davion Mitchell (SAC) 2, Cam Thomas (BKN) 1, Leandro Bolmaro (MIN) 1, Jalen Johnson (ATL) 1, Josh Giddey (OKC) 1, Trey Murphy (NO) 1, Moses Moody (GS) 1

Analysis: Another hard-to-predict award, this one has 14 different players – with six of them only receiving a single vote. Bolmaro is the only player taken from a previous draft class to receive a vote, and Jonathan Kuminga, Franz Wagner, and Ziaire Williams are the only top-10 selections that did not get one.

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