The only people who think Cam Reddish will be better than Zion Williamson

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.

The results of the 2019-20 NBA Rookie Survey came out on Monday. Rookies, like normal humans, think Zion Williamson or Ja Morant will win Rookie of the Year. LeBron is rookies’ collective favorite player. They are most concerned about the speed of the game at the NBA level, and most think they need to work most on their shooting.

And they collectively think Cam Reddish is going to have a better career than Zion Williamson.

In the ballyhooed question “which rookie will have the best career?” Reddish led the way with votes from eight of the 42 rookies who voted on this question. Zion tied for fourth with two votes, behind Reddish, Morant (seven votes), De’Andre Hunter (five votes), and equal to R.J. Barrett, Jaxson Hayes, and Coby White. Twelve other players got votes. It appears two rookies didn’t vote on this question or voted for ineligible players, or maybe I’m just bad at math.

On one hand, as NBA.com’s John Schuhmann notes in his always enlightening write-up, a Duke player always wins or ties for the win in this category in this survey. Reddish’s victory is the sixth straight year a Blue Devil ended up on top. On the other hand, ZION ALSO WENT TO DUKE. Who watched those two and Barrett play together last season and came to the conclusion Reddish would have a better pro career than Zion?

Not the teams that made the first nine picks in the NBA Draft. Not any draft analyst I’m aware of. Just rookies and, I’m sure, now some Hawks fans.

We’ll see in, like, 20 years. I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, 2019-20 NBA ROOKIES!

Why Didn’t The Fox Stay?

In a shocking twist, De’Aaron Fox left Team USA basketball Saturday morning before the team flew to Australia for the next stage of its preparation for the FIBA World Cup (which begins in 10 days). Fox had been promoted to the top-level squad early in the calendar this summer and had seemed a lock to make the final roster headed to China. Now, he’ll remain stateside to “focus on the upcoming season.” He’s the second young Sacramento King to drop out seemingly prematurely, joining Marvin Bagley III, who dropped out almost immediately after being promoted to the senior squad.

Fox didn’t play much in Team USA’s televised Friday scrimmage against Spain, but reports suggested the program would take everyone remaining on the squad (14 players) to Australia and make final cuts there this week. And then, Fox pulled out. The motive is the question. His stated reason: to focus on the upcoming season.

Is that true? Or did he or his agent want to avoid a long trip to Australia (and back) if it looked like he might not make the final roster after all? Did Gregg Popovich or Jerry Colangelo level with the players on the bubble and give them a choice (while sparing the embarrassment of a cut)? Or was this all done at the individual level?

OR DID VLADE DIVAC PULL FOX AND BAGLEY TO HELP SERBIA WIN GOLD???

Links

I wrote about the rumors the Lakers might try to sign Dwight Howard to replace DeMarcus Cousins. I think it’s a ... uh ... good idea? Here’s Matt Ellentuck’s timeline on Cousins’ tragic injury history.

Fewer fouls are being called in the WNBA. Is that a problem?

Stephen Curry pledged a grip of money to golf programs at Howard, an HBCU in D.C. Here’s why that’s so important, from Harry Lyles Jr.

James Harden has already warned us he has a new move that looks like a travel but is DEFINITELY NOT a travel. Is it this sidestep one-legged three?!?

Will Joe Tsai move the New York Liberty to Brooklyn?

Dan Devine on Mikhail Prokhorov’s legacy in Brooklyn.

Really cool story on De’Aaron Fox and his right hand man Chris Gaston that leads with Fox playing a John Legend song on a baby grand piano at a rented condo while commenting on Trey Lyles’ free agent landing spot. Talk about a lede.

How Pascal Siakam can take the next step.

Zach Kram on whether this is the worst Team USA in modern history.

Hearts are with David Blatt.

And finally: Popeye’s chicken sandwich > that other one. This is gospel.

Be excellent to each other, like each and every other, seven days a week.