Four of the first five rookies selected in the 2018 draft enter the season’s home stretch firmly outside of playoff contention. Deandre Ayton and the Suns are among the most egregious tankers, while Luka Doncic’s Mavericks, Trae Young’s Hawks and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Grizzlies are not exactly dying to tally wins before May’s draft lottery. Marvin Bagley is the lone top-five rookie that has a chance to sniff the postseason, and while Sacramento has earned its place inside the West’s playoff bubble, the Lakers and Spurs could very well destroy the Kings’ playoff dreams.
NBA Rookie Progress Report: The Good, Bad and Future of the 2018 Class
