In the recent piece I wrote about Donovan Mitchell‘s best and worst case scenarios for 2018-19, I was quick to point out that when I analyzed his high end last summer, I completely underestimated him. Though I rightly identified him as receiving NBA All-Rookie Honors, I called him a mere dark horse Rookie of the Year candidate, when in reality, he was one of the frontrunners.
But if I was a little off on Donovan Mitchell’s best case scenario, I was REALLY off on Royce O’Neale‘s. In essence, I projected that his ceiling would pretty much be just making the team (that was still in doubt at the time) and if he got lucky, perhaps contribute occasionally from there.