Top-5 Under 25: Atlantic Division

This is Part 6 of a six-part series to rank the top-5 players in every division under the age of 25. We take into account a player's performance as well as their potential. These rankings are intended to be fun and to initiate discussion on the league's best players. Stick up for your players, but be respectful about it!


Honorable Mentions: Vasilije Micic, Shabazz Muhammad, Patric Young

The second overall pick in this year’s draft, Len is a big project but is oozing with potential. A legit 7’1”, he’s got the chance to be a very good interior scorer and a more than capable shot blocker given his height and length. Luckily he is young because he’s got a ton of growth ahead of him. The Boston Celtics have hitched their future on to his back and he needs to perform.

Out goes Rajon Rondo, in comes, well, the next Rajon Rondo. Schroeder looks to be on the way to becoming a very good defensive point guard with great passing ability and tremendous handles. Unlike Rondo, he’s got a jumper and is a very good free throw shooter to boot. He better get real friendly with Alex Len and fast!

The 7th pick in the 2013 CSL Draft has flown under the radar but he’s got the chance to be a very good shooting guard. He can do a little bit of everything but is being overshadowed by a ball dominant point guard. Not only that, but he’s coming off the bench to allow Paul Pierce to start at shooting guard. Pierce needs to be relegated to the bench to afford Oladipo many more minutes to develop.

One of the best players under 25 in the Atlantic Division (although not saying much), Jennings is struggling to find his rhythm offensively right now. Still, he’s a gifted passer and a problem to stop on defense. Once he finds his shot again he will be pushing the 20-point plateau on a regular basis. Can he be a leader of a playoff team?

The point guard of the New York Knicks, Ricky Rubio is finally coming into his own since Jamal got his hands on him. Not only has he nearly doubled his assist totals (13.2 this season) but he’s also increased his scoring average a couple points. Although not the best on-ball defender, he’s shown a propensity to get into the passing lanes to the tune of 2.8 steals per game early on. He’s by far the most gifted passer in all of the CSL and has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. Ricky Rubio is the face of the Knicks and looks to be a keeper.

Boston with two top 5 players on this list. They have a good core, if only Dennis would be a bit more patient

Yeah, Boston has a nice core with two more guys as honorable mentions. Can't argue with Ricky being that high up with how he has played so far this season.

LakeshowAK7 (LAL) wrote:Boston with two top 5 players on this list.  They have a good core, if only Dennis would be a bit more patient

Patient.. Dont know that word. Anyway Im sure as soon as they are deceloped it still wont be enough to make the playoffs.
Nevertheless its great to see 5 our guys here. But thats only because the Division lacks young talent.
To be honest I dont like jennings. Rubio is by far the best player.
Still I believe, looking at the potentials I would rank my three guys

1. Len
2. Micic
3. Schröder

I even would consider to put Micic ahead of Len because his skillset is rare.

How much can a trade change a player?
Rubio was stuck behind his progression last year and underperforming as the whole Wolves roster. The talent was there, but even he was starting to wonder if he had already reached his ceiling.

Not much time has passed from that days, and just 5 games into the new season has totally changed this kids face. He now looks like a top young talent into the Atlantic, and more importantly, he only thinks about getting better each and every game.

As Rizzo mentions, he's the face of the Knicks for years to come, and finally a happy face

Nice.

Our offense is completely struggling but we were running a generic set so I'm hoping after a change this sim it will improve.

Pierce was meant to bring us some more wins as Oladipo is getting more than enough minutes to develop but it hasn't worked yet. We'll see how the change in strategies go and if nothing improves I'd say Oladipo will get the start soon to see how he goes.

Man, the Atlantic is pretty shallow on top young talent.