The 2015-16 Rookie of the Year chase figures to be one of the tightest in recent memory because there is no LeBron James-esque player leading the charge. The favorite is 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (+300 per SportsBook.com), but his back-to-the-basket post game is a relic from previous eras. There are sleepers hiding in the weeds. Here are the top-5 favorites according to Las Vegas' oddsmakers.
| PLAYER | ODDS |
| Jahlil Okafor (76ers) | +300 |
| Emmanuel Mudiay (Nuggets) | +400 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves) | +500 |
| D'Angelo Russell (Lakers) | +600 |
| Stanley Johnson (Pistons) | +600 |
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Each has problems. Okafor is the most NBA-ready player offensively, but his defense is so bad that it will ding him. He's also on the Sixers, a team whose management purposefully puts in position to lose in order to add higher draft picks.
Mudiay and Johnson are on teams few expect to be playoff-bound, and while they'll have tons of minutes and opportunities to put up stats, their shooting needs work. Towns is a defensive force, but offensively he is raw, and won't be able to match Okafor's raw numbers, even if he'll be more impactful overall. Russell will have to share the PG role with Jordan Clarkson, and will have to deal with Kobe Bryant futilely trying to chuck the Lakers into the win column every night.
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Deep diving into the list of rookies turns up some off-the-beaten-path potential gems. Here are three.
Kristaps Porzingis, F, Knicks (+1,500): Kristaps is still a teenager, but he's a legitimate 7-footer with actual 3-point range. Fans - and maybe even Carmelo Anthony - criticized the pick heavily, but the Knicks were actually being forward thinkers. Porzingis might be raw, but he's also been playing against real pro competition overseas. His game is ideal for the way the current NBA has shifted.
While the Sixers nabbed the top rookie as far as post scoring goes, the Knicks swung for the fences and hoped for the next Dirk Nowitzki/Kevin Durant. Porzingis will probably struggle guarding rugged power forwards in the post, but he will be useful on defense. Porzingis has great shot-blocking skills, and he'll be able to provide help as a rim protector. If he can post high percentages, he'll get plenty of chances to score.
Bobby Portis, F, Bulls (+5,500): Portis is a long-shot because of situation, not talent. He is showing tremendous upside in the preseason, but his issue is a logjam in Chicago's frontcourt. Portis is behind Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah AND Taj Gibson, with Nikola Mirotic also expected to see time as a stretch big man.
If he gets on the court, however, watch out. Portis is a beastly rebounder and a gifted scorer (17.5 points at Arkansas). Believe it or not, Portis can also stroke it from deep. He made 46.7 percent of his treys as a sophomore for the Razorbacks. He didn't shoot it often, but that percentage came on 30 attempts, so it's not exactly a fluke either.
Kelly Oubre Jr., G/F, Wizards (+6,500): Oubre was a bit of a disappointment at Kansas, averaging 9.3 points and five rebounds in one season with the Jayhawks. He's reminiscent of the Pacers' Paul George, however, in that he's got an incredibly long frame, and real defensive chops on the perimeter already. He shot 35.8 percent from deep in college, and his ability to improve from there will go a long way toward a Rookie of the Year bid.
As of now, Oubre is the projected starter to replace Paul Pierce at small forward, and with teams worrying about John Wall and Bradley Beal, Oubre will find plenty of chances to sink corner-3s. IF voters take defense into account, Oubre will be a strong candidate.
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