1998 Rookie Draft Peak Grades

Name Pos INS OUT HAN DEF REB
Al Harrington PF B- B+ C- C C
Andrae Patterson PF C C D+ C C
Ansu Sesay SF C C D+ C C
Antawn Jamison SF B B C- C+ C+
Anthony Carter PG C B- B- B C-
Billy Thomas SG C C+ D+ C D+
Bonzi Wells SF B C+ C B- C
Brad Miller C C+ C+ C C+ C+
Brian Skinner C C D+ D C+ C+
Bruno Sundov C C C D- C C
Bryce Drew PG C B C C D
Casey Shaw C C- D F+ D C
Charles Jones SG C C C- C D
Corey Benjamin SG C C D+ C D+
Cory Carr SG C C C- C D
Cuttino Mobley SG B- B C B- C-
Daniel Santiago C C C- D C C
DeMarco Johnson PF C C- D D+ C
Derrick Dial SG C C C- C C
Dirk Nowitzki PF B B C C+ C+
Earl Boykins PG C B B- C+ D+
Felipe Lopez SG C C C- C C-
Gerald Brown SG C C+ C- C- D+
Greg Buckner SG C B C B- C-
J.R. Henderson SF C C- D C- C-
Jahidi White C C D+ D- C+ B
Jason Williams PG C B A- C+ D+
Jeff Sheppard SG C C+ C- C- C-
Jelani McCoy C C D D C+ C+
Jerome James C C+ D+ D C+ C+
Kelly McCarty SF C C- D C- D+
Keon Clark C C+ D+ D+ B- C+
Korleone Young SF C C- D+ D+ C
Larry Hughes SG C+ B- C+ B- C-
Maceo Baston PF C C D C C
Makhtar N'Diaye PF C D+ F+ C- C
Matt Harpring SF B- C+ C- C+ C+
Michael Dickerson SG C+ B C C D+
Michael Doleac C C+ C- D C C
Michael Olowokandi C C+ D+ D C+ C+
Mike Bibby PG C+ B B B- C-
Mike James PG C+ B+ C+ C C-
Miles Simon SG C C C- C C-
Mirsad Turkcan PF C C- C- C- C+
Nazr Mohammed C C+ C- D B- B
Oscar Torres SG C C+ D C C-
Pat Garrity PF C B+ D+ C- C-
Paul Pierce SF B+ B C+ B+ C
Raef LaFrentz PF C+ B D C+ C+
Rafer Alston PG C+ B B+ C+ C-
Randell Jackson PF C+ C- D+ C- C
Rashard Lewis SF B- B+ C B- C
Rasho Nesterovic C C+ D+ D C+ C+
Ricky Davis SF B- C+ C C C-
Robert Traylor PF C D+ D C+ C+
Roshown McLeod SF C+ C- C- C C-
Ruben Patterson SF C+ C C- B C
Ryan Bowen SF C C D B- C
Ryan Stack C C C- D- C C
Sam Jacobson SG C C+ D C- D+
Sarunas Jasikevicius PG C B C C D+
Sean Colson PG C C C C D+
Sean Marks PF C+ C D C C
Shammond Williams PG C B C C C-
Slava Medvedenko PF C C D C C+
Steve Goodrich SF C C D C- C-
Toby Bailey SG C C D+ C C
Torraye Braggs PF C D+ D+ C- C
Tremaine Fowlkes SF C C D+ C C
Tyrone Nesby SF C C+ D+ C+ C-
Tyronn Lue PG C B C+ C+ D+
Tyson Wheeler PG C C+ C C- D-
Vince Carter SF A- B C B C
Vladimir Stepania C C D+ D- C B-
Zendon Hamilton C C D+ D- C- B-


Here's the 1998 Rookie Draft class, in full. Just as before, these are the estimated peak ratings for these prospects, not how they will come into the league. The ratings are here to be griped; not providing input won't make the league move on any faster.

Dirk at B B scoring does feel a little light, especially when Harrington and Shard are B- B+

If that JDub inside is a product of the game not progressing inside ratings for PGs then I understand, but feel like he had more inside game.

A few morning updates:

- Lowered Anthony Carter's HAN rating to C+
- Lowered Anthony Carter's DEF rating to B-
- Upped Dirk Nowtizki's OUT rating to B+
- Upped Dirk Nowtizki's DEF rating to B-
- Upped Greg Buckner's DEF rating to B
- Upped Pat Garrity's DEF rating to C
- Upped Raef LaFrentz's DEF rating to B-
- Lowered Vince Carter's DEF rating to B-

May 17, 2022 22:09:23 GMT -5 bosoxlover12 said:

Dirk at B B scoring does feel a little light, especially when Harrington and Shard are B- B+

Good call, was addressed in my fixes this morning.

May 17, 2022 22:12:03 GMT -5 raidernation said:

If that JDub inside is a product of the game not progressing inside ratings for PGs then I understand, but feel like he had more inside game.

His jump rating is pretty low (only 9 career dunks), could've maybe been a C+ with a higher one but I do feel his inside scoring rating (not the whole grade but the individual number) is accurate.

A few more changes:

- Upped Al Harrington's INS rating to B
- Lowered Al Harrington's OUT rating to B
- Upped Al Harrington's DEF rating to C+
- Upped Maceo Baston's DEF rating to C+
- Upped Ricky Davis' DEF rating to C+
- Upped Sean Marks' DEF rating to C+

you know how awesome Shaq is at scoring points here? well.....

Dirk Nowitzki/NBA career/Points
31,560
Image result for Dirk all time scoring
Nowitzki finished his career ranked sixth all-time in scoring with 31,560 points. In addition to Olajuwon, Nowitzki passed Hall of Famers like Elvin Hayes, Moses Malones, Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain.

May 23, 2022 15:14:41 GMT -5 s6x said:

you know how awesome Shaq is at scoring points here? well.....

Dirk Nowitzki/NBA career/Points
31,560
Image result for Dirk all time scoring
Nowitzki finished his career ranked sixth all-time in scoring with 31,560 points. In addition to Olajuwon, Nowitzki passed Hall of Famers like Elvin Hayes, Moses Malones, Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain.

Is this a gripe?

May 24, 2022 8:43:49 GMT -5 CC06 said:

May 23, 2022 15:14:41 GMT -5 s6x said:

you know how awesome Shaq is at scoring points here? well.....

Dirk Nowitzki/NBA career/Points
31,560
Image result for Dirk all time scoring
Nowitzki finished his career ranked sixth all-time in scoring with 31,560 points. In addition to Olajuwon, Nowitzki passed Hall of Famers like Elvin Hayes, Moses Malones, Shaquille O'Neal and Wilt Chamberlain.

Is this a gripe?

Yeah, should Dirk be A- inside and B+ outside? just want him to score like Shaq does since he's gotta approach those career points!

Jahidi White in 2000 averaged 1.6bpg, should be higher than C+ defensively.
Bryce Drew C+ handles
Cuttino Mobley C+ B+
Mike James B outside

Agree with the Dirk, VC, Raef and Harrington changes, had them here before going through the comments.. Here's a couple more small things..

Bonzi Wells - Defense upto B
Might be wrong here but always thought Bonzi was a decent defender, high B-/ low B?

Earl Boykins / Rafer Alston - Defense down to C

As the ratings for defense currently in the league are I'd have these two at a C rather than C+, guessing it's their stealing which puts it at C+ though so maybe they are fine.

agree with most the gripes above, looking at Pierce and Vince I agree that Dirk needs a bump unless those are very high Bs and it's not unrealistic to think he could go B+ A-

not sure about the Bonzi defense gripe as I believe his grade could be held back due to position

Boykins was a pretty respectable on ball defender, Alston was alright himself but I agree high C or low C+ should be their expected defensive ceilings

May 24, 2022 17:32:49 GMT -5 bosoxlover12 said:

Jahidi White in 2000 averaged 1.6bpg, should be higher than C+ defensively.
Bryce Drew C+ handles
Cuttino Mobley C+ B+
Mike James B outside

- Jahidi has a good block rating, but there's more to defense than just that. I'm fine with him at C+
- As I'm sure you know, most of the handle grade is determined by the passing rating, which was never really Drew's game. Leaving it at C
- I don't think C+ inside gives Mobley enough juice as a scorer. He wasn't just a long range gunner in his early days in Houston (only 26.6% of FG attempted were from three between 1999-2003). His B outside is fringe B+
- Agreed here on Mike James, lowered it to a B.

May 25, 2022 12:01:28 GMT -5 will said:

Agree with the Dirk, VC, Raef and Harrington changes, had them here before going through the comments.. Here's a couple more small things..

Bonzi Wells - Defense upto B
Might be wrong here but always thought Bonzi was a decent defender, high B-/ low B?

Earl Boykins / Rafer Alston - Defense down to C

As the ratings for defense currently in the league are I'd have these two at a C rather than C+, guessing it's their stealing which puts it at C+ though so maybe they are fine.

- I would agree that Bonzi at his defensive best deserves a B, I just question how often his effort level matched that. Going to bump it for now but will still consider moving it back down
- I actually think Rafer Alston had a little more defensive ability than people remember -- leaving him at C+
- Agreed on Boykins. While he was scrappy, his size made him a huge liability defensively. Lowered him to C

May 25, 2022 14:36:04 GMT -5 raidernation said:

agree with most the gripes above, looking at Pierce and Vince I agree that Dirk needs a bump unless those are very high Bs and it's not unrealistic to think he could go B+ A-

not sure about the Bonzi defense gripe as I believe his grade could be held back due to position

Boykins was a pretty respectable on ball defender, Alston was alright himself but I agree high C or low C+ should be their expected defensive ceilings

Since I already addressed the other guys, I'll focus on Dirk. The individual scoring ratings are exactly where I want them to be. His inside grade is lower because that factors in strength and jumping as well. I can (arbitrarily) give him a jump boost to make it look better, but as I said, I know the scoring ratings are where I want them. I don't see the argument for him going to A- outside.

Good file CC... Everything I would gripe..ie Dirk outside has been gripped but overall this file looks te=ific

Considering Larry Hughes is the only guy in this class that ever made an All-Defensive team I think he deserves at least a B in that category.

Maybe not a huge bump since he wasn’t exactly the most consistent guy before or after that year, but he usually did a decent job guarding the league’s best guards when he wasn’t injured.

May 26, 2022 20:17:07 GMT -5 kdogg said:

Considering Larry Hughes is the only guy in this class that ever made an All-Defensive team I think he deserves at least a B in that category.

Maybe not a huge bump since he wasn’t exactly the most consistent guy before or after that year, but he usually did a decent job guarding the league’s best guards when he wasn’t injured.

Yeah, it's just such an anomaly of his career, and I tend to look at player's peaks as 3 (or so)-year periods. I think B- is right, and it's fringy (towards B) at that IIRC.

Would make Harrington’s inside a B. Bonzi looks solid. Idk I feel like Cuttino’s ratings are too low somewhat. Dirk isn’t good enough man. Would up Hughes handle to a B-. Would lower Rafer’s inside and raise his outside. Would you Keon to a B defensively. Ricky Davis is too low. Ruben should be a B + defensively.

Jun 2, 2022 10:43:01 GMT -5 tyo said:

Would make Harrington’s inside a B. Bonzi looks solid. Idk I feel like Cuttino’s ratings are too low somewhat. Dirk isn’t good enough man. Would up Hughes handle to a B-. Would lower Rafer’s inside and raise his outside. Would you Keon to a B defensively. Ricky Davis is too low. Ruben should be a B + defensively.

Some of these were already addressed above, but for clairvoyance:
- Al Harrington is already a B inside
- Cuttino is a point away from B+ outside, I'm fine with him being on the fringe
- Already boosted Dirk
- Disagree about Hughes' handle, but I did give him the slight defensive boost that was suggested above to get him to a B
- Lowered Rafer's inside one point (lowered grade to C) and raised his outside one point (grade did not change)
- Upped Keon to a low B defensively
- Upped Ricky Davis inside to a B and outside to B-
- Upped Ruben to B+ defensively

Thanks for the gripes