News broke on Thursday that Chicago Bulls forward Caleb Wilson will miss the next four to six weeks after fracturing his right hand. It marks the third separate hand injury Wilson has suffered during the last 11 months. He fractured his left hand and broke his right thumb during his freshman season at North Carolina, with the latter injury causing him to miss the end of the regular season.
Wilson was off to a hot start during his rookie season with the Bulls. The No. 4 overall pick was averaging 18.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in his first 10 games and was one of the few bright spots for the 1-9 Bulls. Missing the next four to six weeks would keep Wilson out until at least mid to late December.
Although there is no 65-game minimum requirement to win Rookie of the Year as with other NBA awards, missing an extended period of time will likely see Wilson fall behind in what should be one of the most competitive races in recent memory. Entering Friday, there appears to be a clear-cut top five in this season's Rookie of the Year race. Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 pick, is the current favorite (+115 at FanDuel).
After Lendeborg, Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (+290) and Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. (+320) have the shortest odds. The top two picks in the draft -- Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa and Jazz guard Darryn Peterson -- are tied for fourth (+1600) in the odds. Wilson is next at +4000, with a steep drop-off after that.
Dybantsa missed the first four games of the season with an ankle sprain, while Peterson got off to a slower start than some of his peers but has looked fantastic for the shorthanded Jazz during the last week and a half. The current odds for Rookie of the Year (as of Nov. 13) are below. Less than a month into the NBA season, three players have separated themselves from the rest.
Boozer opened the season as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, with Wilson, Peterson and Dybantsa not far behind in the odds. However, two players outside of the top five picks in a loaded draft class are in position to crash the party. Here is a quick scouting report on what we have seen from Boozer, Acuff and Lendeborg and how they can continue to stay in the race.
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