As we move into the second half of the NBA season, the 2020-21 rookie crop is coming off a very welcome rest period. They have never faced this kind of pace or workload, so it is not uncommon for them to hit the “wall.”

We can’t say that this is necessarily one of the best rookie classes we’ve seen, but there’s always going to be some talent coming into the league.

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So who is going to be the winner of this season’s Rookie of the Year award?

Let’s take a look at those odds from America’s Bookie:

Updated 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds

LaMelo Ball (Charlotte) -850

Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento) +450

Anthony Edwards (Minnesota) +950

Immanuel Quickley (New York) +1750

James Wiseman (Golden State) +2300

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LaMelo Ball (-850) did not begin the season as a starter for the Charlotte Hornets, but then really came on strong when he was put into that spot. He is not only the kind of player who makes other players on the court better, he has shot better than most observers thought he would. Ball is almost 38% from downtown, and 50% inside the arc. He uses a funny motion, but he said he would not let the Hornets’ staff affect any changes to it. I can’t blame him. Certainly he’s been the recipient of the most fanfare, as his father has a great flair for promotion. Someone would have to come along and steal this award from him.

And Tyrese Haliburton (+450) would be the best candidate for that.

Maybe Haliburton’s numbers aren’t big enough. His per-game scoring isn’t particularly high (13.2), but he has functioned well as a secondary playmaker for the Kings (5.4 assists) and, despite an unusual motion like Ball, is smoking from three-point range, hitting 43.3%. He plays with an awful lot of poise, and does the lion’s share of it coming off the bench.

And for what it’s worth, his Offensive Rating of 125 is BY FAR higher than any other rookie on this list. Like Immanuel Quickley, he’s had two years of college ball (at Iowa State), which sets them apart from the other three candidates.

Anthony Edwards (+950), of course, was the first selection in the draft, but the T-Wolves conceded that he was more of a project than some of the other players who were taken in the lottery. Since becoming a starter, he’s averaged 16.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. But he has also during that time shot just 38% from the field. It’s never a big surprise that the best rookie talent finds itself on substandard teams, but the Timberwolves are losing too much to get him any serious consideration. They were, for instance, losers of ten straight going into the All-Star break, and had already been through a coaching change. Playing time is what Edwards needs, but he still looks like a “project.”

Immanuel Quickley (+1750 at America’s Bookie) has been a very pleasant surprise for the Knicks, and it appears to be the right situation for him, because even though the Knicks don’t really have anyone who is locked in as a regular starting point guard, they have several people who can fill the role, so he gets playing time, but doesn’t have to shoulder the entire burden. In less than 19 minutes per game, he’s averaging 12.2 points. He’s dead from the free throw line (94%).

John Calipari insists he is one of the best kids he’s ever coached – “first one in the gym, the last one to leave.” And no doubt Calipari has talked about him to one of his former Memphis stars, Derrick Rose, who has become Quickley’s mentor in New York. All this bodes well for the future, but not for his chances to win the rookie award.

James Wiseman (+2300) was thought by many to be the guy who’d have the most long-range impact in this rookie class, because he is a big man with extraordinary athletic ability. And he seemingly gave the Warriors what they were lacking in terms of a real center. But remember that he only had a few college games under his belt, and he has to play a subordinate role with people like Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green in the lineup.

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His per-36 minute totals aren’t bad (20.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) but they don’t have him out there playing heavy minutes. Still, only two double-doubles? Hmmm. And after Steve Kerr said he had planned to carve out more playing time for Wiseman, the rookie “disappointed” the team by missing a COVID-19 test during the break. They’ll need more discipline from him than that.

Ball has probably built up a little too much momentum, but in this “you never know” situation, keep your eyes on Haliburton.

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