Paul, Bogut top NBA Rookie Power Rankings

A few weeks into the season and the league's deepest team is ... the Clippers? Amazing but true. A solid core of young players gives Mike Dunleavy a team so deep, some promising talent is even being forced to the sidelines. Undrafted rookie forward James Singleton was one of the Clippers' biggest surprises early, but the return of Corey Maggette has sent Singleton back to the bench (three straight DNP-CDs). Expect the same cold reception to await Daniel Ewing (5.4 ppg, 2.3 apg) when second-year point guard Shaun Livingston returns to the lineup next month. For once, though, the Clippers do not lead the NBA's kiddie corps, which may portend good things for the future of the league's rookie crop. Two weeks into the season, let's take a look at where they stand. (All statistics through Sunday.)

NBA Rookie Power Rankings Rank LW Player 1 2 Chris Paul, PG, Hornets (15.4 ppg, 4.8 apg) Can you imagine what the 2-3 Hornets would be like without Paul? Already an excellent ballhandler, Paul is a 3-point shot away from All-Star consideration. He poured in a career high 26 against Mavericks Saturday 2 1 Andrew Bogut, C, Bucks (9.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg) His numbers have plateaued, but Bogut is still a double-double threat every night. He's an aggressive rebounder who has shown a feathery touch from the perimeter. Needs to stay out of foul trouble (3.8 fpg). 3 5 Jose Calderon, G, Raptors (7.8 ppg, 7.2 apg) The winless Raptors have bottomed out, but Calderon might be the best of a trio of talented rookies. He's third among rookies in minutes (28.2) despite coming off the bench. Toronto coach Sam Mitchell has experimented with a Calderon-Mike James backcourt that was successful in the Raptors overtime loss to Seattle. 4 3 Deron Williams, PG, Jazz (11.4 ppg, 3.6 apg) Time for Utah coach Jerry Sloan to take the leash off Williams, who has been limited by a platoon system with Keith McLeod and Milt Palacio. Williams showed flashes of brilliance last week in New Jersey, but must improve his shooting (39.7 percent) to be effective. A sprained ankle could slow him down this week. 5 8 Channing Frye, C, Knicks (10.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) Might the Knicks actually have quality depth in their frontcourt? Jury's out, but Frye is making a compelling case. Scored 19 points in 17 minutes to help the Knicks to their first win of the season and is first in points/48 minutes (28.6) among rookie regulars. 6 4 Salim Stoudamire, PG, Hawks (9.7 ppg, 42.9 3FG%) Why are Arizona guys so underrated? Stoudamire's silky stroke is reminiscent of another Wildcat (and former second-round pick), the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas. Buyer Alert: The Hawks' winless record and crowded backcourt make Stoudamire prime trade bait. 7 6 Charlie Villanueva, PF, Raptors (11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) Hello, Charlie. This versatile scorer took SI's advice and became more assertive -- eight free throw attempts against Seattle -- in the paint. Our next pearl of wisdom? Get in the lane and stay there. Poor shooting (25.0 percent) from beyond the arc is not helping his numbers. 8 7 Sean May, PF, Bobcats (9.1 ppg, 16.9 rpg) May's steadily improving play has made Melvin Ely expendable in Charlotte. May is a strong scorer who must improve his weak rebounding (4.1 rpg) if he wants to stay in Bobcats' frontcourt rotation with Emeka Okafor and Primoz Brezec. 9 -- Marvin Williams, SF, Hawks (8.0 ppg, 48.7 FG%) It's about time the second overall draft pick cracked the top 10. Defensive struggles have limited his offensive opportunities, but last week Williams turned in back-to-back 12-point performances on a torrid 76.9 percent shooting. Still, he's not much of a perimeter threat -- he's made only three attempts from behind the 3-point line this season. 10 10 Sarunas Jasikevicius, G, Pacers (6.2 ppg, 46.2 3FG%) Savvy guard played entire fourth quarter in key win against Miami last week and is among the most accurate 3-point shooters in the league. His defense is still suspect, as Jasikevicius has struggled defending quicker point guards. Who's out: Thanks to Maggette, Singleton doesn't figure to get much playing time despite ranking second among all rookies in rebounds per game (7.5) Who to watch Undrafted Alan Anderson isn't as heralded is the rest of Charlotte's rookie class, but the swingman tossed in eight points in his debut against Miami after recovering from knee surgery. He formed an effective fourth quarter pressing unit with fellow newbies May, Raymond Felton and Kevin Burleson. ... Seattle center Johan Petro has started four of the Sonics' six games, including a 10-rebound effort against Toronto on Sunday. ... Bullish point guard Jarrett Jack (20.2 mpg) is giving Sebastian Telfair all the competition he can handle in Portland, while occasionally pairing up in a speedy Blazers backcourt.