We've covered how each team in the East and West will finish. Now our panel takes a stab at which first-year player will have the best start to his professional career.

We asked the ESPN Forecast team to rank its top three choices for the 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year, with a first-place vote receiving five points, a second-place vote receiving three and a third-place vote receiving one. (Here's how ESPN Forecast works.)

To participate in the discussion and perhaps get your opinion published on this page, #ESPNForecast is the Twitter hashtag to use. Or you can just follow along @ESPNNBA.

Rookie of the year projections

1. Karl-Anthony Towns

Minnesota Timberwolves | Center

First-place votes: 11

Total points: 87

@ESPNNBA Towns is hyped as one of the NBA's next stars! His versatile skillset combined with his NBA body is sure to be lethal #ESPNForecast - JuMu (@JuMuJazz) August 19, 2015

2. Jahlil Okafor

Philadelphia 76ers | Center

First-place votes: 9

Total points: 71

#ESPNForecast Okafor will win ROY. This guy is the type of player that can turn a franchise around. - Chip (@TheFightJournal) August 20, 2015

3. Emmanuel Mudiay

Nuggets | Point guard

First-place votes: 8

Total points: 56

Mudiay was my choice for ROY in #ESPNForecast Towns was No. 2, Okafor No. 3 https://t.co/33zuK0eEZn - Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) August 19, 2015

After an up and down season in China, and the Lawson departure, Mudiay is going to get burn and is a serious ROY Contender #ESPNForecast - David Ray (@DR_NBADraft) August 19, 2015

4. D'Angelo Russell

Lakers | Point guard

First-place votes: 4

Total points: 51

D'Angelo Russell could end up being the best player in the draft in 3-4 years. Huge upside, the Lakers made a great pick. #ESPNForecast - Jacob Barber (@The_Only_Jake) August 19, 2015

5. Justise Winslow

Heat | Shooting guard

First-place votes: 0

Total points: 12

@ESPNNBA @MiamiHEAT @IAmJustise He has no shot at ROY his teams in the position to win the East not gonna force minutes upon a rookie #Truth - Owen Schwalb (@odawggong) August 19, 2015

Justice Winslow at #5 for ESPN's ROY race. Lots of talent/upside but playing behind a healthy Bosh & Whiteside will limit mins #ESPNForecast - Henry Hornecker (@HenryEbright503) August 19, 2015

Others receiving votes: Myles Turner (Pacers) 3, Mario Hezonja (Magic) 3, Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings) 1, Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) 1, Devin Booker (Suns) 1, Stanley Johnson (Pistons) 1.

More on ROY predictions

Elhassan: Towns is top rookie, but he won't win award