@NBARumorCentral
Even if Julius Randle does undergo foot surgery, don't expect him to slide past No. 9 on draft day. http://es.pn/1nyHev3
That would be quite the coup.
We need to start preparing for Stephenson. I'd be shocked if it didn't happen at this point.
I think Sessions sucks balls. That guy blows more point-blank layups than anyone I've ever seen. I would rather roll with a rookie backup PG.
As to the overall picture, I just don't like that PF rotation at all with MKG in the starting lineup. The opposition basically doesn't have to guard both 3/4 positions other than the occasional lucky McBob 3. If either one of McDermott or Zeller becomes a legit NBA offensive player then you can adjust to alleviate that problem, but that's a lot of faith in white guys. Because of MKG's horrific shooting, this team needs a scoring 4 such that it can use McBob off the bench like the Spurs use Diaw.
Hell yes. If he falls to 6th or 7th, would you package 9 and 24 to try to move up for him? Or just hope he falls to 9? If he's healthy, he'd be a BIG TIME pickup. We'd still have no shooting, but our frontcourt would be nasty.It is an issue that I'd definitely be willing to take a risk on.
Really think Randle is a top 5 talent that you'll know what to expect from. However, he's a little bit too much like Big Al and wouldn't really stretch the defense to get Al space in my opinion.
That being said, if he's there at 9 it'd be really tough to pass on.
McBob is a pretty solid floor-spacer right now, and I don't think there's much question about McDermott's ability to score the ball from deep as a "legit NBA offensive player." I think you're underselling the ability of McRoberts, Zeller, and McBuckets to make baskets (Zeller had zero plays called for him all year for some reason, yet still got to a pretty nice place by the end of the season). And if MKG improves his own shooting...
I guess I just don't share that set of concerns. Mine are much more related to defense with this projected team. That said, Clifford has been great on that end. Could he actual deal with a personality like Stephenson, though?
“Skilled, smart, really good basketball IQ and high, high character,” Clifford said when asked about McDermott, who stayed four years at Creighton.
At 6-foot-8, McDermott shot 45 percent from the college 3-point line. There’s been some talk of McDermott playing power forward, but Clifford says “his size will dictate that he’s a small forward.”
McDermott will be challenged at the NBA level to guard shorter, quicker players at small forward. He appreciates the difference in athleticism between opponents in college and what he might see in the NBA. But he’s not deterred.
“I think I’ll be fine. It will be an adjustment, but in the NBA it’s team defense – you have a lot of great defenders on the floor” to help, McDermott said. “I’m ready to prove I can do it.”
Rick Bonnell @rick_bonnell
Observer source: Hornets forward Josh McRoberts has opted out of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in July.