<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sekou Smith, who covers the NBA for the Journal-Constitution, breaks down the pro potential of Duke sharpshooter J.J. Redick: If there is a better pure shooter from distance on the planet, he'd better surface in time for the June NBA draft to unseat Redick. NBA locker rooms debate over Redick's marksmanship on a regular basis, with players wondering if his range will translate to the pro game or if he's another overhyped Duke guard like Trajan Langdon or Will Avery. Redick's sniper's skill as a shooter will assure him lottery status this summer. But his chances of being anything more than a situational player in the pros will depend on whether he gets to a team that is willing to mask his weaknesses --- he's doesn't have exceptional size or athleticism for an NBA two-guard --- the way Duke does. This notion of pairing him with a quality big man, making him more dangerous, is preposterous. Outside of Shaquille O'Neal, there is no NBA center that requires constant double-teaming. So Redick will have to fend for himself, like most every other NBA shooting guard other than Rip Hamilton, when it comes to creating space for himself to get shots off. Redick does have the requisite quickness and knack for launching shots from anywhere on the floor that could make him dangerous on any basketball court. Still, at his size (generously listed at 6 feet 4 but believed to be closer to 6-2) there's no way he can play in the league without working at point guard. Redick has been compared with everybody from Steve Nash to Michael Redd. All those categorizations are totally unfair to Redick --- a much more realistic comparison would be to Hawks rookie Salim Stoudamire, because he'll face the same rugged transition other great but undersized college shooters have in the past. Can he play consistently with the ball in his hands? </div> Source
