As much as ever, NBA teams value talented and able shooters for the way they can affect the game. That’s just part of why Creighton product Doug McDermott believes he is capable of making an impact as he enters the professional ranks. “I think I’d fit in great,” McDermott said of the Bulls at the recent NBA Draft Combine. “I feel like they always have a good group of guys. And, obviously with Derrick Rose returning, he draws a lot of attention, so I feel like my outside shooting could really help them. I feel like I’m a much better defender than people give me credit [for]. I think I can really understand the team concept of defense, and I think that is a place where I could fit in.” Whether or not McDermott is available when Chicago makes it picks (16 and 19), of course, is another story. Named the consensus National Player of the Year as a senior at Creighton, McDermott is projected to be a top 10 pick. When you look at his collegiate resume, it’s not hard to see why. The 6-8, 218-pound small forward led the nation in scoring at 26.7 points per game. He turns his attention to the NBA after ranking fifth in NCAA history with 3,150 career points, passing the likes of Larry Bird and Oscar Robertson this past February and March, respectively. Read more http://blogs.bulls.com/2014/05/sharpshooting-mcdermott-takes-aim-at-the-nba/ I think the Bulls, really, really want him.
Anglo Mirotic. DX has him going #8. Bulls would have to trade up to get him. He didn't measure up well in the scouting combine. That makes him a tweener type, like James Johnson or Fizer. Some quotes from DX: http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Doug-McDermott-6504/ McDermott didn't exactly help himself measuring only 6-6 ¼ without shoes, 218 pounds and an average 6-9 ¼ wingspan. McDermott already struggles athletically and has some serious tweener concerns on the defensive end. Although not quite as long, McDermott compares physically to Tobias Harris (6-6 ½ no shoes, 223 pounds, and a 6-11 wingspan). NBA Teams expressed some concern about McDermott's ability to spend time at the power forward position due to his underwhelming measurements. ... Doug McDermott will go down as one of the best scorers in college basketball history, but his defensive and athletic shortcomings raise some question marks about his potential at the next level. Now that his college career is over, we can now take a step back and conduct an inventory of everything he displayed this season as an NBA prospect, as well as the things he still has to improve on.
Nah . . . Mirotic is maybe a size smaller than ideal for a pf at 6'10" or 6'11"/7'1" wingspan but at least he's still a real big. Doug McDermott is virtually the same size as Jimmy Butler was when he came into the league. McDermott measured out at 7.75" (w/shoes)/6'9" wingspan/218(!) lbs. Jimmy Butler measured out at 6' 7.75" (w/shoes)/ 6' 7.5" wingspan/222 lbs.
If you think McDermott can make it at SF then I suppose there's no reason to be concerned. He'll still be able to get his shot off and he was never going to be a defensive stopper anyway. If you think he'll have to make his living as a stretch PF then you should be concerned. And I agree....McDermott and Mirotic are genuinely different. One's a natural stretch PF and the other one isn't. I have serious doubts about McDermott because he doesn't look like an NBA athlete to me. However, we should be relieved by the fact that he played for Team USA last summer, which means Thibs had a chance to see him play against NBA competition with his own eyes, which is probably the most useful piece of information you could hope for. He's more than likely out of our range, but you never know. And man, I didn't realize Butler had such gator arms.
I would be happy if we took McDermott, even if he doesn't pan out. He's no Tyrus Thomas. A known quantity. It's taking a major league swing at the ball. Sometimes you miss. My expectation is the Bulls trade 16+19 for 8 to get him.
I hope we don't. McDermott just doesn't excite me very much. I know the Bulls worked out Randle, and they've seen Doug at Team USA, and there's murmur that some teams in the bottom half of the lottery are looking to trade out of their spots. So I think the Bulls are legit contenders to move up into the lottery, but I'd hope it's for Randle or Smart, not McDermott.
The book on McDermott is that he's a thoroughbred scorer, no matter what his physical attributes are. He's really efficient at it, too, with high % from anywhere on the court. He can supposedly create his own shot, as well, but maybe that's only against college PFs? The Bulls seriously need a scorer, and he could be that. They talked down JJ Reddick when he was drafted, and he's turned out to be a valuable guy to have on a team.
I think it's fashionable for hardcore NBA fans to diss McDermott. He's white, not long and not a "quick twitch" athlete. I saw a bunch of his games and he was amazing. Unfortunately, I'm not smart enough to know for sure whether that amazingness will translate to the NBA. If you are, God love ya. One thing I'd like to say regarding Dermott's athleticism. At the combine, his max vertical was 36.5". This is the same as Tony Snell's. McDermott's sprint was 3.29; Snell's was 3.25. I don't remember anyone saying Snell was unathletic.
