Let the Debate Begin: Is Doug McDermott suited for the NBA?

[tornado]

http://bloguin.com/runthefloor/2012-articles/july/doug-mcdermott-hersey-hawkins-and-the-pinnacle-of-the-missouri-valley.html

These guys compare Doug McDermott to Hersey Hawkins and they say...

"..McDermott's game isn't ideally suited for the NBA. He's undersized. He needs to add strength.
He's not vertically explosive. It's not that he doesn't have a long pro career ahead of him,
but he's certainly not in the Anthony Davis/Thomas Robinson school of top-5 picks."


I think they are wrong - I think Doug McDermott can have a Kyle Korver or a Wally Szczerbiak type career. If he can bulk up and get solid he could even be a low post player like Kevin Love.

[Braves4Life]

I saw McD play against UNC in NCAA Tourney and he definitely cannot play at the NBA level down low. I don't think adding a few pounds helps him either. He had extreme difficulty dealing with and adjusting to the length and athleticism of UNC's inside players; this will be even more pronounced at the next level. His ability to defend these players down low was also non-existent; they made him look bad!

His ticket to success in the NBA will be his ability to handle the ball and score from outside like a Korver... maybe to even become a Kukoc-type player. As with many borderline NBA players his success probably depends most on which team he ends up with and whether their system fits his style. A few teams that come to mind are Boston, Utah, Houston, San Antonio, Memphis... McD will need to improve his outside game and ball handling skills substantially over the next 2 years, IMO.

[Future Walk-On]

http://bloguin.com/runthefloor/2012-...ri-valley.html

These guys compare Doug McDermott to Hersey Hawkins and they say...

"..McDermott's game isn't ideally suited for the NBA. He's undersized. He needs to add strength.
He's not vertically explosive. It's not that he doesn't have a long pro career ahead of him,
but he's certainly not in the Anthony Davis/Thomas Robinson school of top-5 picks."


I think they are wrong - I think Doug McDermott can have a Kyle Korver or a Wally Szczerbiak type career. If he can bulk up and get solid he could even be a low post player like Kevin Love.

does that mean you think he should be a top 5 pick like Davis/Robinson?

[tornado]

I am not an NBA exec so I can't speak for those guys who do the drafting - but - DM is admittedly a bit of a "tweener" -
he'd be hard pressed to play the low post in the NBA unless he bulks up considerably like his dad ()
& he doesn't play much of anywhere else on his current team - thus he hasn't yet demonstrated NBA capabilities -
but as I said - I think we'll see him shooting more from outside and working on that part of his game,
and if successful, he'll gradually get more NBA interest - and quite possibly be a 1st rounder.

[basketball nut]

In the games I watched him play this year I always wondered about his game. He dominated the Valley inside but didn't do much on the outside game. But @ the tournament I felt like he showed he could go inside and outside. He can hit the 3 and he handles the ball real well but as has been pointed out on here is how will he do at the next level.
The main thing will be how hard is he willing to work the next 2 years. Very diffenately a Korver type player who can, possibly, have a real nice NBA career. Remember how many NBA players were not BCS school players.

[LittleBrave]

I saw McD play against UNC in NCAA Tourney and he definitely cannot play at the NBA level down low. I don't think adding a few pounds helps him either. He had extreme difficulty dealing with and adjusting to the length and athleticism of UNC's inside players; this will be even more pronounced at the next level. His ability to defend these players down low was also non-existent; they made him look bad!

I thought the same thing, B4L, when watching Douggie in the low post vs. UNC. But this could be a matter of having an off-game, or simply underestimating the length and quickness of the UNC players, thinking he could have his way as he did in league-play. Not sure how he fared vs. SD State in the early non-conf. season, but I think he held his own there. I can't remember seeing anyone recently have a quicker release of the ball down low than McDermott - he wastes little time getting the ball out of his hands when in a position to score, as we witnessed vs. BU at Carver.
I just look forward to seeing how much better he will be this season compared to last, as he could really be more dominant this coming year, as hard as that may be.

What separated Korver from the other elite players in the league during his time in the Valley was his headiness and all-around solid game (passing, shooting, dribbling, off-the-ball movement), and I have no doubt that McD possesses those same qualities and intangibles that Korver had. I don't see McD being as prolific an outside shooter as Korver, but I think you'll see him shoot more mid-range shots this year, and perhaps a few more 3's too.

[Braves4Life]

I can't remember seeing anyone recently have a quicker release of the ball down low than McDermott - he wastes little time getting the ball out of his hands when in a position to score, as we witnessed vs. BU at Carver.

You make a great point LB. He reminds me a lot of Kevin McHale down low with his moves. However, I'm not sure how successful even McHale would be in the NBA today. The players are so much longer, quicker and athletic than in his days.

[SFP]

I'd compare him to a Shane Battier type player. I believe he has too many intangibles that a coach will love to have. He always seemed to be at the right place and find the ball. That is an instinct/skill that not too many players have. Is he a lottery pick? That should be the question. Right now very questionable but with a year or two more of refining and building up his body I do believe he can be a lottery pick.

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

I'd compare him to a Shane Battier type player. I believe he has too many intangibles that a coach will love to have. He always seemed to be at the right place and find the ball. That is an instinct/skill that not too many players have. Is he a lottery pick? That should be the question. Right now very questionable but with a year or two more of refining and building up his body I do believe he can be a lottery pick.

Battier is a better defender and MAYBE a better 3 point shooter, but that's a good comparison. DM would be a low lottery pick at best IMO, but he could easily improve and move up draft boards. Don't forget where Korver was picked (2nd round #51 overall) since many people are using that comparison! That was one of the best drafts ever in his defense, but Korver wasn't far from going undrafted. I'm not sure that Korver is a great comparison for DM's game.

At this point I think he's a late first-round pick with 10-20 potential.

[bigjimmy]

DM is a pretty unique player. He certainly is the best player in the MVC and I don't think it's even close. I hope he gets a chance to play with other talented players in national and international competitions as that would give him a chance to get better and improve his stock. Is he a NBA player? Right now I would say as a fringe player. Give him 2 more years in college and he could become a lottery pick.