Thursday Bolts – 6.13.13
Doug Gottlieb of CBSSports.com on Victor Oladipo: “Could he be a tenacious defensive backup guard/athlete like Bledsoe? Sure. But is that the role you expect from a top-10 pick? Depends on who is doing the picking. If you want to make him into a starting two-guard from day one and he doesn’t fit your needs, you may be severely let down. Oladipo will likely be best off the ball in the half court and he will have to stretch his range as a catch-and-shoot guy. If you believe Oladipo can be a poor man’s Tony Allen (without the baggage), you love his energy, his personality and his lack of shot ego, and you are willing to admit this may be a starless draft, then take him. He may have no real definable position on offense, but will you win more games because he is on your team? I believe so. Would I draft him? If I had an elite point guard who could create shots for him and have him float away from the basketball … absolutely.”
Jenni Carlson: “That sounds a bit risky, but frankly, this whole thing seems a bit risky. Roc Nation Sports has never had a client of Durant’s stature. But here’s the deal, why shouldn’t Durant take a chance like this? Even though he’s still young — only 24 years old — he’s already one of the world’s most recognizable athletes. He’s already got the traditional endorsement deals. The shoes. The sports drink. The cellphone. Why not see what else is possible? Why not shoot for world domination? So much for Oklahoma City being a place where an NBA player couldn’t be a superstar. It sure doesn’t seem to be holding back Durant. Nothing does.”
Outstanding Onion headline: “Michael Jordan Hires Patrick Ewing As Bobcats Assistant Coach To Watch Him Lose More.”
Rex Kalamian could be heading to join Mo Cheeks’ new staff.
Jay Bilas on Ben McLemore: “His lack of assertiveness is the only thing that can hold him back from being the best player in this draft. McLemore is the most talented player in this draft, and on pure talent alone he should be the top overall pick. He is going to be good no matter what. But this question speaks to whether McLemore is going to be great and deliver on the promise of his talent. And as of now, he is not yet as mentally strong or tough as he needs to be if he’s going to be an NBA All-Star. McLemore is too hard on himself and gets down too easily right now. I believe that if he gets with the right team early, and he doesn’t have to be “the man” right away, he can really blossom. But if he goes to a team that expects him to take over and deliver right away, it can go the other way and he’ll be just a good NBA player.”
Bradford Doolittle of ESPN Insider: “From a per-possession-efficiency standpoint, Zeller ranks as the best prospect on the board. The excellent athletic markers he displayed at the combine hold up statistically, as he’s got the third-best ATH rating in this class. Zeller lags in the skill area in terms of outside shooting and passing, but I’m still convinced Zeller is underrated in the prospect rankings I’ve seen.”
