Chad Ford Mock Draft: Charlotte Hornets select Doug McDermott
By Jacob Rude
In his latest mock draft, ESPN NBA Draft writer Chad Ford offered up a handful for surprises, with one of the bigger ones being the inclusion of Creighton forward Doug McDermott in the top ten.
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McDermott has been a hard prospect to judge, with comparisons to former flameouts like Adam Morrison coming to mind. However, according to Ford, McDermott’s stock is rising and his instant offense capabilities have teams more than interested in his services. Specifically, Ford lists the Celtics, Lakers, and Hornets as potential suitors, but Ford makes it evident he doesn’t think that McDermott is making it out of the top ten.
As a stretch four, McDermott could come into the Hornets and likely take a starting spot. With Josh McRoberts expected to opt-out this summer, there’s an opening on the roster for McDermott. He would likely battle with recently-drafted big man Cody Zeller for the power forward role, but with each offering a different skill set, it’s not crazy to think the two men could split time.
However, whether McDermott will be a productive NBA player is another discussion. His lack of athleticism is alarming, and his defensive shortcomings could cause serious issues with his playing time. Considering his size, he’ll have to either match up with small forwards like Carmelo Anthony and Kawhi Leonard or big power forwards like David West, all of which will cause him problems at the next level.
Personally, I’m not as high on McDermott, but I’m also not a general manager, nor have I seen his workouts. Let’s leave the great basketball decisions to Michael Jordan.