2019 NBA Mock Draft: Is R.J. Barrett right for the Knicks?
125. . G/F. Duke. Cam Reddish. 5. player
Is it possible Reddish’s game is already stretched too far toward his NBA baseline? Could playing next to stars, though elite role players are still incredibly valuable in the draft, be limiting him more than his teammates? As players move up the ranks, they are supposed to fine-tune their game, but they are also supposed to benefit from better teammates. Reddish is taking a back seat at Duke but it could be hampering his growth already.
Over 62 percent of Reddish’s shot attempts are from deep, an insane number higher than that of all but the most limited offensive players (think Steve Novak early in his career). He rarely even dribbles. In the NBA, players with this specific skill set get paid millions and win lots of games. Klay Thompson notoriously rarely puts the ball on the deck despite scoring points in bunches. Reddish could ultimately join this line of players, but his role in college means we may never see the other side again.
The 3-and-D archetype is swallowing Reddish. Modern, analytically inclined teams will see Reddish’s 3-point efficiency and size and immediately imagine slotting him along the perimeter on their team. They might miss out on Reddish’s upside.
Atlanta feels like a team that could tap into both. He would join Kevin Huerter in a wing rotation heavy on offense but also enter a wide-open situation in which he could shoot more often. He would also help the Hawks’ team defense and add to their bright young core if he falls this far.