Scouting Report: Doug McDermott, SF, Creighton
He was the College Player of the Year, he led the entire nation in scoring, he measured better than anyone expected, and he might not even be assured of going in the lottery. Such is life for Doug McDermott in the 2014 draft, where production doesn't matter quite so much as perception and potential. That doesn't mean teams aren't high on McDermott, however, because it's pretty difficult to be down on "fourth-best 3-point percentage in NCAA history for players who took at least 500 threes."
Background
| Position | DX Rank | ESPN Rank | Height w/o Shoes | Weight (lbs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 10 | 13 | 6' 6.25" | 218 |
| Wing | Vert (in.) | Standing Reach | Hand Length (in.) | Agility (sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6' 9.25" | 36.5 | 8' 7" | 8.75 | 11.1 |
| NCAA Stats | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 26.7 | 7 | 1.6 | 52.6% | 44.9% |
| 2012-13 | 23.2 | 7.7 | 1.6 | 54.8% | 49% |
| 2011-12 | 22.9 | 8.2 | 1.1 | 60.1% | 48.6% |
| 2010-11 | 14.9 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 52.5% | 40.5% |
Scouting Report
Strengths: Obviously, you don't put up those kind of prolific scoring numbers without some serious skill. Equal parts intelligence, instinct and range, McDermott can score in a variety of ways, and at worst projects as an elite spot-up shooter. He also flashed better athletic scores than many suggested, enough that the "tweener forward" label might not be a knock so much as a nod to potential versatility, or convince teams he's capable of being a full-time three.
Weaknesses: The big knock here is that his upside is appreciably lower than some of the other wings and forwards in the draft. In short, he can be good, but he probably won't be great, and that's not enough with this crop. And of course, despite testing well, there are legitimate concerns as to who he can defend at the next level, as he's not quite athletic enough at small forward and not strong enough at power forward.
Highlight Reel
What to Expect on Draft Day
It would seem counter-intuitive for a rebuilding team to select McDermott, who is ready to help now and is short on upside, but a lot of teams with higher picks are looking to compete now, anyway, so his range is pretty open. Depending on who falls to them at No. 3, the Sixers at No. 10 seem a nice fit, but there have been reports that the Lakers have considered him at No. 7. Meanwhile, he could slip from the lottery altogether, but ESPN's Chad Ford pegs No. 16 as his floor.