Report: Bobcats not high on Fredette (Thank God)

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

According to the Charlotte Observer, the Bobcats are only "lukewarm" to the idea of drafting Jimmer Fredette at no. 9.

There is apparently some concern within the organization that a backcourt pairing of D.J. Augustin and Fredette would be too small. The team definitely has need for a perimeter player, but their need for size is likely more pressing. This news is also good for Augustin's fantasy stock, as it appears the team is looking to build around him rather than replace him in the starting five.

I don't care if Fredette becomes the best shooter since Reggie Miller to play in the NBA, I don't want him. He doesn't play defense and in my opinion the NBA is starting to turn away from its offense vs. offense games as seen in the NBA finals. Fredette is also a spot shooter and though he could create shots for himself in college, he will not be able to in the pros in arguably the best division of basketball in the NBA (If the Bobcats drafted him). Better players that have played in better conferences such as Adam Morrison and J.J. Reddick were spot shooters as well; however they had the ability to create shots for themselves in college just like Fredette except better. We have seen how both of those careers have turned out as one player is no longer in the league and the other is a suitable back-up at best. The Bobcats need a playmaker, a Gerald Henderson type of player. If the Bobcats can grab a player that has the same upside, perseverance, drive, and motor that Hendo has with their three picks in this years NBA draft then the Cats could find themselves battling for a playoff spot next year.

[SOJA]

thank buddha, fredette has bust written all over him, put Kobe Bryant on him, and he isn't scoring one point

[CarolinaNut]

thank buddha, fredette has bust written all over him, put Kobe Bryant on him, and he isn't scoring one point

fredette is gonna be playing PG...why would bryant even be gaurding him?

[cdandi1]

I compared Fredette to Morrison weeks ago and got scoffed at..fwiw, the bobcats should stay away. He'll prob end up better than Morrison, but not worth a nineth overall pick. imo

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/18/2390002/fredette-another-morrison.html

Morrison has since washed out of the NBA entirely - his confidence shot, his defensive liabilities exposed. I can't imagine that Jordan, now the Bobcats owner, would want to take a player in Fredette who seems to have a similar skill set but is six inches shorter.

I don't think Fredette will turn into Morrison, since he's more grounded and a far better ballhandler. But he's not going to be a great NBA player, either. To compare him to a couple of other recent big-time college scorers, I think Fredette's NBA career will end up more like J.J. Redick than Stephen Curry.

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/18/2390002/fredette-another-morrison.html#ixzz1PpOQQZmS

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

fredette is gonna be playing PG...why would bryant even be gaurding him?

Well, he may or may not be. Someone may find out that he can't play point in the NBA due to his lack of ball handling, his defense, and his overall quickness, but like you said he can't really play shooting guard because he is too small. So it's a risk/reward type of player. The Bobcats are not so bad that they have to settle for a risk/reward type of player like the Panthers did, so I think they will pass on Fredette.

[GotSwag?]

I dont want Fredette either so this is good news!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I know the Bobcats need some outside shooting, but I personally think small forward is a bigger need for them, because right now they have Jax as the small forward. I really want the Cats to take Kawhi Leonard assuming he drops (and assuming Kemba has already been taken) and after that you pretty much have to draft based on the best player available per position needs. I would say grab JaJuan Johnson from Purdue and put him at ceter (he is 6'10, 220 lbs. I think he can hold his own in the post) with the second pick, then with their third pick grab your outside shooter, I personally like Andrew Goudelock.

So here is my dream draft.

1. Kemba Walker or Kawhi Leonard

2. JaJuan Johnson

3. Andrew Goudelock

(Note all of those players except Kawhi averaged over 20.0 points per game in college, so we would be getting some scorers.)

[GritsRgreat]

S m o k e!!!

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Your sig is !!!S m o k i n g!!!

[scarface]

I don't care if Fredette becomes the best shooter since Reggie Miller to play in the NBA, I don't want him. He doesn't play defense and in my opinion the NBA is starting to turn away from its offense vs. offense games as seen in the NBA finals. Fredette is also a spot shooter and though he could create shots for himself in college, he will not be able to in the pros in arguably the best division of basketball in the NBA (If the Bobcats drafted him). Better players that have played in better conferences such as Adam Morrison and J.J. Reddick were spot shooters as well; however they had the ability to create shots for themselves in college just like Fredette except better. We have seen how both of those careers have turned out as one player is no longer in the league and the other is a suitable back-up at best. The Bobcats need a playmaker, a Gerald Henderson type of player. If the Bobcats can grab a player that has the same upside, perseverance, drive, and motor that Hendo has with their three picks in this years NBA draft then the Cats could find themselves battling for a playoff spot next year.

...and yet you people want Kemba Walker.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

...and yet you people want Kemba Walker.

He averages 5.4 boards and 2 steals a game. Have you not watched UCONN play?

[Panthers128]

I'd take Jimmer at 19 but probably not 9.

[carpanfan96]

He averages 5.4 boards and 2 steals a game. Have you not watched UCONN play?

I did, but there are some serious concerns about his size and strength while on defense and his decision making on offense. (2.3 turnovers - only 5 assist and he's considered a scoring guard, yet only shot 43 percent from the field)

Where as Fredette's defense is understandable as BYU asked him to play none so he could stay in the game... almost worked for him.

Here's the two Bio/profiles for the two players.

Fredette

Strengths: An absolutely relentless scorer ... Led nation in points per game with 28.9 ... Wide array of ways to put the ball in the basket ... Great size and strength for a point guard ... Strong finisher around the rim ... Uncanny shooting ability ... Volume shooter that maintains efficiency; averaged 3.3 three-pointers made per game in his senior season on 39.6% ... Gets an outstanding amount of elevation on his jump shot ... Won't dazzle with high-flying dunks, but uses the athleticism he has very well ... Tough to stop in transition ... Can pull-up for a quick jump shot from anywhere on the court ... Unlimited range ... Supreme confidence in his shooting ability, won't hesitate to fire from as far as 30 feet away from the basket ... Able to make shots even when appearing well off-balance ... Great free-throw shooter (89.4%) ... Underrated quickness ... Nasty ball-handling ability ... Deadly crossover ... Frequently throws off defenders with well-timed hesitations moves off the dribble ... Can create a lot of space for himself, with or without the ball ... Doesn't have to dominate the ball to be effective ... Crafty mid-range game ... Comes off screens extremely well ... Automatic catch-and-shoot ability ... Talented passer that has the ability to create open shots for his teammates ... Thrives in high-pressure situations ... Very unselfish ... Very high basketball IQ ... Tough, physical player that doesn't shy away from contact ... Gym rat, always focused on improving his game ... Smart, well-spoken kid that always seems to impress in his interviews ...

Weaknesses: A very poor defender at BYU ... His team couldn't afford for him to get in foul trouble which may account for his lackluster defensive effort ... Struggles to close out on shooters ... As the primary offensive option on his team, he hasn't proven he can be a pass-first point guard ... Assist-to-turnover ratio is poor (4.3 assists to 3.5 turnovers), but understandable due to his role on the team ... Prone to getting blocked on his drives to the rim ... Athleticism is certainly below average for an NBA point guard, which may hinder his ability to get his shot off at the next level …

Walker

Strengths: Walker's game is marked by "electricity" and explosiveness. Plays with an undefinable burst, seemingly moving in warp speed while everyone else is standing still- yet he remains for the most part under control, with the ball on a string. Working in his favor is a freakish blend of raw speed, breathtaking quickness, ultra-aggression and sneaky power. Scores from anywhere on the court (23.5 ppg). Can't be contained by a single defender off the dribble, be it in the half court or most notably in transition. Splits double teams and traps in a blink. Changes direction at FULL speed. He is a master at creating space, using jab steps, cross overs and pump fakes to shed defenders. Highly creative with the rock in his hands and finishing at the rim. Able to complete plays through contact with a full head of steam. Also able to re-adjust angles and avoid shot blockers by hanging and improvising in mid-air. Constantly in attack mode, frequently living at the charity stripe (7.7 attempts). Scoop shots and floaters are not foreign to his arsenal either. Overall shooting aptitude has improved dramatically since arriving on campus. His range shooting is now a real weapon (33% on 5.5 attempts), despite a myriad of low percentage, bail out chucks. He's always been extremely comfortable shooting step back J's off the dribble, but displayed a new wrinkle coming off screens as the season progressed. Solid elevation and high release. Tremendous two-footed leaper in space. Despite his gift for the putting the ball in the bucket, he's very much a facilitator (4.5 apg), creating open shots for others by commanding a second/third defender. Prolific rebounder for his size (5.4 rpg), completely unafraid to mix it up with bigger bodies. Excellent lateral quickness with fluid hips. Beats the offensive player to the spot. Opportunistic defensively- if you're careless with the ball, he'll take it back the other way for a deuce (1.9 stl). His motor never runs low (38 minutes per). A true winner with a warrior's spirit.

Weaknesses: His measurement of 6'1 with shoes was a win, but he remains an undersized commodity, his standing reach of 7'7.5 is the same as 5'10 PG Isaiah Thomas. Defending the new breed of NBA point guards will be a severe challenge. He takes a ton of hits in his 184-pound frame, and while he's been anything but fragile, it's a concern over the long haul. Walker's an unselfish distributor and a dynamic playmaker, but he'll never be mistaken for an orchestrator or true lead guard. Connecticut's half court offense was largely late clock isolations: can he get a team organized and operate an NBA style, functional system? Has a tendency to play out of control times, but to his credit he has learned to pace himself when the situation calls for it (2.3 turnovers). It's difficult to cage a lion, and as a result he will go through patches where he gets caught up in the emotion of the game. Too many out of control shot attempts, attacking the trees wildly when there's simply nothing available. Fearless is a great quality as long as it doesn't reach the point of reckless. Criticizing him for lack of efficiency (43% fg) is probably unfair given the tremendous burden placed upon his shoulders. Nevertheless, he does have a tendency to waste possessions. He finished in traffic at the collegiate level, but the NBA paint is a different animal. Continued advancement in the mid-range, pull up game will go a long ways in getting more quality looks and saving his body. Shooting stroke needs fine tuning, particularly from range. Arc on his jumper brings rain and inhibits consistent results.

I personally don't want either one of them as they would have to play the point, I want to see what DJ can do with a full off season and season under Silas.

Need a shooter at the SF position and a Center from this draft if at all possible.

[koolkatluke]

I'd take Jimmer at 19 but probably not 9.

I wouldn't take him at 19 that is a waste of a roster spot.