If Cam Reddish had performed as much as his potential in his first two-plus seasons within the NBA, the Hawks seemingly wouldn't have made him obtainable for the Knicks’ taking.
However regardless of some flaws in Reddish’s sport and an Achilles harm that set him again final yr, scouts imagine he nonetheless has the upside, ultimate dimension for a wing and time to make an impression with the Knicks.
“More often than not, you say hey, when a man’s been within the league about three years, most 4 years, he's what he's,” former 76ers scout Michael Vandegarde mentioned in a cellphone interview. “However on the flip facet, he nonetheless is 22 and he missed a major chunk of time over his first three years. So you possibly can have a look at it as a glass half-empty, glass half-full.
“A 3-and-D man, there’s huge upside to that for Cam Reddish and perhaps he will be extra. Perhaps he generally is a man that finds a bit extra offense in his sport. He undoubtedly has the ability set to have extra offense in his sport.”
Contemplating what the Knicks gave up for Reddish — Kevin Knox and a protected first-round decide by way of Charlotte — Vandegarde believes it was a deal price making regardless of describing the previous Duke star as “nonetheless an unknown.”
Reddish is taking pictures career-highs of 37.9 p.c from deep and 90 p.c from the free-throw line this season — the 2 most necessary numbers when figuring out whether or not a participant can shoot, Vandegarde mentioned. However Reddish was additionally taking pictures simply 42.1 p.c on 2-point area targets — which if he had performed sufficient minutes to qualify for league leaders, could be tied for the second-worst mark within the NBA.
“He has actual questionable capability to make pictures the place he’s pulling up off the dribble, the place he’s maneuvering by site visitors,” Vandegarde mentioned. “However he’s not even 22 but and he’s bought the scale [6-foot-8] and size [7-foot-1 wingspan] you covet.”
Reddish was combating for minutes with the Hawks (averaging 23.4 per sport this season), however one other scout believes he might emerge in an even bigger position with the Knicks.
“He’s an ascending offensive participant and may defend a number of positions,’’ an Japanese Convention scout mentioned. “He’s simply 22 and the Knicks don’t have a giant wing that gifted on the roster. Cam hopefully will get a good shot at this and take advantage of it.’’
How a lot Reddish performs will seemingly depend upon how he defends, particularly beneath coach Tom Thibodeau.
“I believe Thibs will do wonders for him by way of depth and protection,” Vandegarde mentioned. “I'd assume he’s bought an opportunity to be a very good defender and I believe you’re going to seek out out actual shortly what Thibs feels about him.”
— Further reporting by Marc Berman
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