Los Angeles Lakers Draft: The two Duke possibilities not named Zion

Is Cam Reddish’s potential worth gambling the 4th pick?

It is very interesting that there is so much buzz surrounding Cam Reddish based on the stats of his one year at Duke. I tend to have a saying; if you shoot less than 40% from the field, you can’t shoot. Well, Cam Reddish would have fallen into this category.

Cam Reddish shot only 35% from the field overall and only 33% from 3-point range. It tends to make you wonder what makes this guy worth taking a look at.

Believe me, folks, he is definitely on the radar according to some reports.

Hearing aside, Cam Reddish had a very uneven season at Duke averaging only 13 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals. But let’s take a different spin on the situation and take a look at why Reddish may have struggled so much.

Cam Reddish’s struggles may have come from having to sacrifice his game so much for his high-profile teammates. Think about how difficult it is for a young player who was considered a top-three recruit coming out of high school to become the third option on his own team.

Think it’s not difficult? Let’s ask how Chris Bosh dealt with the adjustments in Miami with the Big 3 teaming up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. When you get done, try asking Kevin Love about his experiences in Cleveland. These are pros, Reddish is still a teenager playing on the most anticipated “must see” team since the Fab Five. That’s difficult folks.

Now it’s not like the guy didn’t have his moments last season. It was pointed out on numerous occasions (I’m being sarcastic here) that the Lakers needed shooting on the roster last year. Cam Reddish could be considered as a shooter and scorer that could help the Lakers out.

Maybe it’s the physical tools that have got the interest of the lottery teams as of late. Cam Reddish is 6’8″ 208 pounds with an absurd 7’0 foot wingspan (He’s a shooting guard people), 8’9 foot standing reach with less than 5% body fat. In other words, the dude is in outstanding shape.

It seems that LeBron James already knows Cam Reddish. Before he signed on at Duke, he had lunch with LeBron and his agent Rich Paul at a nice quaint location.

This was before LeBron had signed a deal to join the Lakers.

Before people start talking about NCAA violations, let’s be clear here. According to CBSSports Gary Parrish:

"There is no NCAA rule prohibiting prospects from meeting with agents. It’s allowed, as one NCAA source explained, “as long as the agent isn’t providing a benefit to the prospect — and the prospect hasn’t agreed to be represented by the agent.” So there is nothing necessarily improper happening in that TMZ video."

But if the Lakers by coincidence draft Cam Reddish with the 4th pick, put yourself in the mind of Michael Jackson and “Remember the Time”!

Overall, Reddish did impress with his ability to knock down the pull-up jumper and his fluidity with his stroke. He will be a high risk-high reward pick for the Lakers.