NBA Draft: Boom-or-bust lottery prospects and where they might land

Cam Reddish, F, Duke

Reading a scouting report for Cam Reddish is like a visit to a dodgy psychic – there’s a lot of vague hypotheticals about what he could be in the future. He might be a good shooter if his beautiful mechanics can deliver results. He could be a plus defender if he can be quicker on his feet. He should be a pick-and-pop threat at his size if he can improve his screening.

After a full season at Duke, hypotheticals are still all Reddish has given us. Coming out of high school as the No. 4 prospect in the country, he was the third wheel in Durham behind Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett. While they were both First-Team All-Americans, Reddish struggled with a lesser role and fewer touches on offense.

His raw numbers from last season are tough to look at; 13.5 points per game but just 35.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from 3, and 1.9 assists to 2.7 turnovers per game. If all you saw were his raw numbers, you could be excused for thinking he might go undrafted.

Instead, he’s still expected to land in the top 10 thanks to his physical attributes and projected improvements. Measured at 6-foot-8 and with a 7-foot wingspan, he’s a fluid athlete who glides across the court. While his shot didn’t consistently fall last season, he was able to create space to shoot off the dribble with his handles and first step, and his quick release should make him a tough cover for defenders.

While he has shown flashes of potential as a playmaker and a defender, it’s his shooting that will make or break his NBA career. Unlike a lot of risky prospects, Reddish’s shot shouldn’t need overhauling or rebuilding, it just needs to start going in.

Where could he land?

It’s already been reported that the Los Angeles Lakers sent “everybody” to meet with Reddish, but taking him fourth would be a bit of a reach. Young teams like the Hawks or the Bulls should be drafting for high potential players, and both could afford to let him adjust and find an NBA role at his own pace. The Atlanta Hawks have two picks in the top 10, and his size and shooting potential would fit well with their “Warriors-lite” aspirations.