Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Some draft surveys are projecting that Victor Oladipo of Indiana will be the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft. If that happens, he’ll be the property of the Charlotte Bobcats.
What would be valuable to the Bobcats about Oladipo is they have options on where to put him because he’s regarded as being a fine shooting guard and also as a small forward. But at 6-4, most NBA observers don’t see him as a small forward.
Oladipo gets high marks for his defensive play and new coach Steve Clifford, while looking at film of the 2012-13 season, has to be horrified with what he sees of the Bobcats’ defense.
Charlotte would still have various options with Oladipo. He was a strong rebounder last season at 6.3 boards. He averaged 13.6 points per game, but what the scouts like about Oladipo is his shooting percentages with 59.9 percent from the floor, 44.1 percent in threes and 74.6 from the free-throw line. That makes him very dangerous as a shooting guard.
The Bobcats do have critical needs at both shooting guard and small forward. Oladipo may prove to be more effective as a forward despite his height, and he gives the Bobcats options, depending on what they do with the rest of the personnel during the offseason.
They need to allow new coach Steve Clifford to make the decision on this one. If Oladipo is available, they need a good reason not to take him if they decide to go a different route.
