Seattle Supersonic Draft Candidates: Chris Douglas-Roberts

Photo Source: [NY Daily News]
The Run-Down

• 2007-08 Season Averages: 18.1ppg, 54 FG%, 4.1rpg
  
• Height: 6'7" Weight: 200lbs Position: SG Class: Junior
  
• Age: 21 years old
  
• Best Case Comparison: Jerry Stackhouse
  
• Worst Case Comparisons: Marquis Daniels, Julius Hodge
  

Strengths:

• Size
• Wingspan
• First Step
• Explosiveness
• Aggressiveness

Weaknesses:

• Mid-range game
• Pull-up jumper
• Bulk
• Ball-Handling at times
• Decision-making
  

My take: Mock drafts have CDR dropping anywhere in the 20's of the 1st round. Collegehoops.net even has Roberts dropping at #15 to the Phoenix Suns. I'd say he is definitely high up on the Sonics' draftboard. He could either play the two or the three, adapting his position to whatever Kevin Durant ends up being. I think on offense he can be characterized as a shooting guard considering his scoring ability. On defense I think he'll be guarding a lot of small-forwards because of his wing-span and height.

Chris Douglas-Roberts' biggest strength is his effective scoring ability. He is great slasher, he is awesome in transition, and most importantly he finishes. He puts the ball in the basket with scary consistency. Along with this scoring ability, he is a solid defender. His size and wing-span in his mobile body will allow him to guard many NBA small-forwards and shooting-guards right away. Lastly and probably the most under-rated quality of his repertoire is his winning attitude. Despite losing the NCAA championship last year, Chris-Douglas Roberts only let his team lose a total of TWO times.

You might be wondering, "How can a guy with this much talent and ability be drafted so late?". The fact is, there are many other shooting guards in the draft that have much more solid skill sets polished for the NBA. I'd even go as far to say that his situation is similar to Adam Morrison's when he entered the league. Adam Morrison had a great college career but the way he scored wasn't efficient and he wasn't able to score against more athletic defenders. His rookie season was horrendous and those weaknesses haunted him all year. Like Morrison, Chris has a couple weaknesses that are scaring general managers away.

Although he can score efficiently and effectively, he does it with an unorthodox style. He lacks a mid-range game and he also lacks a pull-up jumper. Along with that, his ball-handling is questionable and he will have a difficult time scoring against taller quicker NBA defenders. His game isn't at the point where it needs to be for the NBA.

Conclusion: If he is available when the Sonics are on the clock at #24, he has to be taken. Although he has a few holes in his game I believe he has the highest ceiling in the draft this year. He isn't the most athletic or the most polished, but he has the attitude and physical skills to make him a star in this league.


Sources: nbadraft.net, draftexpress.com

Previous Candidates: Brook Lopez, Jerryd Bayless, Anthony Randolph, OJ Mayo, Kevin Love, Kosta Koufos, Jason Thompson