Draft Profile: James Michael McAdoo

With the NBA Draft Lottery behind us, we shift our focus directly to the June 26th NBA Draft. Over the next month we’ll look at some of the top prospects in the draft, along with players that the Magic either reportedly worked out, or interviewed at the NBA Draft Combine. First up is North Carolina big man James Michael McAdoo, whom the team interviewed during the NBA Draft Combine. 

After being highly recruited out of high school, James Michael McAdoo fought through three years at North Carolina. Despite being top talent out of high school, McAdoo struggled some in his time at Chapel Hill. After his freshman year he was projected to be a first round pick, possibly even a lottery selection, but has since slid down and even potentially off some team’s boards entirely.

Rebounds  

TS%    

TRB%

2011-12  

6.1

3.9

47.8

12.5

2012-13

14.4

7.3

46.9

13.0

2013-14

14.2

6.8

48.4

12.2

For a player who had the expectations that McAdoo did out of high school, his numbers are very disappointing. He was never able to take his physical advantage and show the upside many felt he had when he arrived at North Carolina. While the transition to the NBA could do him well, especially playing with more experienced point guards, it’s unlikely he’ll ever be able to reach the expectations he carried into Chapel Hill. 

Measurables 

Weight  

Wingspan  

Standing Reach  

Max Vert 

6’ 8.75” 

228

7’ 2.25”

8’ 10.5

34.0

Strengths

– Physical Tools

Despite being average sized for a power forward, McAdoo has a fantastic frame with his 7’2” wingspan and strong athleticism. He’s got great quickness, a quick first step and runs the floor well. His mobility helps him make up for his lack of size, especially on the defensive end of the floor. His great mobility also allows him to be a solid player in the Pick and Roll, but he’s got to work on polishing his offensive game to continue to be a strong player in the PnR.

– Defensive Upside

Thanks in large part to his physical tools and quickness, McAdoo has the potential to become a good defender in the league. He has the size and physicality to defend players in the post, while also having the speed to step out and defend on the perimeter. He’s got great lateral quickness, and is already a solid defender in PnR situations when he has to switch onto opposing guards.

Weaknesses

– Offensive Game

Outside of being a strong finisher around the rim, McAdoo’s offensive game is rather limited. He doesn’t possess much of a post game, but will most likely not be asked to post up much at the next level. The former Tar Heel also struggles shooting from mid-range, shooting just 22 percent there this past season. He’s got the tools and ability to make an impact right off the bat in PnR offense, but will need to develop a more consistent jump shot to keep defenses more honest while he’s on the floor. McAdoo also has a problem taking care of the ball, turning the ball over 3.6 times per 40 minutes, which ranks last of DraftExpress’ top 100.

– Rebounding 

Despite having the tools to potentially be a great rebounder, McAdoo struggled at times on the boards. He never put up a big total rebounding percentage, and never really put up big numbers on the offensive boards. According to DraftExpress, McAdoo ranked second to last among power forwards in their top 100 in defensive rebounds grabbed per 40 minutes pace adjusted, grabbing just 5.2 per 40 minutes. Furthermore, McAdoo was just average on the offensive boards, grabbing 3.3 rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted.

Conclusion

McAdoo was a tantalizing talent coming out of high school, but has yet to fully pan out. He’s got some great tools and upside in multiples facets of his game, and could end up being a good backup big man for a team down the line. His current limitations offensively will hurt his playing time right off the bat, but if he’s paired with the right team and coaching staff, he could become a solid rotational big man.

He’s most likely going to be a mid-to-late second round pick at this point, and while the Magic don’t currently have a second rounder, it’s possible they could make a move for one between now and June 26th. If McAdoo were to go undrafted, Orlando could put a flyer in on him and bring him in for their Summer League team; with the potential of him earning a camp invite and a chance to fight for a roster spot.