NBA stardom for Love or Arthur?
Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008 5:14 PM
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NBA draft
So Kevin Love’s in the NBA draft. So are Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur. So is Russell Westbrook. All of them except for Rush are likely lottery picks.
Just how will they be as pros? I wouldn’t project any of ‘em as future All-Pros, but there’ll be a few All-Star games involved.
Arthur averaged 12.8 ppg as a sophomore at Kansas this season. At 6-9, 215 pounds, he can play either small forward or power forward, though his game is more suited for the low post thanks. He’ll thrive in a one-on-one setting thanks to his mid-range jumper and turnaround moves. I’m sure some draft stories will say he’s too small to play against other power forwards or not quick enough to play against small forwards, but that’s hogwash. Arthur can dominate when he wants to.
I wish he’d go back to Kansas for another season, but that’s a Jayhawk fan talking. The NBA comparison is Antonio McDyess, but without the insane jumping ability McDyess had coming out of ‘Bama. Arthur’s athletic, but McDyess was a pogo stick. On the other hand, some think Arthur could stink it up like Josh Powell.
Simply put, Arthur has NBA moves. He’d be ideal for the Kings, who need a power forward like the Ravens need a QB.
Rush’s future is a little more cloudy. He’s the classic do-it-all player who doesn’t do any one thing exceedingly well. At 6-6, he’ll play shooting guard or small forward and can guard opponents at either position. Rush can stroke the 3, drive to the hole and doesn’t force much.
He won’t take over a game – often a criticism of him at Kansas – but he won’t detract from the offense, either. In that regard, it makes sense to compare Rush to Eddie Jones or Reggie Lewis.
I’d compare him to the Mavs’ Josh Howard – a defensive-oriented swingman who’s a nice compliment to an offensive team. He’s not as long as Howard or Tayshaun Prince, which is why he’s probably not a lottery pick (neither were Prince or Howard, but that’s my point: both of ‘em should’ve gone higher).
UCLA’s Westbrook is interesting. The Pac-10’s defensive player of the year is a 6-3 shooting guard (he’s listed at 6-4) with an unreliable outside shot. Yet … he’s touted as a lottery pick in a guard-heavy draft.
This is what happens when you can jump out of the gym.
Normally, Westbrook wouldn’t be an attractive prospect. He’s the classic tweener without much of a handle. But he’s incredibly explosive. Ask Jamal Boykin. Plus, he does play defense. Projecting him as Monta Ellis is pretty close.
Finally, there’s Love.
He says his time at UCLA “has truly been special” and the time’s right to go pro. Maybe. Few would disagree that Love would dominate the college game next season (since he came close to doing so this year) and won’t be dominant in the NBA. That seems like a pretty good reason to stick around, but it’s Love’s call.
There are two schools of thought on Love’s potential: His fundamentals and basketball I.Q. will make him a good-to-great player, a la Wes Unseld (the go-to comparison for earth-bound centers who can pass).
OR … his lack of quickness and underwhelming height for a center (6-9) will doom him to being a big guy who fights for rebounds and minutes, a la Sean May.
True, Love enters the NBA knowing his strengths and weaknesses, which gives him an advantage over other players trying to develop post skills (see: DeAndre Jordan). But does that understanding give him enough of an edge to compensate for that lack of quickness or jumping ability? After all, the NBA’s filled with guys like Joey Dorsey.
More likely, Love turns into another version of Carlos Boozer. Boozer’s been a force down low every since his rookie season in Cleveland. He’s the same size as Love, also has great footwork and is a great rebounder.
If Love’s lucky, he’ll land on a team that values exactly what he is: A team-first, capable big man in a league where centers continue to vanish.
