Why the Charlotte Bobcats should draft Victor Oladipo

I’ll admit it.  I had no idea Victor Oladipo would be a likely top 5 pick six months ago, and honestly, I don’t think anyone else did either.  Oladipo, the 6-4 guard out of Indiana, put together a stellar junior season, averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting nearly 60% from the floor and 75% from the line.  I began paying closer attention to Oladipo in January when a friend from school (whatup, Indira!) wore an awesome Oladipo shirt to school, that and he was carrying the preseason #1 Hoosiers while Zeller was getting exposed left and right.  Quietly, Oladipo developed into the team leader, a stellar defender and a very capable scorer from the wing.  He has elite athleticism and plays defense with uncommon intensity.  Players with those tools do not fail in the NBA.

But wait! Didn’t the Bobcats draft a similar player last year in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist?  Why yes, they did.  So, why should the Bobs grab Oladipo at no. 4?  First, the Bobcats aren’t good enough to assume any player, other than maybe Kemba Walker, is good enough right now to be an actual building block for the future.  MKG can’t shoot.  Henderson will probably leave for free agency even if the ‘cats draft a big man, and if he doesn’t, he can easily play alongside Oladipo.  Second, when you are as bad as the Bobcats, you draft the best player available regardless of position, and that player is Oladipo.  Finally, Victor (we’ve gotten to first name basis) does not have the questions marks that burden the other top prospects.  He doesn’t have McLemore’s baggage (or his sweet 3-pt shot), he hasn’t torn his ACL yet, or his rotator cuff, nor does he have a stress fracture in his ankle (plus other college basketball players aren’t puzzled why he is consideration at the top of the draft). 

Even though Oladipo’s skill set doesn't squarely match one of the Bobcat’s most glaring needs – a big man, 3 point shooting – he does possess the tenacity that a young team striving for an identity needs.  Drafting Oladipo will add another solid piece to the Bobcat’s core.  When you are terrible no one will question if you take a high risk-high reward player like Len or Noel, but if you want to be competitive, you have to have the horses to get you wins.

Last thing – we all saw what Kawhi Leonard did in the Finals, right?  I think Oladipo might be better.