Josh Oduro has been quietly making the rounds in the NBA Pre-Draft workout circuit, having been confirmed to have worked out with a number of NBA teams.
Lakers…Hornets…Jazz…Raptors. I feel like we need to take a quick look at their respective frontcourts based on their potential interest in Oduro.
Lakers: Anthony Davis ($40.60M), LeBron James ($47.61M), Rui Hachimura ($15.74M), Jaxson Hayes ($2.16M), Maxwell Lewis ($1.12M), Taurean Prince ($7.46M), Cam Reddish ($2.17M), Jarred Vanderbilt ($4.70K), & Christian Wood ($2.71M). DRAFT PICKS: Rd1 – 17; Rd2 – 55.
Hornets: Davis Bertans ($17.00M), Miles Bridges ($7.92M), Cody Martin ($7.56M), Brandon Miller ($10.88M), Aleksej Pokusevski ($0.57M), Nick Richards ($5.00M), JT Thor ($1.84M), Grant Williams ($12.33M), & Mark Williams ($3.91M). DRAFT PICKS: Rd1 – 6; Rd2 – 42.
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen ($17.26M), John Collins ($25.34M), Walker Kessler ($2.83M), Darius Bazley ($0.50M), Taylor Hendricks ($5.57M), Kenneth Lofton Jr. ($0.50M), & Omer Yurtseven ($2.80M). DRAFT PICKS: Rd1 – 10; Rd1 – 29; Rd2 – 32.
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl ($19.50M), Chris Boucher ($11.75M), Jalen McDaniels ($4.52M), Kelly Olynyk ($12.20M), & Jordan Nwora ($3.00M). DRAFT PICKS: Rd1 – 19; Rd2 – 31.
There are also confirmed reports that Oduro worked out for the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, & Milwaukee Bucks. So it appears that basically everybody wants to get a look at Big Josh.
I can ABSOLUTELY see Josh Oduro’s game transferring to the NBA. His game is reminiscent of the type of guys that the San Antonio Spurs used to target. Players who aren’t traditional bigs but have enough size to guard bigs and do everything well. Guys like Boris Diaw, DeJuan Blair, & Matt Bonner have the type of playing style where basketball intelligence, making the right play, and being a jack-of-all-trades are the paramount requirements to their game. They made winning basketball type plays and I see no reason why Josh Oduro can’t fulfill that role on an NBA team. He is a great passer, underrated defender, and is capable of stretching the floor all the way out to the three-point line. There are guys projected to be draft this season who legitimately cannot hit a shot from past the foul line.
He may start in the G-League or play overseas but I don’t have a doubt that Josh Oduro will make a good living playing professional basketball somewhere for like a decade.
Here is a look at Josh Oduro going head-to-head against the consensus best big men defenders in the Big East and absolutely putting on a show.
Even if you look at the frontcourt players on the bench in this year’s NBA Finals, Josh Oduro could easily slide seamlessly into one of those spots. Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman, Markieff Morris, Dwight Powell, OMP, Maxi Kleber, & Dereck Lively II. There are a couple guys with a more specific skillset but I can’t outright say that even half of these guys are more deserving a roster spot than my guy Josh.
I don’t expect Josh to hear his name called on Draft night but someone is going to pick him up immediately following the end of the Draft. Fact.
The Morning Hangover 