Time for another preview of a NBA Draft eligible player that the Knicks are looking at. Click for Poasting and Toasting's look at Curtis Sumpter, or SML's look at Derrick Byars. For those interested in Derrick Byars Myspace profile, knock yourself out - click here. Today we are looking at Demetris Nichols, a favorite of mine.
Nichols is listed as 6'8, 221 lbs SF (the combine numbers are more like 6'7, 211) from Syracuse (Big East representing!). Draft Express lists him as 11th among seniors, and #11 among SF in the draft. He's projected as a late first rounder, or an early second rounder.
He's 22 years old, and rocks the jersey #4 (or #34, when #4 is not available). Um, seeing as the other guy the Knicks took a look at that I previewed (Derrick Byars) also wears #4, I'm almost positive the Knicks are moving Nate Robinson. Bye bye Nate Dawg.
Hot Nichols: La-da-da-da-dahh... Nate is stepping out the motherf*cking house.
Nate Dawg: Hold up, heyyyyyy!
Isiah Thomas: Hope you ready for the next episode... ha ha.
Nichols is a deadly shooter and scorer. At the predraft camp in Orlando Demetris lit it up, going 9 for 13 from behind the three-point arc over the three games. In the first two games alone, he was 13 for 16 on FGs, including 7-9 on 3PTs, and scored 35 points, along with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. He is a pure gunner, with deadly aim, not unlike a Salim Stoudemire or Jason Kapano.
Nichols lead the Big East in scoring last year. He averaged 18.9 ppg as a senior, along with 5.4 rpg. He has great shooting %; he shot 41.7 3PT%, and 85 FT%. Demetrius also averaged 1.4 spg, 2.2 TO per game, and 1.1 bpg. He earned honorable mention All-America.
He's a decent defender. Quick feet, decent perimeter defense, really moves well on defense. Those block are pretty good for a guy his size, and his steal numbers speak to his quick feet.
Weakness: Not a great ballhandler. And, according to NBADraft.com: "confidence". He "needs to be more assertive and demand the ball". That was written in 2006, though, and since then I believe (from what I've seen and read) that he has become more assertive.
According to Sports Illustrated, he possess "it".
Nichols did really well at the combine; 16 reps of 185 showed surprising strength, and he had a 7' wingspan, and the quickest time in the lane agility test, showing splendid speed for a mid-size player (generally guards do better at that). Overall he finished 16th overall.
Bottom Line: Dude can shoot, and knows he can shoot. His job in the NBA will be to come off the bench and shoot. He can do that, and do that well. He has range, but more importantly, he has the size and mid-range game (and quickness) to do more than be just a 3PT specialist. In fact, he's bigger than Salim Stoudemire, and quicker than Kapano. I think he'll do well in this league, if the team that drafts him realizes to use him as instant offense off the bench. Hot Nichols! Spark it up.
Check out Nichols post camp interview... "I think I've done a great job showing them I can shoot...". Hell yeah, you did:
Any one else think that "multiple-positional player" quote has sexually overtures running through it?
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I like nichols, hes the truth...and this is comin from someone who went to uconn last year. Hes athletic, quick, and lights out shootin. His D wil lget better, and at WORST hes a lights out 3 pt role player in the nba. I dont get why his draft stock is so low. Its not unreasonable for him to develop his game and diversify away from his 3 pt shooting too, cuz he has all the other tools to become a caron butler type. Id like him on the knicks...nichols>byars. yessir.