| McCants Ready For Fresh Start Authored by Alex Kennedy - September 8, 2009 - 3:25 pm
| Current Featured Columns | | 65 Players To Watch In The 2010 NCAA Tournament The 2010 NCAA Tournament is upon us and in this space we examine 65 players who (in vast degrees of varying likelihood) could be soon playing in an NBA arena.
Draft Report: Evan Turner Of Ohio StateEvan Turner can absolutely create his own shot off the dribble with a variety of elusive crossovers and spins, making one of the more polished scorers we have seen in recent drafts.
 |
A Golden State Look At March Madness
Since March Madness is here and the Warriors’ season is at a point where looking to the future is a good idea, it is an excellent time to go over some of the players they could and should be looking at in the 2010 NBA Draft.
|
 |
Checking In On Joel Freeland
Joel Freeland was the final pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, but he is finishing up his fourth season playing in Europe since then. What is his game looking like now and is he finally ready for the NBA?
|
 |
Flynn Versus Realistic Expectations
As his rookie season winds down, it seems that the lofty expectations of Jonny Flynn have proven out of reach. Were those expectations fair to begin with? After all, this is a team with a new GM and a new coach.
|
|
More from RealGM's Columnists
|
| |
As Rashad McCants stares up at the JumboTron in the Smith Center, his eyes begin to fill with tears. Sean May, who is standing beside him, also has trouble holding back his emotions. Thousands of cheering fans surround them and give their support from all angles wondering why he remains a free agent.
Prior to North Carolina's Alumni Game on Friday, McCants, who is just four years removed from his Tar Heel days, got choked up as highlights from the 2005 National Championship run poured onto the screen.
After all, these are some of the best basketball memories that the 24-year-old McCants has. His first four years in the NBA haven't gone exactly as planned after being a lottery selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005.
McCants describes himself as “a winner” so the constant losing and rebuilding was a test for him. Surrounded mainly by other young players in the tough Western Conference, McCants’ two stops since being drafted haven’t given him much of a chance to showcase his talents.
“There are a lot of things that I can do that people haven’t seen yet because of the situations I’ve been in,” McCants told RealGM’s Alex Kennedy.
But McCants is an unrestricted free agent and is hoping to finally establish himself as a productive NBA player. He’ll likely do so as a member of the Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, or Miami Heat, who have shown significant interest in the guard.
“I’ve talked with Charlotte and I’m working out with them on Monday. I worked out for Denver and I’m waiting on them and Miami has offered me a spot in training camp,” said McCants.
Signing with the Bobcats would not only mean a return to his home state of North Carolina, but a possible reunion with Raymond Felton. Assuming Felton gets a deal worked out with the Bobcats, he and McCants would be playing alongside each other for the first time since starring side by side for three years with the Heels. “Obviously Charlotte [is a front runner], because of everything and because there’s a chance to play there,” says McCants.
“Denver is also up there because of Coach [George] Karl and the chance to play for a contender,” said McCants.
Neither the Bobcats or Nuggets are set at shooting guard, so the opportunity to battle for minutes would be there for McCants. The one time he has averaged over twenty minutes per game in a season, in 2007 with Minnesota, McCants made the most of it putting up nearly 15 points per game. He was the second highest scorer on that team, behind Al Jefferson, despite only starting in 24 games.
When asked what he would tell to a team looking to acquire him, he doesn’t hesitate one bit. “I’m a winner. I know what it takes to win, I’m a great teammate, I’m coachable, and I play hard at both ends. I feel I have a tremendous scoring ability and I’m a great passer."
One thing is certain, each of these three teams will give McCants a fresh start and the opportunity to get his career back on track. He’ll be back to creating new memories, rather than just cherishing the old, in no time.
Question or comment? Alex Kennedy can be reached at swishkennedy@yahoo.com or via his Twitter (AlexKennedy23). |
