Steven Adams has been drafted to one of the best teams in the NBA and has every chance of playing some meaningful minutes next season, Otago Nuggets captain Mark Dickel believes.
Adams was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder as the No 12 pick in the NBA draft yesterday.
Most assume Adams is a long-term project who will immediately be sent to the Thunder's D-League partner, the Tulsa 66ers, for a solid grounding before returning at some stage in the future.
But Dickel believes there is every chance Adams will get to hone his craft from the Thunder bench, splitting minutes with starting centre Kendrick Perkins.
''It is crazy to think that someone from New Zealand got drafted - that is the first thing,'' Dickel said.
''Especially so high and that he went to such a good team. And they clearly have a need for him. Just looking at their roster, he clearly offers a lot they don't have.
''I think he will play right away, with what he can offer. They are not going to need a whole lot of offence from him. They already have people for that.
''His offensive game will be a work in progress. But he is super athletic. He's fast, he can run the court, he can set good screens and roll to the basket and that is all they are really going to need from him. And to block shots at the rim.
''I think he'll split time with Kendrick Perkins.''
Back-up centres Hasheem Thabeet and Daniel Orton ''are the ones that should be concerned, not Steve,'' Dickel added.
''Very, very rarely do you pick someone that high that you are not going to give a good chance to play, at least initially. If he takes his opportunity, which I think he will, he'll do fine.''
If Nuggets fans are looking for another reason to start following the Thunder, there is a tenuous link to the region. Kendrick Perkins' father, Kenny Perkins, played one season for the Nuggets in 2002.
No 1 draft pick Anthony Bennett, who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers, went to the same college as Dickel, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Dickel led the NCAA in assists in 1999-2000 but was badly injured and was unable to attend pre-draft workouts.
