Opinion: Draft decision paying dividends for Adams

HIGH RISER: Steven Adams looks set to blossom into a double-double machine in the NBA. PHOTO/NZME.

ROTORUA'S NBA centre Steven Adams surprised many with his decision to declare for the 2013/14 NBA draft after his first year at the University of Pittsburgh.

He had produced a solid if unspectacular first season of collegiate ball - enough to mark him as a potential first round draft pick - but his limited role within the system meant he was never likely to be considered as an option at the top of the lottery.

Pulling the pin on his college career after one season, he opted to the enter the NBA draft due mostly to economics.

The move has paid off in more ways than one. Adams will earn almost $3 million in this, the second, year of his rookie deal.

That amount will ramp up over the next two seasons before the real payday for the Kiwi centre is likely to arrive.

He has won the starting job in Oklahoma City, boosting his playing time from last season's 15 minutes per game to 25 minutes a night.

In that time he has essentially doubled his key statistics; points (3.3 to 7.8), rebounds (4.1 to 7.5) and blocks (.7 to 1.3) while cutting his foul rate almost in half.

Boost those minutes to more than 30 a night, factor in the natural evolution of his game and place him in a more balanced offensive system and there is no reason why Adams should not blossom into a player capable of producing double digit points and rebounds every night.

Add in the facts he plays solid defence, clogs up the lane, is unselfish with the ball while shooting 54 per cent from the floor and is tough in the pick and roll despite the lack of a reliable jump shot - helping to create driving lanes and uncontested jump shots for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook with his ability to roll to the hoop - and you have the makings of one of the most valuable rookie deals in the league.

That is the real secret to the NBA - the teams that generally compete find ways to get solid production from players on team-friendly deals - including young centres on rookie contracts.

Consider the case of future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett of the Brooklyn Nets. His minutes (23), points (7.6) and rebounds (7.4) are nearly identical to Adams' marks. Where the discrepancies start, however, is in the field goal percentage and salary.

Garnett is shooting an anaemic 44 per cent this season, but the real issue - the one that is crippling a team with one of the highest payrolls in the league - is that the former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics great is on the books for more than $15.5 million this season.

Teams will scramble for Adams' signature if or when he comes on the market as reliable big men are hard to find.

Rarer still are big guys who get the blessing of the stat geek metric crowd as well as wily old NBA scouts. The old joke goes all a seven-footer has to do to play in the NBA is be able to chew gum and walk at the same time.

Adams can do more than that and will have to if the Thunder are to recover from a slow, injury-riddled start to the season to mount a serious challenge for the NBA crown.