I like Rodney Stuckey. In fact, you could say I like Rodney Stuckey a lot. But Michael Rosenberg really, really likes Rodney Stuckey:
The key to the 2009 season – and really, the 10 seasons after that -- is Rodney Stuckey. I don’t think people fully understand how good he can be, and how soon.
"The sky is the limit for that kid," Pistons guard Lindsey Hunter said. "Once he gets his feet planted fully, there’s not many people who can do what this kid can do. He has such incredible upside. Physically, you look at Deron Williams and those types of guys, and he possesses some things that those guys don’t possess."
Utah’s Williams, of course, is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He and New Orleans star Chris Paul are expected to define the lead-guard play for the next 10 years. University of Memphis star Derrick Rose should be that kind of player, too.
Several people in the Pistons organization, from the front office to the players, think Stuckey can be in that group.
Do you understand what this means?
In his second year, Williams was dominating playoff games. In his second year, Paul was already an elite player.
Rodney Stuckey can be the best player on the team -- next year. He can be an All-Star –- next year.
That seems like a tall order for me, but holy hell do I hope I'm wrong. I think Stuckey will be good and I even think he could make a few All-Star teams later in his career, but the idea of him blossoming into an elite player in Year 2 shatters all my expectations. Either way, articles like this make the offseason slightly more bearable. Thanks to V for pointing it out.