Walkup and McCollum discuss Nikola Mirotic's fit in crowded Milan frontcourt / News - Basketnews.com

Nikola Mirotic's transfer to Milan adds a versatile and skilled big man to their already strong roster, with Walkup and McCollum believing he can significantly improve the team's offensive performance and boost their chances for success in competitions.

Credit: Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire, IPA/SIPA - Scanpix Credit Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire, IPA/SIPA - Scanpix

Nikola Mirotic's transfer saga is officially over, as EA7 Emporio Armani Milan recently announced a three-year deal between the star forward and the club.

Thomas Walkup

Position:SGAge:30Height:193 cmWeight:88 kgBirth place:Texas, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Mirotic joins a crowded Milan frontline that boasts Giampaolo Ricci, Niccolo Melli, Johannes Voigtmann, Guglielmo Caruso, Kyle Hines, Alex Poythress, and Ismael Kamagate.

While from first sight, it might not make sense for Mirotic to join Milan due to their already loaded roster, Walkup believes that his skill set and adaptability would allow him to fit well in any team.

"Luckily for Mirotic, he can play anywhere," Walkup said in a URBONUS podcast. "He is probably above everybody else. You can put him on any team, and he will fit in. If you need a guy who plays low post, he can play low post. If you need a guy that can play on the perimeter, he can play there. If you need a guy that can pass, he can do that. He's so versatile. He can also play as a five. You can really put him anywhere.

"Does it make sense for him to go to Milan? Probably not from the club side of things when you already have so many bodies, but that doesn't mean he won't fit in well. Like I said, he can fit anywhere."

In his statements, Pinar Karsiyaka scoring ace Errick McCollum stressed that Milan had difficulty generating points and finding consistent scoring opportunities in 2022-23, especially after Shavon Shields got injured. He believes Mirotic will help make their life easier on the offensive end with his pick-and-pop and post-up action.

"I like it. I think too many times [last season], their share offense lagged," McCollum pointed out. "They struggled to manufacture any points, to get consistent looks, especially when Shields got hurt. When he went down, it was just a different team, like nothing flew, nothing was easy, and there was no rhythm to it. Everything was just a struggle, like it was stuck in the mud.

"And then Shabazz Napier came, and he kinda jump-started them a little bit," the American guard continued. "I think with him leaving for Red Star, you are adding a guy who can end those stretches where you don't score. Like Thomas said, you can run him that pick-and-pop situation.

"They also signed Maodo Lo from ALBA. He's fast, he's quick, he can get down the hill, not really a pick-and-roll guard, but you can put him in those actions, and then sometimes you can dump it too, with Mirotic right in the post, and you can go to work. I think they need someone to kind of anchor their offense, and I think he [Mirotic] is the guy who puts Shields in that No. 2 option where he can really thrive, where we were seeing him when Milan made the Final Four run."

URBONUS podcast with Thomas Walkup and Errick McCollum:

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