Norris Cole

Norris Cole
PG, 6’2, 175lbs, 28 years old, 6 years of experience

Cole was brought in on a roster spot opened up by trade to be a comparatively veteran hand at point guard in light of Christon’s struggles. But Cole struggled just as much. Never a shooter or scorer, Cole tried to prove he was this in his short minutes on the floor, and while it is true to say that Westbrook’s team is built around offence from the point guard spot, that never meant it was built around offence from Norris Cole. There were far too many two-point pull-ups, which is about par for his career. Not a playmaker either, Cole is not sufficiently good of a passer to get players open without them realising they were open, and although his decent speed makes him an occasionally useful defender, he does not excel on that end enough to offset the offensive limitations. Wanting a steady hand, the Thunder did not find it here.

Player Plan: Expiring minimum salary contract and not worthy of another one.

Pick 28: The internet takes an insurmountable 14 stories to 0 lead over ESPN with the announcement that the number 28 pick is going to be traded yet again, this time from Minnesota to Miami, in exchange for the #31 pick, a future second round pick and cash. Miami instructs Minnesota to pick Norris Cole for them, a man who more than likely would have fallen anyway. Presumably, they got word that he wouldn't.

It doesn't take long to mention that Cole had a 41 point, 20 rebound game last season, against the damp squib that was Youngstown State. This is easy enough to default to, and certainly beats the alternative of making "yet another point guard goes to Minnesota!" jokes. Stu Scott does this anyway.

In a bitter irony, Cole is from Cleveland [State]. Miami just couldn't help themselves.

He doesn't have it any more, sadly, but Norris Cole used to rock a very hi-top fade.

Norris Cole - Cleveland State guard Cole put up the best individual game stat line in college basketball - 41 points, 20 rebounds and 9 assists versus an admittedly forgettable Youngstown State team. It was the first collegiate 40/20 game since Blake Griffin, and Blake Griffin is not a 6'1 point guard. Cole's season averages are just as nice - 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game, with a solid 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, solid defense and good transition play. Cole is not the best outside shooter, isn't the quickest, and is not especially big, but he wants it more than most. Grit, heart, hustle, intangibles, selflessness, etc. He's better than Cedric Jackson, who made the NBA with a few different teams. It needn't be an insurmountable obstacle that Jackson is bigger.

I'd make a Coronation Street reference here, but it would fall flat on its face.