Post by Commissioner on Jun 29, 2013 16:35:33 GMT -5
Here are the underclassmen who declared for this year's NBA draft, and how the did:
Drafted (by overall pick)
1. Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV: Good decision, Anthony.
2. Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana: Smart move, Victor.
3. Otto Porter, SF Georgetown: Well done.
4. Cody Zeller, PF Indiana: Higher than I thought.
5. Alex Len, C Maryland: We may never again see a senior picked first.
6. Nerlons Noel, C Kentucky: Not as high as many thought, but hard to complain. Would he really go higher next year?
7. Ben McLemore, SG Kansas: Why hang around Lawrence?
8. Kentavious Caldwell Pope, SG Georgia: Go Pistons!
9. Trey Burke, PG Michigan: Pistons should have taken him at #8.
11. Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse.
12. Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh: Really? #12? It's a crazy world, but Steve's a winner in it.
13. Kelly Olynyk, C Gonzaga: Kamloops is a beautiful place.
14. Shabazz Muhammed, SF UCLA: When he declared he was considered a lottery pick.
18. Shane Larkin, PG, Miami: He might have hit next year's lottery. Or not.
20. Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico: Higher than I thought.
21. Gorgui Dieng, C Louisville: New Pride of Senegal.
23. Solomon Hill, SF Arizona: Might have moved up with another year.
24. Tim Hardaway, SF Michigan: Also might have moved up. But maybe not. Hard to say he and Hill made bad decisions.
25. Reggie Bullock, SF North Carolina: Ditto.
26. Andre Roberson, SF Colorado: More dittos.
29. Archie Goodwin, PG Kentucky: Coulda been a lottery pick in a year. But Kentucky kids don't wait. I found no mock draft that had him going in the 1st round, so he knew better than the gallery, at least.
Only two seniors picked in 1st round, CJ McCollum and Mason Plumlee.
31. Allen Crabbe, SG California: Just missing the 1st round cost him some $$$$.
36. Ray McCallum, PG Detroit: Good decision? Point guard is the one position that may be weaker in next year's draft? Another year with UD and Ray might have been a 2nd or 3d team all-american, broken a ton of Titan career records, and gone in the first round. Or he might have broken his leg in the season opener. It's his talent to decide how to use it, and he seems happy.
37. Tony Mitchell, PF North Texas: Here's a guy who would have done better to come out last year.
40. Grant Jerrett, PF Arizona: And here's a guy who played less than 20 minutes per game as a freshman and averaged 5 points and 3.6 rebounds, declares for the draft and is picked in the top 40. Life is good. Still, another year could well have moved him into the 1st round, for much bigger bucks.
41. Jamaal Franklin, SG San Diego St.: Wasn't getting any better in the collegiate ranks. Probably a good call.
43. Ricky Ledo, SG Providence: Never played at Providence, being academically ineligible as a freshman.
52. Lorenzo Brown, PG, NC St.: Didn't do as well as Ray.
53. Colt Iverson, C Colorado St.: Actually a grad, but had another year of eligibility.
58. DeShaun Thomas, SF Ohio St.: Barely drafted, and last US player drafted. But his stock was unlikely to rise.
Undrafted: the Oops! list
- Adonis Thomas, SG Memphis. What the heck was this sophomore "shooting guard" with the 29% 3-pt FG% thinking? Of 16 mock drafts compiled at this site www.nba.com/bobcats/mocking-2013-nba-draft, only 1 had him being selected, at #59.
- C.J. Leslie, PF NC St.: Averaging 15 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior, Leslie's decision seemed logical. Most everyone projected him gone by the middle of the second round, and some even projected him a first round pick. This may be the most surprising omission of draft night. Couldn't have been a happy night in Holly Springs.
- Myck Kabongo, PG Texas. Good college stats, but most everyone agreed the sophomore was still a "project" and folks were leery of a guy suspended for disciplinary reasons and caught lying about receiving improper benefits. The wait would have done him good, to both steady his game and demonstrate some personal growth.
- BJ Young, PG Arkansas. Another "what was I thinking?" case. Who wants to take a chance on a soph point guard who can't shoot the three (22%) and has a lousy Assist/TO ratio. Another guy no one was projecting to be drafted, and they were right. It blows, eh BJ?
- CJ Aiken, PF St. Joe's. Oops.
- Phil Pressey, PG Missouri. "He averaged 3.5 turnovers per game and only made 32 percent of his 3-pointers last season. Both were declines from the season prior. For an undersized point guard with turnover issues and limited shooting ability, one more year in Columbia could have enhanced his pro future." -Myron Medcalf, ESPN. Note that PGs with turnover issues who aren't Michael Carter-Williams don't get drafted. Our Ray McCallum does not turn the ball over.
- Vander Blue, SG Marquette. This kid got some bad advice. He should have withdrawn from the draft. A big senior year would have made him a 1st round pick.
- Dewayne Dedman, C USC. You're 7-0 tall, you're watching Steve Adams declare, and you think "hey, why not me." Because you suck, that's why. Dedman needed another year to improve his game. Bad call.
- Tahj Tate, SG Delaware State. Hey, you make 2nd team All-MEAC as a sophomore, naturally you think you're ready for the NBA.
- John Taylor, SG, Fresno Pacific. The leading scorer in D-II. Hard to see how another season in D-II would help him, but why not try to transfer?
- Trevis Simpson, SG, UNC-Greensboro. No Trevis, don't do it! A very nice CAA player (over 18 ppg last 2 seasons), don't know why he thought he'd be drafted.
- Marshawn Powell, F Arkansas. Graduated, but had a year of eligibility due to an injury season. A good player but was not on anybody's mock draft list.
- Amath M'Baye, PF, Oklahoma. Another guy who had graduated but had a year of eligibility. From France, probably plans to play there - why not declare and see if an NBA team bites?
- Nurideen Lindsay, SG Rider. 8 ppg at Rider - why not take your shot? Personal reasons seemed to drive the former St. John's recruit.
- Kiwi Gardner, Midland (Tx.) JC. Not many guys get from JC straight to the NBA, and especially when they stand 5-7. But Kiwi is no student. Former Providence recruit would likely never be academically eligible for D-I.
Drafted (by overall pick)
1. Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV: Good decision, Anthony.
2. Victor Oladipo, SG Indiana: Smart move, Victor.
3. Otto Porter, SF Georgetown: Well done.
4. Cody Zeller, PF Indiana: Higher than I thought.
5. Alex Len, C Maryland: We may never again see a senior picked first.
6. Nerlons Noel, C Kentucky: Not as high as many thought, but hard to complain. Would he really go higher next year?
7. Ben McLemore, SG Kansas: Why hang around Lawrence?
8. Kentavious Caldwell Pope, SG Georgia: Go Pistons!
9. Trey Burke, PG Michigan: Pistons should have taken him at #8.
11. Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse.
12. Steven Adams, C Pittsburgh: Really? #12? It's a crazy world, but Steve's a winner in it.
13. Kelly Olynyk, C Gonzaga: Kamloops is a beautiful place.
14. Shabazz Muhammed, SF UCLA: When he declared he was considered a lottery pick.
18. Shane Larkin, PG, Miami: He might have hit next year's lottery. Or not.
20. Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico: Higher than I thought.
21. Gorgui Dieng, C Louisville: New Pride of Senegal.
23. Solomon Hill, SF Arizona: Might have moved up with another year.
24. Tim Hardaway, SF Michigan: Also might have moved up. But maybe not. Hard to say he and Hill made bad decisions.
25. Reggie Bullock, SF North Carolina: Ditto.
26. Andre Roberson, SF Colorado: More dittos.
29. Archie Goodwin, PG Kentucky: Coulda been a lottery pick in a year. But Kentucky kids don't wait. I found no mock draft that had him going in the 1st round, so he knew better than the gallery, at least.
Only two seniors picked in 1st round, CJ McCollum and Mason Plumlee.
31. Allen Crabbe, SG California: Just missing the 1st round cost him some $$$$.
36. Ray McCallum, PG Detroit: Good decision? Point guard is the one position that may be weaker in next year's draft? Another year with UD and Ray might have been a 2nd or 3d team all-american, broken a ton of Titan career records, and gone in the first round. Or he might have broken his leg in the season opener. It's his talent to decide how to use it, and he seems happy.
37. Tony Mitchell, PF North Texas: Here's a guy who would have done better to come out last year.
40. Grant Jerrett, PF Arizona: And here's a guy who played less than 20 minutes per game as a freshman and averaged 5 points and 3.6 rebounds, declares for the draft and is picked in the top 40. Life is good. Still, another year could well have moved him into the 1st round, for much bigger bucks.
41. Jamaal Franklin, SG San Diego St.: Wasn't getting any better in the collegiate ranks. Probably a good call.
43. Ricky Ledo, SG Providence: Never played at Providence, being academically ineligible as a freshman.
52. Lorenzo Brown, PG, NC St.: Didn't do as well as Ray.
53. Colt Iverson, C Colorado St.: Actually a grad, but had another year of eligibility.
58. DeShaun Thomas, SF Ohio St.: Barely drafted, and last US player drafted. But his stock was unlikely to rise.
Undrafted: the Oops! list
- Adonis Thomas, SG Memphis. What the heck was this sophomore "shooting guard" with the 29% 3-pt FG% thinking? Of 16 mock drafts compiled at this site www.nba.com/bobcats/mocking-2013-nba-draft, only 1 had him being selected, at #59.
- C.J. Leslie, PF NC St.: Averaging 15 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior, Leslie's decision seemed logical. Most everyone projected him gone by the middle of the second round, and some even projected him a first round pick. This may be the most surprising omission of draft night. Couldn't have been a happy night in Holly Springs.
- Myck Kabongo, PG Texas. Good college stats, but most everyone agreed the sophomore was still a "project" and folks were leery of a guy suspended for disciplinary reasons and caught lying about receiving improper benefits. The wait would have done him good, to both steady his game and demonstrate some personal growth.
- BJ Young, PG Arkansas. Another "what was I thinking?" case. Who wants to take a chance on a soph point guard who can't shoot the three (22%) and has a lousy Assist/TO ratio. Another guy no one was projecting to be drafted, and they were right. It blows, eh BJ?
- CJ Aiken, PF St. Joe's. Oops.
- Phil Pressey, PG Missouri. "He averaged 3.5 turnovers per game and only made 32 percent of his 3-pointers last season. Both were declines from the season prior. For an undersized point guard with turnover issues and limited shooting ability, one more year in Columbia could have enhanced his pro future." -Myron Medcalf, ESPN. Note that PGs with turnover issues who aren't Michael Carter-Williams don't get drafted. Our Ray McCallum does not turn the ball over.
- Vander Blue, SG Marquette. This kid got some bad advice. He should have withdrawn from the draft. A big senior year would have made him a 1st round pick.
- Dewayne Dedman, C USC. You're 7-0 tall, you're watching Steve Adams declare, and you think "hey, why not me." Because you suck, that's why. Dedman needed another year to improve his game. Bad call.
- Tahj Tate, SG Delaware State. Hey, you make 2nd team All-MEAC as a sophomore, naturally you think you're ready for the NBA.
- John Taylor, SG, Fresno Pacific. The leading scorer in D-II. Hard to see how another season in D-II would help him, but why not try to transfer?
- Trevis Simpson, SG, UNC-Greensboro. No Trevis, don't do it! A very nice CAA player (over 18 ppg last 2 seasons), don't know why he thought he'd be drafted.
- Marshawn Powell, F Arkansas. Graduated, but had a year of eligibility due to an injury season. A good player but was not on anybody's mock draft list.
- Amath M'Baye, PF, Oklahoma. Another guy who had graduated but had a year of eligibility. From France, probably plans to play there - why not declare and see if an NBA team bites?
- Nurideen Lindsay, SG Rider. 8 ppg at Rider - why not take your shot? Personal reasons seemed to drive the former St. John's recruit.
- Kiwi Gardner, Midland (Tx.) JC. Not many guys get from JC straight to the NBA, and especially when they stand 5-7. But Kiwi is no student. Former Providence recruit would likely never be academically eligible for D-I.