Espn has James as #1 PG in the draft

[Gwaki]

I am an insider over there and I was looking around and saw this.  They have him as around the #17 pick.  It looks like we may lose him here.

Also right now 2 out of 3 have him as big east POY.

[NavinRJohnson]

Personally, right now I'd put the chances of his return at about 20-25% - and I am probably convincing myself to be optimistic with that percentage. That is just part of being good though. With him or without him, we will be darn good next season.

[LastWarrior]

I think the following list of guys will be drafted higher than DJ...

Steele from Alabama 6'2", 4.5 apg
Shakur from Arizona - 6'3", 7.6 apg
Singletary from UVA - 6'0", 5.2 apg

vs.

DJ 5'11", 4.6 apg

I'm partly being selfish as I think we'd be a top ten team if he returns but I also think the 17th pick isn't that impressive and he could play himself into the lottery with a strong junior season.

[NYWarrior]

I think the following list of guys will be drafted higher than DJ...

Steele from Alabama 6'2", 4.5 apg
Shakur from Arizona - 6'3", 7.6 apg
Singletary from UVA - 6'0", 5.2 apg

Steele's health is a big question mark.  Gottfried has stopped answering questions about Steele's knee and ankle, so with that in mind DJ is more appealing.  DJ is much more athletic than Shakur, who is finally living up to the hype.  Singletary is underrated - -but again, he's not the filthy athlete that DJ is.  I still think DJ will be the first PG taken in the draft

[Murffieus]

My info is that DJ told Crean before the season that he was leaving after this year-----hence the Acker acquisition-----and the spending of DJ's scholarship on the last big!

[77ncaachamps]

DJ is gone after this year. He's going to be a late first rounder or beginning second rounder (which people will later call him "a steal" in the second round).

[NavinRJohnson]

I think the following list of guys will be drafted higher than DJ...

Steele from Alabama 6'2", 4.5 apg
Shakur from Arizona - 6'3", 7.6 apg
Singletary from UVA - 6'0", 5.2 apg

vs.

DJ 5'11", 4.6 apg

I'm partly being selfish as I think we'd be a top ten team if he returns but I also think the 17th pick isn't that impressive and he could play himself into the lottery with a strong junior season.

If you look at only height and APG, that would probably be a sound conclusion, however, none of those guys has the combination of strength, quickness, and leaping ability that DJ has, let alone his ability to get in the lane as well as score points. DJ may be shorter, but he plays bigger than any of those other guys. His strength leaping ability in particular can not be ignored when discussing the lack of size that supposedly makes him unattractive to the NBA. He will be a top 15 pick.

[mviale]

Oh shoot - what will we do?

Oh wait, we have a PG practicing with the team to start next year

Acker
Mcneal
Matthews
Barro
Hayward or Fitz

Christopherson
Cubillian
Williams
Mbakwe
Burke

[rocky_warrior]

Nick Williams won't be here for 2 years.  But I agree, I think we're fine at PG  - and at the guard spot overall - for the next few years.

[mviale]

You mean Williams is 6'4" 210 and only a Junior?

[rocky_warrior]

The height and weight are highly debated - though since he's young he is still growing.  But yes, he's in the class of 2008!  Profile here

[muwarrior87]

Even if he does go, I think our back court will still be extremely solid and probably still be the core of our team...still have McNeal, Matthews and Acker...plus if Cubillan can continue to improve and make a few key shots each game, i think we're in for a really good run next year.