The NBA Draft Is A Joke

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Not necessarily in reference to how none of our MU guys have gotten drafted so far at 50, but seriously, why do NBA talent evaluators think guys that average like 5 or 6 points in a European league are better/worth a higher draft pick than proven American college players?   

[MU B2002]

$$$$

THe announcers keep bring it up as well, draft em and park them overseas.

[pillardean]

Potential Potential Potential POTENTIAL!

I wish real jobs did that.  "Well this guy has potential.  So what he hasn't had much experience and hasn't done anything to prove his worth with really no polished skills to speak of, but he has potential!  PICK HIM UP! 100K signing bonus."

Absolute joke. 

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

$$$$

THe announcers keep bring it up as well, draft em and park them overseas.

Right...it does make sense from a financial perspective, but very few of these guys actually show up in the NBA and even more so, when they do, they're just crapola.  For every Dirk it seems like you get 7 or 8 Yaroslav Korolevs for example. 

I'd rather take my shot on an American college player with some minor flaws than some of these Europeans who can run and jump fast and high but have few actual basketball skills.

[reinko]

At least 'Rel is finally the #1 Best Available on Jay Bilas' big board.

[pillardean]

I don't get it. 

If Wes and 'Rel were Sophomores they'd already be drafted.  I think it's because teams want 'Rel at 1 and Wes at 2 and don't want to take two years to wait.

Lester Hudson instead of 'Rel! WTF! I don't get the draft.

[Dish]

Much better to not be drafted than to be drafted in the 2nd round. Best thing that can happen to McNeal is for the Lakers and Heat to pass on him.

[JimmyBIToldYa]

are there always this many trades?

[TallTitan34]

Well I just crapped my night away.  I guess there's still hope an MU guy joins DWade in Miami.

[Dish]

My guess is the Bulls will be giving McNeal a call after the draft is over (assuming the Heat pass).

[pillardean]

Deleted

[mviale]

sad thing is Dom James should have gone pro at the end of his Frosh season.

[Dish]

I don't think recruits care if a program has a guy drafted in the 2nd round.

Second round of the draft only exists for developmental purposes and for teams to find an easy way to make cash. That's it.

[TallTitan34]

Yup I wasted my night!  Damn you NBA.

[mviale]

if MU went far into the tourney in any of the last 4 years, these guys would be sipping champagne tonight.

[Markusquette]

I don't think it's a joke...  I mean some of the late 2nd round picks are more worth players with "potential".  It sucks that no MU guys were drafted, but I can't say it's a joke.  I think at least McNeal will possibly walk on to a team.

[pillardean]

I don't think recruits care if a program has a guy drafted in the 2nd round.

Second round of the draft only exists for developmental purposes and for teams to find an easy way to make cash. That's it.

I suppose you're right.  I am just bitter I spent my night watching this and hoping for something and I didn't even buy any booze when I could.  

Bar time!

[muhoops1]

At least you aren't a T-Wolves fan.  WTF?  Get McHale back.  Three point guards and some dude named "Henk".  I think they'll be good this year.  LOSERS.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

sad thing is Dom James should have gone pro at the end of his Frosh season.

was thinking that today.  in retrospect, what a poor decision by DJ.

[77ncaachamps]

I was really disappointed when McNeal's name wasn't called. I knew it was tough for Wes to sneak into the 2nd with Euros there but this is a slap in the face for SENIORS with experience and maturity. This is more proof that high schoolers will just jump abroad and gain *some* pro experience (and get paid doing so) while building up their *potential.*

I have some *potential* picks from the previous years for those fraking NBA scouts:
- Sergei Monia
- Viktor Khryapa
- Donta Smith
- Albert Miralles
- Vassilis Spanoulis
- Christian Drejer
- Sergei Karaulov
- Pavel Podkolzine
- Maciej Lampe
- Szymon Szewczyk
- Sofoklis Schortsanitis
- Sani Becirovic

Screw'em...all those stuffy NBA scouts who realize a ceiling is more important than a veteran.

I just hope that Jerel and Wes land on good scouting teams.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Perfect example of insanity from tonight.

Cavs on the board at 30.  Just traded for Shaq.  Lebron's a free agent after 2010.  Basically, you HAVE to win the championship next year, or there's a pretty good shot Lebron bolts and your franchise is dead.

On the board include these names:

DeJuan Blair
Sam Young
Chase Budinger
DaJuan Summers
Jodie Meeks

So who do the Cavaliers choose?  A guy from the Congo that was a borderline 2nd round pick at best who played on a 2nd tier Spanish team.

Wouldn't it make sense to add a rebounding beast (Blair), a savvy glue guy (Young/Summers), or a guy that can light it up from 3 when Lebron pentrates the lane or defenses double down on Shaq (Budinger/Meeks)?  Apparently drafting a guy that's 2 years away from even being in the NBA made more sense to Danny Ferry than adding a part that could help in winning a title in 2010.  That's just how insane the NBA Draft has become. 

[willie warrior]

The only place McNeal will be walking to is his next turnover--or his lack of defense at crunchtime in the Villanova BE tourney game.

I cannot believe that none of our guys were picked, however. WTF?

[muarmy81]

Well,
The old saying is that if it's good it probably isn't easy.  I'm sure Wes and Jerel will earn a spot through the summer league.  Those guys have great work ethics and now they have something to prove so I'm sure they'll make it happen. 

[chapman]

They'd be better off going the MLB route and letting teams discover and bid for the foreign "talent" that is actually worthwhile even if it's not "fair".  Every year there's a good 15 picks they're going to "keep overseas".  How many of these guys end up coming over in "a few years"?  Maybe 1 or 2 of the 15.  Basically if a team can't sell its draft pick for cash this is their way of forfeiting the pick.  Since this behavior starts at the end of the first round, they would almost be better off just having a one round draft.

[GGGG]

I think we have to be careful here about overestimating the value that McNeal, Mathews and DJ would bring to an NBA team.  All three are woefully incomplete NBA players - I mean the idea that McNeal would step in and be Bruce Bowen's replacement is a typical example of how we look at them with rose colored glasses.

That being said, all three have great chances to go over to Europe, make some $$$, work on their games and come back to the NBA.  It happens regularly.