DJO

[77ncaachamps]

Anyone know what he's up to?

Haven't heard any bk related news since he was waived by the Lakers (and is now a FA).

[MileHigh]

Stumbled across this today...he is over in Russia now.  Too bad for the guy.  Thought he had NBA talent.  But to be apart of the sinking boat, known as the Lakers, this may provide him some much need development and opportunity.

http://en.rsport.ru/basketball/20130124/641528115.html

[tower912]

Buzz mentioned on his weekly show, the one where he answered all of the scoopworld questions, that he had talked to DJO that morning and DJO was trying to decide between the D-league and Europe.    Now we know. 

[Tugg Speedman]

Stumbled across this today...he is over in Russia now.  Too bad for the guy.  Thought he had NBA talent.  But to be apart of the sinking boat, known as the Lakers, this may provide him some much need development and opportunity.

http://en.rsport.ru/basketball/20130124/641528115.html

From the story ...

"He is a more attacking guard than Patrick Beverly, however he wants to play point guard. We'll see how he blends into the team." ... Spartak currently tops Group A in the VTB United League and stands third in the Russian PBL.

I'm going to guess that since Spartak is a top team that it is as good as the NBDL and they are going to let him try to be a point guard. 

He must think if he has a future in the Association it is as a PG.  Makes sense.

[downtown85]

And he might have thought Milwaukee was cold.  Off to the Russian front with you, DJO! 

The chicks are hot though.  St. Pete is the best destination in Russia, IMO. 

[bilsu]

NBA talent?

He abused guards in college when he was physically superior to them. However, he seemed to struggle in college against strong quick guards that could match him physically.

[tower912]

The only way he makes the league is as a scoring point guard.   

[honkytonk]

Things dont add up for him to make the NBA. The D-League is stacked with talent and this year's draft is going to be extremely weak. I think he got some good advice and realized its best to go where the money is than hang around the D-League while making very little with a diminished opportunity to get a call-up. Against NBA talent, he is a below-average on-ball defender and his shooting hasnt been good in his limited opportunities. In the D-League, he was decent but...everyone is in that league. The best way to get a call-up is by differentiating yourself by playing defense. D-League scores often times look like NBA All-Star game scores.

[setyoursightsnorth]

To go from Sunny LA to the harsh winters of Russia has to suck. But I think that he went where there is playing time and hey, on the plus side, he gets paid for playing a sport he loves. He managed to be one of only 60 players to get drafted, got some minutes, and was an NBA player.

Honestly, even being in a minor league like the AHL has to be kick-ass. Getting paid (on average) 60K to play hockey every year sounds absolutely awesome. It's not big NHL money, but you are pretty well off. So I think he made the best choice. Earn some cash while further enhancing his skills in Europe. Wishing him all the best.

[westcoastwarrior]

DJO was putting up good numbers in the NBA D-League.  When the Laker's cut him...he was the leading scorer for the D-league team.  Unfortunately is Stats have been removed from the D-league site...but I recall his average was close to 20 pt per game.  Jerel is putting up 15 ppg...and playing the point primarily for his team.  I never got to see DJO play before he was cut...but a season ticket holder of a NBA-D league team...DJO appeared to be holding his own in the D-League by watching his stats.  When you go to the message board for the Laker's they were killing Kupchak on the decision to cut him.

[MarquetteDano]

To go from Sunny LA to the harsh winters of Russia has to suck.

If you saw the women in St. Petersburg you might change your tune.  There is nowhere, nowhere in the U.S. that has as hot of women as St. Pete.

[setyoursightsnorth]

If you saw the women in St. Petersburg you might change your tune.  There is nowhere, nowhere in the U.S. that has as hot of women as St. Pete.

If you go anywhere but the United States, you'd see that. Being born in Poland and living there for 7 years, that fact applies too.

[honkytonk]

DJO was putting up good numbers in the NBA D-League.  When the Laker's cut him...he was the leading scorer for the D-league team.  Unfortunately is Stats have been removed from the D-league site...but I recall his average was close to 20 pt per game.  Jerel is putting up 15 ppg...and playing the point primarily for his team.  I never got to see DJO play before he was cut...but a season ticket holder of a NBA-D league team...DJO appeared to be holding his own in the D-League by watching his stats.  When you go to the message board for the Laker's they were killing Kupchak on the decision to cut him.

I hear what you are saying but DJO was a volume shooter in the NBADL. Im quite certain he averaged less than 45% from the field. 45% just doesnt translate well to the NBA. In fact, it likely means that he would be a sub 40% shooter...and he cant defend...at all. For as many points as he scored, he gave up just as many on the other end by guards that were great at dribble-penetration.

[MerrittsMustache]

I hear what you are saying but DJO was a volume shooter in the NBADL. Im quite certain he averaged less than 45% from the field. 45% just doesnt translate well to the NBA. In fact, it likely means that he would be a sub 40% shooter...and he cant defend...at all. For as many points as he scored, he gave up just as many on the other end by guards that were great at dribble-penetration.

His stats are here.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/darius_johnson-odom/

20.6 ppg, shot 43.3% from the floor and 38.6% from 3 with 5.3 assists, 5 boards and 1.3 steals. Volume scorer or not, the guy will get another chance in the NBA at some point.

[westcoastwarrior]

I hear what you are saying but DJO was a volume shooter in the NBADL. Im quite certain he averaged less than 45% from the field. 45% just doesnt translate well to the NBA. In fact, it likely means that he would be a sub 40% shooter...and he cant defend...at all. For as many points as he scored, he gave up just as many on the other end by guards that were great at dribble-penetration.

That may be the case...as previously stated...I did not get a chance to see him play live.  But I also take any stat from the LA defenders with a grain of salt..they are very bad team.  The whole team does not play defense or rebound.  I think Reggie Thius's team is in last or close to last.

[MU82]

Simply not an NBA player, which puts him in the company of hundreds of good college players.

They all can't make it.

[honkytonk]

His stats are here.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/darius_johnson-odom/

20.6 ppg, shot 43.3% from the floor and 38.6% from 3 with 5.3 assists, 5 boards and 1.3 steals. Volume scorer or not, the guy will get another chance in the NBA at some point.

I disagree. Every year there are 30 first round picks which means there are 30 guaranteed contracts held by rookies. Those numbers in the D-League arent great. If they were, he would have been called up. A lot of players put up gaudy numbers like that. Defense is what matters. He doesnt play it. You cant argue that he is worthy of an NBA roster spot when he got demoted to the D-League and then signed with a team in Russia.... I could highlight 2 dozen players in the d-league that have just as good numbers.

[Galway Eagle]

If you go anywhere but the United States, you'd see that. Being born in Poland and living there for 7 years, that fact applies too.

Unless you're a chubby chaser then the USA is the place for you!

[77ncaachamps]

I know they're not ideal for their respective positions in the NBA, but if you needed a guard and had to call up only one player, who would you choose: DJO or Jerel?

[westcoastwarrior]

Well Jerel made honorable mention in the D-league show case in Reno two weeks ago...unfortunately DJO was cut a few days before the showcase.  That would have been the venue to compare.  I am not buying DJO can't play defense...it is a team sport..and the LA team is very bad. I was impressed with Jerel last week... A silent 20 points while guiding the team at point.  He did miss a lot of open 3's...but he did play lock down defense.  I think I would take Jerel...but lefties are a rare find.