Diamond Stone

[Tugg Speedman]

Second round pick, no guarantee money.

On New Orleans, permanently a backup to AD, Asik and Perkins.  Probably starts the season in the D-League.

He really "F'ed" himself.  Should have returned to Maryland.

Or he better start improving starting tomorrow or he will be coaching high school ball in three years.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Second round pick, no guarantee money.

On New Orleans, permanently a backup to AD, Asik and Perkins.  Probably starts the season in the D-League.

He really "F'ed" himself.  Should have returned to Maryland.

Or he better start improving starting tomorrow or he will be coaching high school ball in three years.

He will play. Will easily pass Perkins on the depth chart and probably starts along side AD before it's all said and done.

[Tugg Speedman]

He will play. Will easily pass Perkins on the depth chart and probably starts along side AD before it's all said and done.

You think he us a starter yet NBA GMs passed on him 39 times (he was drafted 40th).

They disagree with you.

[wadesworld]

Superbar.

I love when people decide what's a good decision for a person they've never met in their life, especially when the person is going to make millions even in the worst case scenario that he doesn't make the roster (he will) and makes them in Euros instead of USD.

[MerrittsMustache]

Second round pick, no guarantee money.

On New Orleans, permanently a backup to AD, Asik and Perkins.  Probably starts the season in the D-League.

He really "F'ed" himself.  Should have returned to Maryland.

Or he better start improving starting tomorrow or he will be coaching high school ball in three years.

He was traded to the Clippers. He could potentially be Jordan's primary back-up and see 12-15 min/game.

[Earl Tatum]

Satisfying that HENRY went in the first round and Stone 22 picks later. All I hear at coffee is about
Stone is better.

[GGGG]

Satisfying that HENRY went in the first round and Stone 22 picks later. All I hear at coffee is about
Stone is better.

You need to have coffee with smarter people then. 

[Herman Cain]

Satisfying that HENRY went in the first round and Stone 22 picks later. All I hear at coffee is about
Stone is better.

Now you can point this very positive development out to your friends at coffee. You can also point out that Pistons head coach says Henry has a good opportunity to get playing time.

[esotericmindguy]

He won't be attached to the awful first round contracts though. He'll sign a 2 year deal and if he plays well, he'll make more than the top guys in year 3 & 4. Like Wes Matthews.

[GGGG]

He won't be attached to the awful first round contracts though. He'll sign a 2 year deal and if he plays well, he'll make more than the top guys in year 3 & 4. Like Wes Matthews.

So how many players have done that besides Wes?

[GWSwarrior]

Superbar.

I love when people decide what's a good decision for a person they've never met in their life, especially when the person is going to make millions even in the worst case scenario that he doesn't make the roster (he will) and makes them in Euros instead of USD.

all heisey ever does is tell others how to live their life

[Benny B]

So how many players have done that besides Wes?

There was that other kid from Madison... who went to Marquette... didn't get drafted... wait a sec...  that can't be right.




After a brief adjustment period, and a bunch of drinks, it does appear that the answer is "none."

[jficke13]

So how many players have done that besides Wes?

Wes was undrafted so got a 1 year deal and was able to sign a real free agent contract at his real value earlier than anyone else, that's why his early money is unusual.

For the next couple years there is a disconnect between the raised salary cap and the rookie pay scale. 2nd round picks will have shorter team control under their rookie contracts, so if they can pull a Wes and show their value, their 2nd contract (signed at market rate) will come sooner than the 1st rounders who have 3-4 year deals.

[Tugg Speedman]

If the NBA had MLB Rules, a player could get drafted and then elect to go back to school.

If Stone had that option, would he return to Maryland or go forward with the Clippers?

[4everwarriors]

Really, hey?

[MerrittsMustache]

If the NBA had MLB Rules, a player could get drafted and then elect to go back to school.

If Stone had that option, would he return to Maryland or go forward with the Clippers?

It depends. Would he rather live in LA making half-a-mill or live in College Park, MD making nothing and going to class?

[Newsdreams]

It depends. Would he rather live in LA making half-a-mill or live in College Park, MD making nothing and going to class?

Hey, you fail to account for the scholarship & development money they are spending on him

[GGGG]

Wes was undrafted so got a 1 year deal and was able to sign a real free agent contract at his real value earlier than anyone else, that's why his early money is unusual.

For the next couple years there is a disconnect between the raised salary cap and the rookie pay scale. 2nd round picks will have shorter team control under their rookie contracts, so if they can pull a Wes and show their value, their 2nd contract (signed at market rate) will come sooner than the 1st rounders who have 3-4 year deals.

I understand that. We keep using Wes as an example because we know him. How many other players have truly benefitted like he did from having less team control.

[jficke13]

I understand that. We keep using Wes as an example because we know him. How many other players have truly benefitted like he did from having less team control.

Not a lot, but at least a few. The shallow rosters and limited minutes in the NBA game mean that not all 2nd rounders even get enough play to demonstrate their value, let alone undrafteds.

Gilbert Arenas was a 2nd rounder, his salary went from $500k in years 1 and 2 to $8M in year 3.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/arenagi01.html

Khris Middleton signed a big deal with the Bucks and went from $900k to $15M from years 3 to 4.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/middlkh01.html

(side note: holy crap)

Draymond Green went from $900k to $14M from years 3 to 4.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/greendr01.html

So I guess it happens, but it's by no means a slam dunk.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Superbar.

I love when people decide what's a good decision for a person they've never met in their life, especially when the person is going to make millions even in the worst case scenario that he doesn't make the roster (he will) and makes them in Euros instead of USD.

How is that Euro thing looking?  Stone is better off getting paid in diamonds, non è?

[brandx]

Superbar.

I love when people decide what's a good decision for a person they've never met in their life, especially when the person is going to make millions even in the worst case scenario that he doesn't make the roster (he will) and makes them in Euros instead of USD.

It's the usual from Heisy. He thinks no paycheck is better than being paid.

[martyconlonontherun]

So how many players have done that besides Wes?

It's a new world with the rising cap. First rounders are paid rediculusly low.

[martyconlonontherun]

Second round pick, no guarantee money.

On New Orleans, permanently a backup to AD, Asik and Perkins.  Probably starts the season in the D-League.

He really "F'ed" himself.  Should have returned to Maryland.

Or he better start improving starting tomorrow or he will be coaching high school ball in three years.

He really f'ed himself up by being 6'9" and an old school center. Another year in school doesn't help that. He's going to get paid this year whether in the NBA or Europe. But you know, he really f'ed himself up by not going back to Maryland to play for free and risking injury and reentering the draft a year older.

[brandx]

There was that other kid from Madison... who went to Marquette... didn't get drafted... wait a sec...  that can't be right.




After a brief adjustment period, and a bunch of drinks, it does appear that the answer is "none."

I think the real answer is "many".

Countless players coming in with non-guaranteed contracts have done extremely well. Crowder and his $35 million contract comes to mind.
Isaiah Thomas - $6.5 mill a year
Amir Johnson - $12 mill a year

And that's just from one team.

[esotericmindguy]

So how many players have done that besides Wes?

Don't know, don't follow close enough. All I'm saying is if he can make it in the league, being drafted in second round can be an advantage.