Bam entering draft, NOT hiring an agent
- Thread starter JFCats22
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Smart. If, for some reason, he gets worse feedback than he expects, he'll be free to come back in a weaker draft class.
This is the smartest move for him. It keeps multiple options open for him even though he'll impress people enough to warrant being a top 20 pick. If he's not top 20, I'd come back to UK. Giving up a lot of money for one year.
Yep. I mean if you aren't a top pick, it just makes sense put your name in the draft but don't hire an agent. Leave the options open.
So who's your college basketball team? Maryland?
I just want him to be happy. The NBA execs, agents, etc. are ruthless with telling you lies, but I trust Cal will get an honest take on where he'll go if he stays in.
Smart move. If he hits his jumpers and have more range than he showed at UK he is gone. If he doesn't and they tell him he's outside of the lotto I think he comes back. I think Cal told him the usual "do what's best for you and family" while telling him he is late mid to late first round at best but could be top 5-10 if he comes back and extend his range, show he can play the four.
I think he also tells him he will play the four with Hump at C or Bamba/Richards at C
I think he also tells him he will play the four with Hump at C or Bamba/Richards at C
As expected, and as he should do (test w/ no agent).
If after workouts he drops (to 2nd) or even is still projected in the 20's, I think he should and may return.
If though he moves into the teens, or maybe even early 20's, then he is probably gone.
Say you are projected 25, it doesn't take much, a couple teams pick a guy too early, and those late 1st-rnd picks (playoff teams) are need picks, and you fall into the 2nd round (not guaranteed $, and more likely to start in D-league).
Also this year's draft class is very good and very deep. Next year's does not look nearly as good or as deep. He very well could jump into the top 10 of next year's draft.
If after workouts he drops (to 2nd) or even is still projected in the 20's, I think he should and may return.
If though he moves into the teens, or maybe even early 20's, then he is probably gone.
Say you are projected 25, it doesn't take much, a couple teams pick a guy too early, and those late 1st-rnd picks (playoff teams) are need picks, and you fall into the 2nd round (not guaranteed $, and more likely to start in D-league).
Also this year's draft class is very good and very deep. Next year's does not look nearly as good or as deep. He very well could jump into the top 10 of next year's draft.
Not picking on you but "he gone " is the most played out saying on this board since "what say you?".
Agree. Bam won't be a 5 in the NBA (unless by need). He's more of a 4. Hump & Richards, or even better Hump & Bamba & Richards can handle the 5. Gabriel is not a 4. Maybe Washington can play some 4. But Bam would be our best option there.
Smart move on Bam's part, I still think he leaves but he's definitely being practical about the process.
Good to see too that his family seems to be supportive of whatever decision he makes.
Good to see too that his family seems to be supportive of whatever decision he makes.
Agree it's the best move. He has to test the waters because of the money at stake however he's not going to be drafted where Fox and Monk will. He's further down the draft board and there's a little more risk for him. Smart to take a shot at it but to also leave his options open in case it doesn't go well.
Not at all. It's only a factor if we are out of scholarships. I haven't done a count but I seriously doubt we are.
Bamba is a smart kid. He hasn't announced a college yet because he's waiting to see what Bam does. If he were going to a school other than UK he would've declared by now. He knows what the situation is at Duke.
I agree he is gone but this gives us maybe a 20% or 30% chance of him coming back. Well, maybe it is really 10% but I want to be optimistic.
I will never criticize any player who is a projected 1st round pick for leaving. However Bam's offensive game is nowhere near ready for the NBA. It would do a tremendous amount of good for his long term future if he came back and tried to develop his overall offensive skill set. He has a solid 15 ft jumper and a solid jump hook post move so all the tools are there but he needs to shore up his consistency.
The conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe that K couldn't get a good feeling on Bamba because Bamba is waiting on Bam, and so K scrambled and told Bolden what he wanted to hear to get him to come back.
The problem is the back to the basket big is going away for now. It will probably come back, but not for a while. All centers/pf are moving to the 3 point line with some regularity.
The one that kills me is "you can't make this stuff up". No big deal but it just seems too played out as you put it.
Who cares? We have to do what's right for the kids who are already here. If Bam wants to be cautious, then by all means be cautious.
the question is does he move up the draft board next year by returning to UK. Bam was a guaranteed starter this year (and I think he should be next year) but if he returns and wants to be a Patrick Patterson type player, there is a risk involved if he fails to develop.
Maybe. I could be wrong, it happened once, but to me he's not a back to the basket guy. It's like square peg and round whole. He just doesn't seem comfortable there, doesn't seem like he has the natural skills to make that the best place for him. Despite his apparent strength, he wasn't super effective in the post. Bad hands, poor footwork (the footwork figures to improve, the hands probably not).....It seemed like an unusual amount of times an entry to Bam in the post resulted in a fumbled pass, a travel call or a blocked shot. I wonder if he's not really 6'10. Anyway, he's got great mechanics on his jumper, so he's already comfortable at the 10-12 feet range, and I could easily see his range improving. I think he's more likely a 4 than a 5. Reminds me a lot of Patrick Patterson....
And on the "this draft is loaded, next year is weak" point, I've heard it said that while that is generally true, this year is lacking in big men and next year is not. I haven't bothered to look at mock drafts to confirm that, but if so - contrary to my last post - Bam may not really be helying himself by coming back.
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