This. There is NOTHING about Smart that says elite..
Physical profile. Other than that, I agree. But those other things can improve hypothetically.
That said, it was probably a dumb move.
This. There is NOTHING about Smart that says elite..
Sometimes I do think you're bing a contrarian just for the sake of being a contrarian. That's fine. No problem with that.
But with Smart - we're talking millions of $ at stake here man. This is not just about making a cute post on some Jazzfanz forum. This is facking real life man!
I guess I just find it refreshing that a basketball player isn't obsessed with money. This just makes me like Smart even more.
Jared Sullinger? Projected top-5 pick, returned to school and got drafted 21st.
Fat-*** who was already a pretty polished player. He really didn't have much room for stark improvement, not to mention there were medical red-flags.
Obtaining enough money to conceivably take care of you for the rest of your life vs. gambling is not being obsessed with money. It's really pretty not smart. Whether he improves or whatever or not doesn't change what is now. And what is now is he's walking away from >$10 million dollars.
Fat-*** who was already a pretty polished player. He really didn't have much room for stark improvement, not to mention there were medical red-flags.
Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA 3m
Overwhelming initial response of NBA executives on Marcus Smart's decision to bypass top 5 status in draft to stay in school: Shock.
Myck Kabongo? Lottery pick that returned to school and is now a late first-rounder.
And you know what made all of that clear? Time. One year to be precise.
Marcus Smart returning obviously makes the 2013 weak draft even weaker and the 2014 strong draft even stronger.
Who said Smart is coming out in 2014? The dude is going to defy the system. He going to go Shane Battier on us.
Smart is going to come out when he realizes his stock dropped 10 spots and doesn't want to risk it any more.
Jared Sullinger was projected as a top three pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. In fact, he may have been selected first overall if he had decided to leave Ohio State after his freshman season. NBA executives and scouts were drooling over Sullinger after he averaged 17.1 points on 54.1 percent from the field and 10 rebounds with the Buckeyes. However, rather than declaring for the draft, Sullinger decided to return for his sophomore season. He averaged just 17.5 points on 51.9 percent from the field and 9.2 rebounds. Then, Sullinger’s draft stock took a huge hit when NBA doctors red-flagged him after noticing he had a bulging area in his back. The doctors believed that the injury was serious and could shorten his NBA career. Rather than being a top pick, as he would have in 2011, Sullinger was drafted with the 21st overall selection by the Boston Celtics. Had Sullinger been the first overall pick in 2011, he would have made $4,286,900 in his first season and a total of $19,331,674 on his first contract. As the 21st overall pick, he’s making $1,089,100 in his first season and a total of $5,305,350 on his first contract.
https://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-am-top-prospects-should-enter-draft#kAdTiCZKJAgqcvxy.99
Let's say Magic win lottery, does Burke go #1? On a side note, Larkin should declare this year would be a first-round pick and go even higher now with Smart declaring.
I'd rather take Siva than Larkin... Siva outplayed the hell out of Burke in that Final..