Duke's best and worst early-entry decisions?

[calltheobvious]

Disclaimer: this is not a passive-aggressive slap at Josh or any other former Duke player.

My votes from best to worst:

1) Elton
2) Shavlik
3) Luol
4) Corey
5) Livingston
6) McRoberts
7) Avery

As is usually the case in polls, the best and worst are easy.

[throatybeard]

1) you left out Dunleavy.

2) Corey has done really well. Certainly better than Shavlik, as surprisingly successful as Shavlik has been.

[calltheobvious]

I managed to leave out everyone from the 2002 team. Psychoanalyze that.

[buddy]

I managed to leave out everyone from the 2002 team. Psychoanalyze that.

Must be a Freudian slip. J-Will's decision to leave was fine--his decision to ride a motorcycle was moronic. Carlos has done very well--probably far better than most believed (at least NBA GMs during the draft). Dunleavy's career has been average--but he has a nice contract.

Avery's decision was bad for several reasons; however, I am not certain he would have improved that much with more time at Duke. That said, with a college degree he would be better equipped for life after basketball. Corey may have done us a favor by leaving early, what with all the issues around is AAU "advisor".

[jimmymax]

i'd say avery's decision was arguably the best as he probably maximized his b'ball earnings, reportedly at a time the money was much needed. i doubt he'd have been a first round pick had he stayed in college. not sure if/where he's playing now and i haven't heard if he's completed his degree but i'd like to think he did/will.

[DukieUGA]

It's hard to determine how a decision to leave school early is "better" than another. Do you measure it a) simply in how much more money they earned by leaving earlier than later? b) How much better could they have gotten in college an extra year vs. leaving? c) How good did they end up being in the NBA despite/because of early departure?
As such here's my list in terms of c:
Brand, Boozer, Deng, Maggette, Dunleavy, Livingston (injured),J-Will (injured), Shav (injured), Avery. I'm not sure if Kris Humphries belongs on the list, but he would list as a tie with Avery. Shav is low on the production list but quite high on the surprised-that-he-made-it-in-the-NBA list and the maximized-NBA-dollars list. I think McRoberts will rank roughly equal to Dunleavy.

[lavell12]

Best to Worst

1 Carlos Boozer
2 Elton Brand
3 Maggette
4 Shavlik
5 Josh
6 Dunleavy
7 Avery
8 Jayson Williams (would not of been if motorcyle reck)