NBA Non-Duke Draft Decisions (Declaring, Signing with Agents, Returning, etc)

[Troublemaker]

Put those pieces of news here. For example...

Tyler Lydon is gone and will sign with an agent.

[pfrduke]

Tyler Lydon is gone and will sign with an agent.

Not the warm hug or fare thee well from coach on the way out the door. I love this thread every year - it's at least a couple dozen "wait, that guy thinks he's going to get drafted?!?" over the course of the next few weeks. My bet is Lydon is going to have to try the UFA route.

[kAzE]

Not the warm hug or fare thee well from coach on the way out the door. I love this thread every year - it's at least a couple dozen "wait, that guy thinks he's going to get drafted?!?" over the course of the next few weeks. My bet is Lydon is going to have to try the UFA route.

He's projected as a first rounder on DraftExpress. I doubt he's going undrafted . . .

Also, everyone knew this already, but the sake of being complete, Markelle Fultz already declared, and is projected by many to be the #1 overall pick. I'll still take Lonzo over him, though. Give me the guy who makes everyone better.

[bob blue devil]

Not the warm hug or fare thee well from coach on the way out the door. I love this thread every year - it's at least a couple dozen "wait, that guy thinks he's going to get drafted?!?" over the course of the next few weeks. My bet is Lydon is going to have to try the UFA route.

i wish jim would've done the classy thing and just wish him well as he pursues his dream. maybe playing at syracuse in exchange for an education isn't all that appealing to him and any pro option is preferable.

[CDu]

He's projected as a first rounder on DraftExpress. I doubt he's going undrafted . . .

Also, everyone knew this already, but the sake of being complete, Markelle Fultz already declared, and is projected by many to be the #1 overall pick. I'll still take Lonzo over him, though. Give me the guy who makes everyone better.

The analytics guys REALLY liked Lydon last year. But I suspect that was a bit of the old "stats not telling the full story." He is a good shooter and post scorer, but he isn't terribly athletic, is really weak, and has to prove he can play defense (the zone masks deficiencies). He probably translates pretty well as a second-unit shooting specialist as a stretch-4. Back end of the first round for a Ryan Anderson/Nikola Mirotic clone seems about right.

[Olympic Fan]

This news is about a week old, but just to consolidate it in this thread, N.C. State freshman Omar Yurtseven has declared for the draft:

http://www.backingthepack.com/nc-sta...ack-basketball

As of now, he is NOT hiring an agent. There is a good chance he pulls out of the draft. A year ago, 162 players declared early, but 91 ultimately withdrew their names, including such ACC guys as Justin Jackson, Jaron Blossomgame, BeeJay Anya and Malik Abu.

Here's a good site for keeping up with the latest news:

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2017/03/...ants-list.html

[gam7]

Draftexpress has a very helpful early entry/test the waters list, usually with a link to the source of the information.

In addition to the names mentioned above, Jawun Evans from Oklahoma State is in - projected late first round. Interesting to note that projected Top 10 pick Robert Williams from Texas A&M is strongly leaning towards coming back for his sophomore year, according Woj. He's now a projected Top 5 pick in draftexpress's 2018 mock.

[Troublemaker]

It's interesting to me that John Collins hasn't declared yet. I'm guessing it will come soon.

Collins and Donovan Mitchell are the two major non-Duke ACC decisions.

[CDu]

It's interesting to me that John Collins hasn't declared yet. I'm guessing it will come soon.

Collins and Donovan Mitchell are the two major non-Duke ACC decisions.

I would consider Justin Jackson a pretty significant non-Duke ACC decision. To a lesser degree (increasing in possibility the deeper UNC goes in the tournament) Berry.

Bacon and Isaacs are pretty important too.

[English]

It's interesting to me that John Collins hasn't declared yet. I'm guessing it will come soon.

Collins and Donovan Mitchell are the two major non-Duke ACC decisions.

Is this because Justin Jackson's isn't so much a decision as a foregone conclusion? My list of major non-Duke decisions would include that guy.

[kAzE]

I would consider Justin Jackson a pretty significant non-Duke ACC decision. To a lesser degree (increasing in possibility the deeper UNC goes in the tournament) Berry.

Bacon and Isaacs are pretty important too.

Jackson would have to be insane not to leave this year. He's 22, his draft stock has nowhere to go but down. I think he's gone regardless of what happens to UNC in the tournament, or whatever voodoo magic Roy uses to keep guys in Chapel Hill.

Berry probably stays.

[English]

Jackson would have to be insane not to leave this year. I think he's gone regardless of what happens to UNC in the tournament, or whatever voodoo magic Roy uses to keep guys in Chapel Hill.

Per Evan Daniels, Robert Williams (TAMU) is returning next season. Projected lottery pick prior to this decision.

[CDu]

Jackson would have to be insane not to leave this year. He's 22, his draft stock has nowhere to go but down. I think he's gone regardless of what happens to UNC in the tournament, or whatever voodoo magic Roy uses to keep guys in Chapel Hill.

Berry probably stays.

I tend to agree. But the decision of both is still pretty important. If both return, UNC will be very good again. If both leave, UNC is likely in for a down year. If Jackson goes and Berry stays, the outlook is a little less clear.

[English]

Freshman Univ of Texas 5, Jarrett Allen, will test the NBA Draft waters...no agent.

[arnie]

Jackson would have to be insane not to leave this year. He's 22, his draft stock has nowhere to go but down. I think he's gone regardless of what happens to UNC in the tournament, or whatever voodoo magic Roy uses to keep guys in Chapel Hill.

Berry probably stays.

I hear Justin Jackson is staying. Roy signed him up for pie eating contests in the fall so he can develop into a Sean May-like pro.

[Olympic Fan]

A bunch of ACC guys to watch:

I would break them down this way:

Gone:
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse

Will probably go (* almost certain to go:

*Jayson Tatum, Duke
*Dennis Smith, N.C. Stat
*Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
*Justin Jackson, UNC
Luke Kennard, Duke
Grayson Allen, Duke
Harry Giles, Duke
John Collins, Wake Forest
Dwayne Bacon, FSU
Donovan Mitchell, Louisville

Could also go (will at least test the waters):
Omar Yurtseven, N.C. State
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Tony Bradley, UNC
Marques Bolden, Duke
Abdul-Malik Abu, N.C. State
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State
Bryant Crawford, Wake Forest
Joel Berry, UNC
Frank Jackson, Duke

Some of them would be stupid decisions, but we see kids make stupid decisions every spring

I'd be willing to bet that at least 8 of the 10 guys on the first list go pro ... and three of the guys on the second list. There will be one or tw guy not listed, who will put their names on the draft list (at least temporarily)

[arnie]

A bunch of ACC guys to watch:

I would break them down this way:

Gone:
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse

Will probably go (* almost certain to go:

*Jayson Tatum, Duke
*Dennis Smith, N.C. Stat
*Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
*Justin Jackson, UNC
Luke Kennard, Duke
Grayson Allen, Duke
Harry Giles, Duke
John Collins, Wake Forest
Dwayne Bacon, FSU
Donovan Mitchell, Louisville

Could also go (will at least test the waters):
Omar Yurtseven, N.C. State
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Tony Bradley, UNC
Marques Bolden, Duke
Abdul-Malik Abu, N.C. State
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State
Bryant Crawford, Wake Forest
Joel Berry, UNC
Frank Jackson, Duke

Some of them would be stupid decisions, but we see kids make stupid decisions every spring

I'd be willing to bet that at least 8 of the 10 guys on the first list go pro ... and three of the guys on the second list. There will be one or tw guy not listed, who will put their names on the draft list (at least temporarily)

So if every Duke player you listed goes pro, our starting lineup next year would be a bunch of freshmen or grad transfers, Jeter if healthy and ???. Best that we don't face this.

[Newton_14]

A bunch of ACC guys to watch:

I would break them down this way:

Gone:
Tyler Lydon, Syracuse

Will probably go (* almost certain to go:

*Jayson Tatum, Duke
*Dennis Smith, N.C. Stat
*Jonathan Isaac, Florida State
*Justin Jackson, UNC
Luke Kennard, Duke
Grayson Allen, Duke
Harry Giles, Duke
John Collins, Wake Forest
Dwayne Bacon, FSU
Donovan Mitchell, Louisville

Could also go (will at least test the waters):
Omar Yurtseven, N.C. State
Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame
Tony Bradley, UNC
Marques Bolden, Duke
Abdul-Malik Abu, N.C. State
Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Florida State
Bryant Crawford, Wake Forest
Joel Berry, UNC
Frank Jackson, Duke

Some of them would be stupid decisions, but we see kids make stupid decisions every spring

I'd be willing to bet that at least 8 of the 10 guys on the first list go pro ... and three of the guys on the second list. There will be one or tw guy not listed, who will put their names on the draft list (at least temporarily)

Oly, part of my post is a rant, none of which is directed at you. Yours was just the best post so far to reply too. I fully agree with you on the stupid decisions and that's what my rant will be on...

I'm in the minority for sure (and will be labeled as nuts for certain) but I'm not convinced any of Kennard, Allen, Giles, and Bolden will go. Out of the 4 I would put Giles as the most likely, but in my opinion he has no business going and NBA teams have no business drafting him. I love the kid but he has in no way shown that he can make it all the way back to the player he used to be. I think it would be much smarter for him to come back and spend another year rehabbing and developing his mental and physical abilities. If he is to be the player he used to be, he could play his way right back into a Top 3 Pick next year. I assume everyone will push him out the door like they do every other kid with even a hint of talent though.

Bolden needs a lot of development just to become a solid ACC Player. Anyone advising him to leave for the NBA does not really care about him and certainly doesn't have his best interests in mind.

Allen has lost all of his draft potential and needs to come back to earn it back. He is still not fully healthy which will only hurt him even more at the evaluations.

Kennard is the most established player of them all at this point, but he is pretty much on record as saying he expected to be an off the bench role player this past season, which means he was certainly not planning to be a 1 and done or 2 and done player and most likely came in expecting to play 3 or all 4 years. He certainly has a lot of areas where he needs to improve with defense being at the top of that list. But yet again, all the armchair QB's are screaming go go go Luke which maybe/possibly is changing his own personal viewpoint.


I'm just sick of it all. People rush these kids (like Bolden which is absurd, and Kennard) out of school and a very large percentage of the guys that give up their college careers and legacies, end up as journeyman NBA players at best and out of the league all together in a lot of cases. All in the name of the almighty dollar which most of them end up blowing anyway. There is more to life than money. Way more. Far more. I will honestly be glad when the bubble bursts and it all comes crashing down. The Major League Baseball rule should be implemented for Basketball. Go into the draft and/or D League right out of High School or go to College for 3 years. That would be much better than the mess we have now, but there is just too much greed involved for the powers that be to institute that model.

Rant over...

Everyone back to pushing non-ready players out the door...

[westwall]

I'm in the minority for sure (and will be labeled as nuts for certain) but I'm not convinced any of Kennard, Allen, Giles, and Bolden will go. Out of the 4 I would put Giles as the most likely, but in my opinion he has no business going and NBA teams have no business drafting him. I love the kid but he has in no way shown that he can make it all the way back to the player he used to be. I think it would be much smarter for him to come back and spend another year rehabbing and developing his mental and physical abilities. If he is to be the player he used to be, he could play his way right back into a Top 3 Pick next year. I assume everyone will push him out the door like they do every other kid with even a hint of talent though.

************

I'm just sick of it all. People rush these kids (like Bolden which is absurd, and Kennard) out of school and a very large percentage of the guys that give up their college careers and legacies, end up as journeyman NBA players at best and out of the league all together in a lot of cases. All in the name of the almighty dollar which most of them end up blowing anyway. There is more to life than money. Way more. Far more. I will honestly be glad when the bubble bursts and it all comes crashing down. The Major League Baseball rule should be implemented for Basketball. Go into the draft and/or D League right out of High School or go to College for 3 years. That would be much better than the mess we have now, but there is just too much greed involved for the powers that be to institute that model.

Rant over...

Everyone back to pushing non-ready players out the door...

Best rant so far! Anyone else??

[Troublemaker]

I would consider Justin Jackson a pretty significant non-Duke ACC decision. To a lesser degree (increasing in possibility the deeper UNC goes in the tournament) Berry.

Bacon and Isaacs are pretty important too.

Is this because Justin Jackson's isn't so much a decision as a foregone conclusion? My list of major non-Duke decisions would include that guy.

Yes, I'd already mentally counted Justin Jackson as gone. Same for Isaacs. Perhaps I shouldn't do that though, so I understand including them on a list.