After every decision, you are either inherently happy or slip into the dangerous world of having buyer’s remorse. That will stem from differing reasons, depending on the situation or the individual. After the NBA Draft came to a close, one fact was very apparent: Some of the early entry candidates from college have to be re-thinking their decision.
There were 46 players that declared early for the NBA Draft (45 if you exclude Norvel Pelle) and 17 of them went undrafted. That’s 37.7 percent of the early entry candidates. High-profile college athletes such as Phil Pressey (Missouri), Myck Kabongo (Texas) and C.J. Leslie (N.C. State) all sat through 60 picks without hearing their names. Outside of Kabongo, both Pressey and Leslie were in an ideal situation to return back to school and build their brand.
How are they and the other 14 prospects feeling today about their decision to turn professional? That is one side of the coin. Players are sitting at home wondering what they could have done to make their phone ring last night. That’s behind them now and the buyer’s remorse may be setting in, but it should be about the next step and the next opportunity.
In the moment, and over the course of the next few months, every pick made was the best possible pick and 30 teams won the draft this morning in their internal discussions. Every conversation on the radio, television, and other outlets by team executives is just that. We won. But in hindsight there will be teams that reached on prospects, that made miscalculations, and that made the wrong decision.
Was Anthony Bennett the right pick at No. 1 for the Cleveland Cavaliers? Initially, based on public scouting and big boards, it was a reach. Then again, Bennett was one of the few prospects brought into Cleveland for an interview for the top overall pick. He was one of six prospects brought in that had the ability to go in the top spot, along with Otto Porter Jr., Nerlens Noel, Alex Len, Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo.
Two drafts ago, the Cavaliers took Tristan Thompson No. 4 overall and they were widely criticized. They did the same thing in 2012 at No. 4 with Dion Waiters. They march to the beat of their own drum and do what they feel is best to build a team for the future.
They swerved the audience and the NBA as a whole with the selection of Bennett. There is no doubt he has star potential, but one of the highest bust rates in the NBA has been tweener forwards that are too small for the four and too slow for the three. There are questions on how Bennett fits in with the likes of Thompson, Waiters and emerging superstar Kyrie Irving. Only time knows and we have to wait to see. Other “questionable” picks were either reaches by public opinion or bizarre in general based on the team.
The Charlotte Bobcats took Cody Zeller No. 4 overall despite other talented prospects remaining on the board. Zeller has the polish and skill to play the four or the five in the NBA at a high level, but that pick was surprising by all standards. Other than the Celtics moving up for Kelly Olynyk of Gonzaga at No. 13, the Indiana Pacers selecting Solomon Hill No. 23, and the Oklahoma City Thunder moving up for Andre Roberson of Colorado at No. 26, this draft made a lot of sense for all teams involved.
How will teams feel in a few months? Will buyer’s remorse set in or did those teams mentioned outsmart us all?
What do you think?
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