[CavsFan07Participant]

 Mitch McGary…

A perfect example of a guy who got hot at the right time…. and even though skill wise probably wasn’t ready for the NBA —– not declaring could really cost him.

At the end of the NCAA tournament last year SEVERAL mocks had him in the Top 10, and some even potentially having him in the top 5. Not to mention, it was a pretty bad draft class so I think it’s a lock he could have been taken top 15. 

Instead, Mitch decided to return to school (something I’m normally a fan of kids doing).  

As of December 27th Mitch has been out of the lineup and had surgery for a "lower back condition." His return this season is in extreme doubt as Coach John Beilein has continuously stated that his team is not planning on his return this season.

Now, the 2014 draft class is a much better class. Mitch has been out nearly 3 months. He can’t possibly declare… right? Instead of a top 10 pick, many are wondering if he’d even get taken in the 1st round this year as back problems is not something NBA teams take lightly.

So what if Mitch returns to Michigan for his junior season? Keep in mind, Mitch turns 22 in June and would turn 23 before the 2015 NBA Draft.. So instead of a 20-21 year old big man, who just came off a hot freshman campagin… Mitch will be a 23 year old junior, fresh off a back injury, trying to claw his way back into the lottery next year (assuming he returns).

Many on this site (myself included) are always advocates of certain kids returning to school and working on their game. The case of Mitch McGary, though, could end up being a mistake that costs him millions.

Thoughts? What does Mitch do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[220Participant]

 Unless Mitch McGary’s goal is to leave college to be a professional basketball player somewhere in the world he needs to stay in school now. I don’t imagine he’d be picked higher than the second round in this years draft which is often a hard spot to be in depending on who drafts the player. If his goal is to be a first round pick now he needs to return to school, hope his injury doesn’t become a chronic one, and play his behind off next year. The sad/funny thing is even if McGary is a far better player than he was after his freshman year he probably won’t be drafted as high as he would’ve after Michigan’s final four run.

[220Participant]

 Unless Mitch McGary’s goal is to leave college to be a professional basketball player somewhere in the world he needs to stay in school now. I don’t imagine he’d be picked higher than the second round in this years draft which is often a hard spot to be in depending on who drafts the player. If his goal is to be a first round pick now he needs to return to school, hope his injury doesn’t become a chronic one, and play his behind off next year. The sad/funny thing is even if McGary is a far better player than he was after his freshman year he probably won’t be drafted as high as he would’ve after Michigan’s final four run.

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 He could maybe have a Sullinger type career. Came back to school then leave his sophmore year with pending back issues. Once he gets to the NBA he can work hard and prove people wrong. We will see

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

 He could maybe have a Sullinger type career. Came back to school then leave his sophmore year with pending back issues. Once he gets to the NBA he can work hard and prove people wrong. We will see

[samosasParticipant]

 He should hop into a time machine and go back to when he was a top 10 pick and a year younger.  I think most college coaches don’t play into the media machine as much as they should. If there’s tons of press about you, that’s the world telling you you’re getting the upperhand and you’re going to get more of a shot than you probably deserve.  Get out and get paid.

[samosasParticipant]

 He should hop into a time machine and go back to when he was a top 10 pick and a year younger.  I think most college coaches don’t play into the media machine as much as they should. If there’s tons of press about you, that’s the world telling you you’re getting the upperhand and you’re going to get more of a shot than you probably deserve.  Get out and get paid.

[CrossyboyParticipant]

If I was a GM, I’d definitely spend a late 2nd on him if he declares. Give him a season to get used to the NBA, whilst he’s recovering.

Hoping the 76ers use one of their picks on him. A potential 2nd round haul of McGary; Hairston/Stauskas & Nurkic/Bogdanovic is better than the players available in the 1st round last year.

As for his career, there are plenty of players who have made significantly more as a 2nd rounder, than as a 1st rounder. Your first contract off the rookie scale is when you get paid and 2nd rounders get to that point significantly quicker. Arenas is someone who springs to mind.

[CrossyboyParticipant]

If I was a GM, I’d definitely spend a late 2nd on him if he declares. Give him a season to get used to the NBA, whilst he’s recovering.

Hoping the 76ers use one of their picks on him. A potential 2nd round haul of McGary; Hairston/Stauskas & Nurkic/Bogdanovic is better than the players available in the 1st round last year.

As for his career, there are plenty of players who have made significantly more as a 2nd rounder, than as a 1st rounder. Your first contract off the rookie scale is when you get paid and 2nd rounders get to that point significantly quicker. Arenas is someone who springs to mind.

[CrossyboyParticipant]

If I was a GM, I’d definitely spend a late 2nd on him if he declares. Give him a season to get used to the NBA, whilst he’s recovering.

Hoping the 76ers use one of their picks on him. A potential 2nd round haul of McGary; Hairston/Stauskas & Nurkic/Bogdanovic is better than the players available in the 1st round last year.

As for his career, there are plenty of players who have made significantly more as a 2nd rounder, than as a 1st rounder. Your first contract off the rookie scale is when you get paid and 2nd rounders get to that point significantly quicker. Arenas is someone who springs to mind.

[CrossyboyParticipant]

If I was a GM, I’d definitely spend a late 2nd on him if he declares. Give him a season to get used to the NBA, whilst he’s recovering.

Hoping the 76ers use one of their picks on him. A potential 2nd round haul of McGary; Hairston/Stauskas & Nurkic/Bogdanovic is better than the players available in the 1st round last year.

As for his career, there are plenty of players who have made significantly more as a 2nd rounder, than as a 1st rounder. Your first contract off the rookie scale is when you get paid and 2nd rounders get to that point significantly quicker. Arenas is someone who springs to mind.

[kngojcParticipant]

 I could see him playing out like Taj Gibson’s career where he gets solid minutes as a guy who goes out and gives his all. McGary is more offensive than defensive in comparison to Taj, but I think the Sullinger comparison is a bit too lofty of an expectation for him.

[kngojcParticipant]

 I could see him playing out like Taj Gibson’s career where he gets solid minutes as a guy who goes out and gives his all. McGary is more offensive than defensive in comparison to Taj, but I think the Sullinger comparison is a bit too lofty of an expectation for him.

[theprophetParticipant]

it’s not over for him. mitch is still young and maybe his back will hold up. that doesn’t sound promising, but what he has for him is this; next year’s draft class i don’t expect to be quite as good as this one. if parker and embiid both decided to stay, stil not sure. if mcgary can help michigan’s team next year to be as good as they are this year and be a top 5 paint player in the nation, he still has a shot at the lotto, or at least first round. he would be an older prospect, but not an old prospect. he has his work cut out for him, but it’s possible to be drafted high. i like the sullinger comparison in terms of where an older 4 or 5 prospect could get drafted in the first despite having back ailments, and more importantly, if the back didn’t work out-like said before, he would have that degree to ride on.

[theprophetParticipant]

it’s not over for him. mitch is still young and maybe his back will hold up. that doesn’t sound promising, but what he has for him is this; next year’s draft class i don’t expect to be quite as good as this one. if parker and embiid both decided to stay, stil not sure. if mcgary can help michigan’s team next year to be as good as they are this year and be a top 5 paint player in the nation, he still has a shot at the lotto, or at least first round. he would be an older prospect, but not an old prospect. he has his work cut out for him, but it’s possible to be drafted high. i like the sullinger comparison in terms of where an older 4 or 5 prospect could get drafted in the first despite having back ailments, and more importantly, if the back didn’t work out-like said before, he would have that degree to ride on.

[Ghost01Participant]

 Completely agree he should have went pro last year.

You HAVE to strike when the iron is hot. It was. He was never going to outperform his tourney run for last year and on top of that he fell into the worst case scenario. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Completely agree he should have went pro last year.

You HAVE to strike when the iron is hot. It was. He was never going to outperform his tourney run for last year and on top of that he fell into the worst case scenario. 

[Fun one partyParticipant]

 Mitch played hard last year and he was arguably the best big in the tourney and then this year he has a back issue that limited him to only 8 games.Mitch has a back issue and he might be a secound round pick if he comes out and i advise him to stay and prove himself next year.He could have a decent career in the NBA if he is healthy.

[Fun one partyParticipant]

 Mitch played hard last year and he was arguably the best big in the tourney and then this year he has a back issue that limited him to only 8 games.Mitch has a back issue and he might be a secound round pick if he comes out and i advise him to stay and prove himself next year.He could have a decent career in the NBA if he is healthy.

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Adreian Payne is 23 and being talk about from anywhere as high as 12-25 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Adreian Payne is 23 and being talk about from anywhere as high as 12-25 

[theballerwayParticipant]

has skills that can translate right away, in terms of shooting range, some low post game (more than MMcGary) and is a decent rebounder So while he may not get much better he is well developed and experienced. McGary just has hustle and some passing instincts as his calling card, therefore would need to develop and with only one college season plus a handful of games I dare say he’s not that experienced yet at a same age.

I think he would have been somewhat exposed in workouts if he came ut last year but he still would have been a lock for the 1st round. Now I dont know?

[theballerwayParticipant]

has skills that can translate right away, in terms of shooting range, some low post game (more than MMcGary) and is a decent rebounder So while he may not get much better he is well developed and experienced. McGary just has hustle and some passing instincts as his calling card, therefore would need to develop and with only one college season plus a handful of games I dare say he’s not that experienced yet at a same age.

I think he would have been somewhat exposed in workouts if he came ut last year but he still would have been a lock for the 1st round. Now I dont know?

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Kind of hard to say where McGary’s skill-set is at when no one has seen him play healthy since last March.

 

Payne’s skill-set now is night and day from when h was an underclassmen. 

Mitch McGary is going to be a steal for an organization like the Spurs, Pacers or Heat. 

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 Kind of hard to say where McGary’s skill-set is at when no one has seen him play healthy since last March.

 

Payne’s skill-set now is night and day from when h was an underclassmen. 

Mitch McGary is going to be a steal for an organization like the Spurs, Pacers or Heat. 

 

[theballerwayParticipant]

-no one has seen him play healthy since last March. – which would indicate he hasnt had much/any time to improve his skills while rehabbing from his various injuries. Especially the back injury.

That was my point Payne a complete product in many ways at 23 while MM is yet to develop his skills. When hes a developed experienced senior hell be what 25. He better be really good. Mike Scott from Virginia was around this age a draft time but was pretty dominant at that stage in the ACC so anything possible

 

 

[theballerwayParticipant]

-no one has seen him play healthy since last March. – which would indicate he hasnt had much/any time to improve his skills while rehabbing from his various injuries. Especially the back injury.

That was my point Payne a complete product in many ways at 23 while MM is yet to develop his skills. When hes a developed experienced senior hell be what 25. He better be really good. Mike Scott from Virginia was around this age a draft time but was pretty dominant at that stage in the ACC so anything possible

 

 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 McGary would be 23 as a senior in college and 24 at the time of the draft. Just like Payne. 

[reanimatorParticipant]

 McGary would be 23 as a senior in college and 24 at the time of the draft. Just like Payne. 

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