[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Just read the news that Mudiay will not attend the draft combine. Whether this is actually the smart thing for him to do is up for discussion, but I would like to discuss the value of the draft combine. The event is being organized so NBA teams have more insights on every prospect, making the draft less of a gamble. However, as the numbers of players not attending the combine will rise, the value of organizing a draft combine decreases.

I do not understand why the NBA does not force invited players to attend the combine in order for them to be eligble for the draft. The NBA should at least be able to oblige every prospect to attend the physical measurements (all players) and athletic tests (except players that are deemed unfit to do so due to injury, tested by an unaffiliated medical team). Prospects can then determine for themselves whether they want to participate in the rest of the program (e.g. shooting tests, interviews). This would level the playing field for all prospects, and would give the teams more options to compare similar players. I’m not sure whether this is part of the negotiations with the player’s association of the NBA, but I see no particular reason for them to hold back on mandatory participation. Although it might disadvantageous for one or two mystery prospects, I believe it is in everybody’s best interest to give NBA teams a better feeling for who they pick and what they will get.

[Hercules.Q.EinsteinParticipant]

 Its not in any players interest to have a level playing field…it would help the teams, but not necessarily any given player. What if someone has poor measurements and wants to hide that? Or if a consensus top pick (muiday) simply sees no upside to going…he is going to be a top pick regardless.

 

  

[Hercules.Q.EinsteinParticipant]

 Its not in any players interest to have a level playing field…it would help the teams, but not necessarily any given player. What if someone has poor measurements and wants to hide that? Or if a consensus top pick (muiday) simply sees no upside to going…he is going to be a top pick regardless.

 

  

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I read a story the other day that said the Grizz would have drafted Stephon Curry, but because he didn’t work out for them they didn’t want to take the risk, so instead that took a sure thing in Hasheem Thabeet…wait, what.

I could care less how a player performs at the combine, and completely disagree that it makes the draft more accurate. If anything it makes it more of a crap shoot, as we see every year with players like Joe Alexander make it into the lottery because of how they perform when in reality they shouldn’t. I think individual workouts are more important than the combine, as teams get to see how a prospect performs, but on a more personal level. I also think the mandatory one year of college kind of makes this irrelevant as well. What is a player going to show me in workouts that I haven’t seen in 30+ games of college basketball? 

I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t blame players for wanting to hold out of the combine if they know they are a sure bet for a guaranteed contract. NFL players do this all the time, mostly the top quarterbacks, and for the most part it pays off. Jamarcus Russle had an incredible combine in the NFL, and solidified his status as the #1 pick…how did that turn out?

I guess the point im trying to make is that their is no way to quantify how good a teenage kid is going to become in 5 years based on the results he puts up in the combine. There are fools gold every year, and players who fall because they didn’t test well. There is no way to accurately predict this formula, so why make it mandatory?

[mgreener_34Participant]

 I read a story the other day that said the Grizz would have drafted Stephon Curry, but because he didn’t work out for them they didn’t want to take the risk, so instead that took a sure thing in Hasheem Thabeet…wait, what.

I could care less how a player performs at the combine, and completely disagree that it makes the draft more accurate. If anything it makes it more of a crap shoot, as we see every year with players like Joe Alexander make it into the lottery because of how they perform when in reality they shouldn’t. I think individual workouts are more important than the combine, as teams get to see how a prospect performs, but on a more personal level. I also think the mandatory one year of college kind of makes this irrelevant as well. What is a player going to show me in workouts that I haven’t seen in 30+ games of college basketball? 

I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t blame players for wanting to hold out of the combine if they know they are a sure bet for a guaranteed contract. NFL players do this all the time, mostly the top quarterbacks, and for the most part it pays off. Jamarcus Russle had an incredible combine in the NFL, and solidified his status as the #1 pick…how did that turn out?

I guess the point im trying to make is that their is no way to quantify how good a teenage kid is going to become in 5 years based on the results he puts up in the combine. There are fools gold every year, and players who fall because they didn’t test well. There is no way to accurately predict this formula, so why make it mandatory?

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 If someone is going to be a top 10 pick regardless then the combine is pretty much useless to them. There are only a limited number of spots available at the combine. If someone doesn’t want to workout, then use that spot for someone else who actually feels like their draft stock could benefit. Definitely don’t think they should make it mandatory for anyone. I don’t even see how they could given that the prospects aren’t even officially NBA employees yet.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 If someone is going to be a top 10 pick regardless then the combine is pretty much useless to them. There are only a limited number of spots available at the combine. If someone doesn’t want to workout, then use that spot for someone else who actually feels like their draft stock could benefit. Definitely don’t think they should make it mandatory for anyone. I don’t even see how they could given that the prospects aren’t even officially NBA employees yet.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

the combine starts next tuesday may 12th..official invites have been sent out..but the official list haven’t been released yet….there is so much confusion about whose been invited..i’ve seen potential prospects posting on twitter that they’ve been invited,but actually they were told they were ”under consideration”… there have been 2 letters sent out and a questionaire.. here’s the 1st letter (the official invitee letter) here’s the 2nd letter (telling players they’re under consideration to attend the combine) here’s the questionaire(trying to see who will agree to perform in 5 on 5 workouts) a href="http://www.uploadhouse.com/viewfile.php?id=21101287&showlnk=0" target="_blank">

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

the combine starts next tuesday may 12th..official invites have been sent out..but the official list haven’t been released yet….there is so much confusion about whose been invited..i’ve seen potential prospects posting on twitter that they’ve been invited,but actually they were told they were ”under consideration”… there have been 2 letters sent out and a questionaire.. here’s the 1st letter (the official invitee letter) here’s the 2nd letter (telling players they’re under consideration to attend the combine) here’s the questionaire(trying to see who will agree to perform in 5 on 5 workouts) a href="http://www.uploadhouse.com/viewfile.php?id=21101287&showlnk=0" target="_blank">

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Athleticism is more important in the NFL, which is why most prospects (including elite ones) usually attend. I really don’t care much for measurements unless it’s for late 1sts or 2nd round prospects, where there isn’t much difference in skill and a couple of inches in standing reach and wingspan can make some difference.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Athleticism is more important in the NFL, which is why most prospects (including elite ones) usually attend. I really don’t care much for measurements unless it’s for late 1sts or 2nd round prospects, where there isn’t much difference in skill and a couple of inches in standing reach and wingspan can make some difference.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 As with any decision, the more informed and data you have to support the decision the better off you will be.  Any other argument is non sense.  If a player doesn’t want to participate to hide certain flaws, then those flaws should be exposed to the teams that are going to be paying these players millions of dollars.  Would you expect a company to hire you if you refused an interview? No.  The notion that these undrafted players should be able to essentially mislead a team into taking them by refusing measurements is also garbage.  This doesn’t mean that teams still wouldn’t make bonehead picks, or that these measurements would have a false impact in them selecting said player.  But they should have the data to make the decision regardless.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

"Would you expect a company to hire you if you refused an interview?"

Interviews aren’t public. If someone is interested, I’d love a private call or a meeting.

 

Well… the thing is that those measurements aren’t particularly impactful for most players. Also, teams do take measurements from players during workouts.

Here the problem seems to be that sometimes we, as audience, feel entitled to be given all this information. Of course, we all want to know more about those players, but I don’t think that information is 100% hidden from the real decision-makers, which is what really matters.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

The interviews with players aren’t public either; however, your credentials are most of the time available (online, LinkeDIN etc.). In addition to my earlier story I would say that having the fans involved in the draft process increases the attention even further, generating more interest and thus revenues for teams and players. Simple information about measurement help us, the fans, project the future of these prospects (horribly wrong very often ;)), while it does nothing to harm 99% of the prospects entering the draft.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

The interviews with players aren’t public either; however, your credentials are most of the time available (online, LinkeDIN etc.). In addition to my earlier story I would say that having the fans involved in the draft process increases the attention even further, generating more interest and thus revenues for teams and players. Simple information about measurement help us, the fans, project the future of these prospects (horribly wrong very often ;)), while it does nothing to harm 99% of the prospects entering the draft.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

"Would you expect a company to hire you if you refused an interview?"

Interviews aren’t public. If someone is interested, I’d love a private call or a meeting.

 

Well… the thing is that those measurements aren’t particularly impactful for most players. Also, teams do take measurements from players during workouts.

Here the problem seems to be that sometimes we, as audience, feel entitled to be given all this information. Of course, we all want to know more about those players, but I don’t think that information is 100% hidden from the real decision-makers, which is what really matters.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 As with any decision, the more informed and data you have to support the decision the better off you will be.  Any other argument is non sense.  If a player doesn’t want to participate to hide certain flaws, then those flaws should be exposed to the teams that are going to be paying these players millions of dollars.  Would you expect a company to hire you if you refused an interview? No.  The notion that these undrafted players should be able to essentially mislead a team into taking them by refusing measurements is also garbage.  This doesn’t mean that teams still wouldn’t make bonehead picks, or that these measurements would have a false impact in them selecting said player.  But they should have the data to make the decision regardless.

[HitsterParticipant]

KAT and Okafor are both not expected to attend either. I don’t see what someone like KAT would have to hide with his measurements as we know fairly well what his wingspan etc is going to be.

I can understand players not wanting to be paired up against each other, someone does a monster play on a rival I bet it would effect draft sentiments although the teams have hours of data/footage/reports to sift through before they even conduct meetings with various players.

Interesting story about MVP Curry, I wonder if he refused to work out for the Grizz at the combine or pre draft lottery as in his draft year the Grizz picked 2nd and Curry wasn’t touted to go that high as far as I can recall so I cannot see why he’d turn down the chance to work out for the team picking at 2 unless he thought there was no chance they would take him.

[HitsterParticipant]

KAT and Okafor are both not expected to attend either. I don’t see what someone like KAT would have to hide with his measurements as we know fairly well what his wingspan etc is going to be.

I can understand players not wanting to be paired up against each other, someone does a monster play on a rival I bet it would effect draft sentiments although the teams have hours of data/footage/reports to sift through before they even conduct meetings with various players.

Interesting story about MVP Curry, I wonder if he refused to work out for the Grizz at the combine or pre draft lottery as in his draft year the Grizz picked 2nd and Curry wasn’t touted to go that high as far as I can recall so I cannot see why he’d turn down the chance to work out for the team picking at 2 unless he thought there was no chance they would take him.

[JoeWolf1]

 That’s all fine and good until a top 5 pick rolls his ankle in 5 on 5 drills. The NBA combine isn’t the spectacle the NFL combine is, and as far as I’m concerned…that’s okay.

Teams can bring in a guy solo, and test his vert, measure him, and let the team docs look at him. It’s not like turning down a job interview, it’s more like skipping a career fair so you can only meet with the companies that you want to work for. 

[JoeWolf1]

 That’s all fine and good until a top 5 pick rolls his ankle in 5 on 5 drills. The NBA combine isn’t the spectacle the NFL combine is, and as far as I’m concerned…that’s okay.

Teams can bring in a guy solo, and test his vert, measure him, and let the team docs look at him. It’s not like turning down a job interview, it’s more like skipping a career fair so you can only meet with the companies that you want to work for. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Has an NBA draft eligible player ever suffered a career threatening injury at the combine a can’t recall?

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Has an NBA draft eligible player ever suffered a career threatening injury at the combine a can’t recall?

 

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