Do all the top picks leave?

I don’t see why they wouldn’t.

I don’t see why they wouldn’t.

Should they? Yes. I think Wiggins, Randle and Smart will forsure leave, Embiid probably will leave if his back heals up quickly, and Parker is a toss up IMO.

Should they? Yes. I think Wiggins, Randle and Smart will forsure leave, Embiid probably will leave if his back heals up quickly, and Parker is a toss up IMO.

 They all should leave

 They all should leave

Of rich people (or upper middle class) telling poor people to stay poor and not go be rich like them

Of rich people (or upper middle class) telling poor people to stay poor and not go be rich like them

 Yes…College doesnt really help their development to me. Smart came back, got in more trouble and dropped 2-3 spots. Last year, a few prospects went back to school and dropped a bunch (Sullinger, Perry Jones)…its just not going to do much unless you stay 3 or 4 years in college, and those days are over. 

Look at the top NBA players in the game, most of them came from high school or went to college for one year. 

 Yes…College doesnt really help their development to me. Smart came back, got in more trouble and dropped 2-3 spots. Last year, a few prospects went back to school and dropped a bunch (Sullinger, Perry Jones)…its just not going to do much unless you stay 3 or 4 years in college, and those days are over. 

Look at the top NBA players in the game, most of them came from high school or went to college for one year. 

 Wiggins=leave

Parker=Stay. Here’s my surprise. He didn’t end his college career like he expected to, and he wants to play with Okafor and probably Tyus too. He will go back to his original position, the 3, with Jefferson at the 4 and Okafor at the 5. Sulaimon will play the two and Jones will play the point. He will be much more productive and vocal in the team and become more of a leader because of the presence of a true point guard and he is at his original position. Him and Okafor will battle for the top spot of the 2015 draft. So even though I expect him to stay, I don’t think his draft spot will be affected because he will improve his game. He seems to be the type of player that is a student of the game more than just a player of the game.

Embiid=Stay. Joel feels that he is not adequately strong enough to play Center in the league yet. And I don’t think he particuraly likes that he was hurt at the end of this season and couldn’t play. I think he will stay and yes I think his stock will be affected because of it. But not because his production decreases, or because he is not a student of the game. I think his stock will decrease because the talent above him (Okafor, Parker, Turner) is just too talented for him to go before those players. I still expect him to be a top 5-7 pick but not a top 3 like he is right now. Also the NBA is leading towards a smaller, talented and athletic group then it was back in the old days of big men (and sometimes even unathletic big men)

Randle=leave

Gordon=leave

Smart=leave

Vonleh=leave

Ennis=leave

Lavine=Stay, he is very talented but he has been overshadowed by Anderson. He needs to stay another year and be the man, the leader on the team. Looney will come and share the load too. I hope that another year at UCLA will allow Lavine to play a more supportive and team leading role instead just a backup scorer to Anderson and Adams. 

You guys think this draft is loaded, wait till next year when Okafor, Parker, Turner, Embiid, Oubre, Alexander, Mudiay, Lavine, Looney, Jones, S. Johnson, and Towns… all decide to come out. Oh man I can’t wait to see all that talent.

 Wiggins=leave

Parker=Stay. Here’s my surprise. He didn’t end his college career like he expected to, and he wants to play with Okafor and probably Tyus too. He will go back to his original position, the 3, with Jefferson at the 4 and Okafor at the 5. Sulaimon will play the two and Jones will play the point. He will be much more productive and vocal in the team and become more of a leader because of the presence of a true point guard and he is at his original position. Him and Okafor will battle for the top spot of the 2015 draft. So even though I expect him to stay, I don’t think his draft spot will be affected because he will improve his game. He seems to be the type of player that is a student of the game more than just a player of the game.

Embiid=Stay. Joel feels that he is not adequately strong enough to play Center in the league yet. And I don’t think he particuraly likes that he was hurt at the end of this season and couldn’t play. I think he will stay and yes I think his stock will be affected because of it. But not because his production decreases, or because he is not a student of the game. I think his stock will decrease because the talent above him (Okafor, Parker, Turner) is just too talented for him to go before those players. I still expect him to be a top 5-7 pick but not a top 3 like he is right now. Also the NBA is leading towards a smaller, talented and athletic group then it was back in the old days of big men (and sometimes even unathletic big men)

Randle=leave

Gordon=leave

Smart=leave

Vonleh=leave

Ennis=leave

Lavine=Stay, he is very talented but he has been overshadowed by Anderson. He needs to stay another year and be the man, the leader on the team. Looney will come and share the load too. I hope that another year at UCLA will allow Lavine to play a more supportive and team leading role instead just a backup scorer to Anderson and Adams. 

You guys think this draft is loaded, wait till next year when Okafor, Parker, Turner, Embiid, Oubre, Alexander, Mudiay, Lavine, Looney, Jones, S. Johnson, and Towns… all decide to come out. Oh man I can’t wait to see all that talent.

From Parker comments after last game, it can be inferred that he could stay. However, if Embiid stays, he’ll probably have a great sophomore season. Okafor might have a decent (Embiid-like) freshman season, too. So both big men will get looks for top 3 positions.

I think it is very likely he falls some positions, if he doesn’t dominate (I’m expecting +20ppg or outstanding defensive game) in his sophomore year. A stacked Duke team means less touches for Jabari… so it’s not looking good for him. A top 3 position may not be locked for him anymore.

From Parker comments after last game, it can be inferred that he could stay. However, if Embiid stays, he’ll probably have a great sophomore season. Okafor might have a decent (Embiid-like) freshman season, too. So both big men will get looks for top 3 positions.

I think it is very likely he falls some positions, if he doesn’t dominate (I’m expecting +20ppg or outstanding defensive game) in his sophomore year. A stacked Duke team means less touches for Jabari… so it’s not looking good for him. A top 3 position may not be locked for him anymore.

 I fully understand the argument for Embiid to stay and normally I’m an advocate of returning and working on your game… But why would he?

– He’s likely a top 3 pick, and at the very worst is going within the top 5 as long as his back doesn’t become a very serious issue.

– As previously stated, the top of the draft next year has potential to be pretty good and Parker may return which would make the draft even better. What happens if he gets hurt again? Big guys with several injury concerns scare NBA teams BIG TIME! 

– Cliff Alexander is coming to Kansas next year. Have you ever seen Alexander play? Very strong/athletic but is much better with his back to the basket. He’s not good squaring up to the basket and creating his own shot / shooting long jumpers so an Alexander/Embiid combo doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense.

Even though they are drastically different players with completely different ceilings, I hope Embiid doesn’t make the same mistake Mitch McGary did. He needs to strike while the iron is hot. Physically, no, he may not be ready for the NBA yet. But was Nerlens Noel? He’ll be on a bad enough team that can bring him along slowly. 

 I fully understand the argument for Embiid to stay and normally I’m an advocate of returning and working on your game… But why would he?

– He’s likely a top 3 pick, and at the very worst is going within the top 5 as long as his back doesn’t become a very serious issue.

– As previously stated, the top of the draft next year has potential to be pretty good and Parker may return which would make the draft even better. What happens if he gets hurt again? Big guys with several injury concerns scare NBA teams BIG TIME! 

– Cliff Alexander is coming to Kansas next year. Have you ever seen Alexander play? Very strong/athletic but is much better with his back to the basket. He’s not good squaring up to the basket and creating his own shot / shooting long jumpers so an Alexander/Embiid combo doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense.

Even though they are drastically different players with completely different ceilings, I hope Embiid doesn’t make the same mistake Mitch McGary did. He needs to strike while the iron is hot. Physically, no, he may not be ready for the NBA yet. But was Nerlens Noel? He’ll be on a bad enough team that can bring him along slowly. 

 There’s going to be more than one Kentucky player besides Randle leaving for this year’s upcoming draft. Cauley-Stein is gone after this year, I believe.  He made the decision to stay at Kentucky for another year last year. I don’t think he makes that decision again. Harrison twins will also leave this year.  They could use another year of development in college, especially with their potential starting to show, but their demeanor has 1-and-done written all over them.  NBA teams should be able to develop them further. James Young also leaves, and if he does, Alex Poythress stays for one more year to start at SF for the Wildcats next season.

 Here’s who Kentucky has coming in next year:

#24 PG Tyler Ulis (Will start because Andrew Harrison will go pro.  And Andrew should go because he could risk his starting spot as Tyler Ulis is, perhaps, the first true point guard Kentucky will have since John Wall in 2010 (Teague is debatable).

#17 SG Devin Booker (Will start because the Harrison twins are gone after this year.  This tourney run will be their last games as Wildcats)

#6 PF Trey Lyles (I think he’ll start over Marcus Lee because of his size)

#9 C Karl Towns (Could start but will have to compete against Dakari Johnson for starting spot. Dakari Johnson played great this year when he got a chance to come in. I think Dakari Johnson takes the cake.)

As for my Jayhawks, Wiggins is gone. Embiid has a tough decision to make. Ellis could consider leaving or staying one more year with #3 PF Cliff Alexander coming in next year.

 There’s going to be more than one Kentucky player besides Randle leaving for this year’s upcoming draft. Cauley-Stein is gone after this year, I believe.  He made the decision to stay at Kentucky for another year last year. I don’t think he makes that decision again. Harrison twins will also leave this year.  They could use another year of development in college, especially with their potential starting to show, but their demeanor has 1-and-done written all over them.  NBA teams should be able to develop them further. James Young also leaves, and if he does, Alex Poythress stays for one more year to start at SF for the Wildcats next season.

 Here’s who Kentucky has coming in next year:

#24 PG Tyler Ulis (Will start because Andrew Harrison will go pro.  And Andrew should go because he could risk his starting spot as Tyler Ulis is, perhaps, the first true point guard Kentucky will have since John Wall in 2010 (Teague is debatable).

#17 SG Devin Booker (Will start because the Harrison twins are gone after this year.  This tourney run will be their last games as Wildcats)

#6 PF Trey Lyles (I think he’ll start over Marcus Lee because of his size)

#9 C Karl Towns (Could start but will have to compete against Dakari Johnson for starting spot. Dakari Johnson played great this year when he got a chance to come in. I think Dakari Johnson takes the cake.)

As for my Jayhawks, Wiggins is gone. Embiid has a tough decision to make. Ellis could consider leaving or staying one more year with #3 PF Cliff Alexander coming in next year.