[JM40Participant]

Is it just me, or does it seem like declaring early for the NBA draft is becoming somewhat of a formality for most prospects that have even the slightest chance of being drafted? Anyway, here are a few observations I have based on the final list that came out from the NBA;

1. Bad Calls: a few players stand out to me as prospects who have declared early and hired an agent, but are fringe first rounders who could have come back and improved their draft stock with deep tournament runs. Keita Bates-Diop, Rawle Alkins, and Jacob Evans would have all been likely pre-season POY candidates in their respective conferences, and D.J. Hogg would have returned to a better Texas A&M team.

2. Surprised They Stayed: to be honest, I’m surprised that OShae Brissett, Rui Hachimura, and Daniel Gafford stayed. I had each pegged at surefire first rounders this year. Every year a few prospects surprise us and hand around, and these three certainly fit that definition this year.

3. Sliders: every years a few prospects that are widely projected as first round locks at some point during the season slide into the second round or even go undrafted. Think Cliff Alexander and Johnathan Motley in recent drafts. My picks this year: Chimezie Metu and Hamidou Diallo.

4. Sleepers: conversely, every once in awhile an embattled prospect with baggage will go undrafted and eventually become a very productive NBA player. It’s entirely possible that Billy Preston, DeAnthony Melton, and Cody Riley (assuming he stays in) all go undrafted, even though each has first round talent.

5. Striking While The Iron Is Hot: every draft seems to have underclassmen that declare while they are on the front of GM’s minds, even in they are far from first round locks, as they don’t think another season would improve their draft stock. Malik Newman, Jalen Brunson, and Moritz Wagner are my opportunists this year, and all may fall in the 31-50 range when said and done.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 Malik Newman may also benefit if teams want to go find the "next" Donovan Mitchell.  

Donte Inferno probably maxed out his draft stock, too.

Other than that, the vast majorities of these guys need to go back to college — they are looking at journeymen careers in the G League or over in Europe/China.

 

 

[220Participant]

When the NCAA changed the withdrawal deadline it allows prospects  to declare for the draft, to actually workout, and get feedback from teams before they have to decide whether to stay in the draft or not. I think that’s a large reason there are so many early entrants to the draft.

[Author]

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