Sully is what, still 18 or maybe 19 years old now? Who's to say this kid won't grow another inch or two in the next year? If he grew and also got leaner and put on muscle, he could be a real stud for next year's draft. Another year of school could really do him some good. Maybe OSU could put him through a more rigorous type of training program to add muscle while getting more lean.
All good points. Carlos Boozer played at about 280 at Duke, and lost about 25 pounds between the end of the college season and the beginning of his first pro season. It dramatically improved his game. Plus, big men who rely more on skill than pure athleticism really seem to benefit from more time in college to develop moves and an offensive repertoire, because developing such moves once you hit the NBA is a lot tougher.
Sullinger may not get more fit, and may not end up improving his moves, but that's far from a sure thing. I'd agree that an extra year in college likely will make him a better pro, and given that rookie contracts are scaled anyway, entering the league as a more polished guy who can play rather than ride the bench may mean more money in the long term anyway.
WhoWeAre
That kid will get owned in the NBA.
It's way too early to say that. Success in the NBA is not dependent upon freakish athleticism. I mentioned Boozer up above, and I think Sullinger has the potential to be that kind of guy, especially if he loses some weight and adds some muscle. He's got that good shooting touch like Boozer, which can be a huge asset for a power forward. And while his footwork isn't that great yet, neither was Boozer's as a college freshman, and Sullinger's shown enough in that regard that it is reasonable to expect it can be improved.
Just an opinion here, but I think some folks tend to fall in love with the type of freakish athleticism we see in some wing players, and overlook fundamentals and an understanding of the game that can be particularly important factors when talking about big men.
