Official declaring for NBA thread

[mofire]

welp its time to pray to the basketball gods that hopefully we land two top three picks this year!

 

[bushwick_bill]

What happens if there is not a season next year? Would the 2012 draft be based on the prior year standings?

 

[Thunder]

First pick or bust for 2011...the 2012 draft will play a huge role in our rebuilding process. If we can somehow, someway get two lottery picks in 2012, we could be well on our way to a speedy rebuild and hopefully in the OKC mold by the 2012-2013 season. Then we let that team grow. But next year's draft is crucial...

 

[Phills14]

With another player going back to college...it's looking more and more like we are going to get someone like Kanter with our Clippers pick...

Where do I sign? Kanter at #8 would be great. Even when Barnes and Jones were thought to be going pro Kanter was projected to go before #8 in most mocks. Now Kanter could be a top 5 pick.

 

[bigfoot5415]

I understand that, but my thinking is that if we can find a team that's near contention and think they've found a piece to put them over the top at that spot (unlikely, I know), they may be willing, in order to get to contention that much quicker.

Its is a possibility. I get what your saying, along the lines of what the Wiz did a few seasons ago, because "they felt they were neck and neck with the cavs".

I dont feel like looking at rosters, but I think (depending on who comes out) a team would trade for a pick if it was Brandon Knight, or Kemba Walker (who probably will go sooner).

 

[bigfoot5415]

Where do I sign? Kanter at #8 would be great. Even when Barnes and Jones were thought to be going pro Kanter was projected to go before #8 in most mocks. Now Kanter could be a top 5 pick.

If Barnes was smart, he would come out. The draft keeps losing players, and he was top 10 prior to the tournament. I have seen him as high as 5 on some after. He is guaranteed 5 at the absolute worst this year.

 

[CavsFanJapan]

What happens if there is not a season next year? Would the 2012 draft be based on the prior year standings?

No one has said but if they follow what the NHL did when they lost an entire season then they would take the combined records over a 5 year period (or fewer) and select from worse to best from that. This is where it was smart to have the switch with Miami just in case since our record over a 5 year period (or 3 years if less) is actually very good. But no one for sure has said what will happen. Hope this helps.

 

[Oreos]

Most of the first round guys should not be afraid to come out. A lot of these guys are faced with the scenario of go back to school and be broke for another year or sign with an agent who'll say "hey, lock out is going to happen and you'll probably only play 50 games next year, but declare for the draft and I'll extend you some credit and you can go out and spend like a rockstar."

The bigger agents will clean up this spring because the smaller ones won't be able to do this. It's definitely something to think about.

 

[Thomas#8]

Derrick Williams entering NBA draft

Sophomore forward Derrick Williams, who led Arizona to the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight this season, announced Wednesday he will declare for the NBA draft.

Williams said he intends to hire an agent, forgoing his final two years of eligibility.

Derrick Williams said he will enter the NBA draft Wednesday after an accolade-filled year that will likely earn him a top-5 pick.

The 6-foot-8 Williams is projected to be a lottery pick in June's draft and likely will be among the players in the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick. He averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds and was named Pac-10 player of the year.

"After careful consideration and with the support of my family and Coach [Sean] Miller, I have decided to declare for the 2011 NBA draft," Williams said in a statement. "I have enjoyed my two years at Arizona both on and off the court. I want to thank my teammates, who are like brothers to me, my coaches and all Wildcat Fans for making my experience an unforgettable one."

Williams had some of his biggest moments late in the season, swatting away a last-second shot to preserve a win against Washington, making another game-saving block in the NCAA tournament opener against Memphis, then scoring on a late three-point play to lift Arizona over Texas the next round. He had a 32-point, 13-rebound performance against defending champion Duke in the regional semifinal.

The Wildcats finished the season with a 30-8 record and captured the Pac-10 regular season title.

Williams didn't come to Arizona as a heralded recruit. He made his way to Tucson after being released from his signed national letter of intent with USC following the resignation of coach Tim Floyd.

Williams was a finalist for the Wooden Award and a second-team All-American after being named the Pac-10 freshman of the year in 2009-10. He displayed diversity in his game this season, shooting 59 percent from the field. Williams also set a single season school record for free throw attempts and shot 56 percent from 3-point range.

"We are all excited to follow his journey to the NBA, and I have no doubt he will be very successful as an NBA player," Miller said in a statement. "We wish him all the best and know that he will be a part of our basketball family forever."

Williams said he will finish the spring semester at Arizona and plans to finish his degree in the future.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6347632

Good for him, good for the NBA. He's one of the few who seems truly NBA ready.

 

[MD13]

wow... don't know why he's coming out, but he was the #1 HS player last year, so the talent is there. love to see the cavs take a chance on him if he drops like i think he will

Kansas G Josh Selby will declare for the draft and hire an agent, according to the Kansas City Star.
Selby averaged 7.9 points per game as a freshman, but dealt with NCAA discipline and a foot injury as the year dragged on. He projects as a borderline first-round pick with some upside. Note that Selby was rated the No. 1 overall prospect in the country when Kansas signed him last year.

 

[Mdog1]

Selby coming out makes sense imo because it might take him from 25 to 15 because of the lack of talent this draft has.

 

[NarlCavs]

Selby's freshman season was a mess with it starting off with a 9 game suspension due to some offseason games/amateurism deal and then him suffering a foot injury.
If he's there at the Cavs first 2nd round pick than he has to be considered. He does represent a lot of talent at that spot although you'll have to be patient.

He'd be better served going back for another season but it's obvious he wants to go to the NBA and has no interest playing in college. Is still a very highly rated player coming into last season and would likely go much higher if he went back and instead entered the draft next year or the year after.

 

[Triumph36]

Selby coming out makes sense imo because it might take him from 25 to 15 because of the lack of talent this draft has.

Selby isn't going to come close to the teens. 20s at best.

 

[Mdog1]

Selby isn't going to come close to the teens. 20s at best.

It depends on who declares. IF all of the guys between him and the teens are returning to school then it is possible.

 

[*L-Train*]

UK's Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight & DeAndre Liggins have declared for this year’s NBA Draft

great news

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky junior DeAndre Liggins and freshmen Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight have declared for this year’s NBA Draft. None of the three have signed or announced plans to sign with an agent.

Liggins, a 6-foot-6 guard from Chicago, served as the Wildcats’ defensive stopper this season, consistently drawing the assignment of guarding the opposing team’s top offensive threat. He averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range.

He was named to the Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team and was also named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by Yahoo! Sports, as well as being named to the SEC All*-Defensive Team by the league’s coaches.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to enter my name into the draft, putting me one step closer to realizing my dream,” Liggins said. “Growing up in a tough environment in Chicago, it’s a pleasure to have an opportunity to do something special. This is another challenge I’m looking forward to, to have my game evaluated by pro scouts and see how I rank against some of the top players in the world.”

Jones, a 6-8 forward from Portland, Ore., was named a fourth team All-American by CollegeHoops.net and a Freshman All-American by several outlets. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Jones led the league in double-doubles (13) and rebounding, ranked sixth in blocks and seventh in scoring.

He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches and SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press.

“Coach Cal and the rest of the staff pushed us all year long and helped us develop every part of our game to help prepare us for this point in our lives,” Jones said. “This will be a great chance for me to measure my skills against some of the best in the country and receive additional information on where I fit into this year’s draft.”

Knight, a 6-3 guard from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., led the team and ranked fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 17.3 points per game. His 4.2 assist average was second in the SEC. He set the UK freshman scoring record, scoring 657 points, and also broke the UK freshman 3-point record with 87 3s.

A Freshman All-American, Knight was also named the NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player as well as fifth-team All-America by FoxSports.com.

“Playing in the NBA has always been a dream of mine and this is the next step,” Knight said. “All season long coach has been tutoring me on the fine points of being a point guard, and now I have an opportunity to put my game on display in front of NBA scouts as a result of my hard work.”

“I support the decision these three have made to take advantage of the process of putting their names in the draft,” UK men’s basketball coach John Calipari said. “They were a joy to coach this year and I would love the opportunity to continue to coach them again next season. I will always support my players in weighing their options and doing what is personally best for them and their families.”

Underclassmen have until April 24 to declare for the draft and have until May 8 to withdraw their name from the draft, provided they do not sign with an agent.

The 2011 NBA Draft will take place on June 23.

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042011aaa.html