Tuesday, June 27, 2006
With the NBA Draft taking place tonight in the Big Apple at the famed Madison Square Garden – luckily the Knicks are only making picks and not playing – there are a couple things this year’s event brings to mind.
For starters, the lack of a consensus No. 1 pick and an overall lack of big name talent.
The woebegone Toronto Raptors hold the top choice and there is no telling where the Canadian Cagers might go with it. Experts and mock draft boards have the Raptors taking former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison, Italian forward Andrew Bargnani or trading out of the top spot, among other scenarios.
But that’s the problem; there are too many scenarios. Nobody in this year’s crop, err, patch of talent stands out. In past years you’ve had locks at the top spot. In 2005 was Andrew Bogut, and before that Dwight Howard and Emeka Okafor were a push in 2004. In 2003 was the linebacker that happens to play the point-forward, Mr. LeBron James.
Even after you get past the first pick this year, there’s still a lot of uncertainty. Is LaMarcus Aldridge and his 6-foot-11, 234 lbs., frame ready to bang in the big time? Can JJ Redick, virtually automatic in college, get his shot off consistently against the likes of a Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes or Gilbert Arenas on a regular basis?
One thing that is certain is that no Jayhawks will be selected in tonight’s draft – and that is a good thing. Next year’s draft, though, will be a different story. Four of KU’s five returning starters could go pro next season. Will they? Of course not, but we’ll take a look at who might.
Brandon Rush, the one player who many thought was a one-and-done guy when he landed at Mt. Oread, proved in the Big 12 and NCAA tourneys that he was about as ready for the NBA as I am.
His postseason play aside, Rush would have probably been a late first-rounder or early second-rounder had he chosen to go pro. Instead, Rush, after a year of improving his game and maybe, just maybe, a deep tournament run, the super Kansas City, Mo., sophomore should position himself nicely in the 2007 NBA lottery. Barring a major injury, I expect this to be Rush’s last season as a Jayhawk.
Julian Wright, the most talented player on the KU roster in terms of an all-around game, could easily make the jump to the next level after the season.
At 6-8, 220 lbs. and growing, the lanky Chicagoan reminds me a lot of Marvin Williams – only a better defender – the North Carolina product who jumped ship after the Tar Heels won the title in ’05 and was selected second overall by Atlanta in last year’s draft.
If Wright improves at the same rate this season as he did through the course of last year, I don’t care if Wright said he wanted to stay six years at KU. This kid has top-3 talent, and he’d have to seriously consider making the jump.
Finally, there’s the backcourt duo of Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson. While both are tremendous defenders, Chalmers edges Robinson by virtue of a better offensive game. However, being a coach’s son, Chalmers will stick around at least three years and Robinson will benefit by staying all four.
And the two wildcard scenarios next season: CJ Giles and Darrell Arthur.
Giles has yet to prove consistently he’s ready to be the man in the middle for the ‘Hawks, but if he does this season, he’s gone. With his Marcus Camby-like body and shot-blocking ability, the Seattle-native will be propelled into the first round alone.
And Arthur, aka Slim Shady? He’s one dream away from going pro.
—Davis is a Topeka senior in journalism and english.
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