Most of the guys you mentioned were not even close to being a lottery pick.

I'm not sure where people get the idea that a player will be better developed by NCAA teams/coaches than NBA teams/coaches. Makes no sense.

 

It might make more sense if you heard what Avery Johnson said on sports radio yesterday...sorry don't remember what show he was on. The host asked about some differences between coaching the NBA and college. Practice was one of the big ones he brought up. He said in the NBA, once you go much past 30 minutes of practice, all the NBA guys start mulling around looking at their watches, wanting to get out of there, and evidently that's pretty much what happens. He said the pros don't practice for "30 hours a week" the way they can in college. Now 30 hours might be overstating it, but it's what he said. Point being is the NBA coaches aren't there to develop you, they are there to work you into the lineup with what you bring and give you orders on what your role is within the offensive/defensive structure. Getting better/developing is almost all on YOU in the NBA. College coaches develop you and work with you...well most anyway...that's part of their job. Once Skal leaves and gets to the pro level, it's now on him to hire people to condition him...a low post/big man coach to teach him how to play the post...a strength guy to build him...a nutritionist to work with him. He's not going to have that coach who is in his face to ensure he is doing those things and to make sure he is improving. Which, to be honest, I don't think Cal is that kind of coach anyway. IMO he doesn't want the guys he has to do too much with/develop, he wants the guys that are "ready made" which frees him up to just manage personalities/attitudes/playing time. But I digress.

 

Hidden in Avery's message was the fact that if you need to develop, unless you are super motivated and a big self starter, the NBA probably isn't going to do it for you and you will get left behind. My thinking is, IF the talent is actually there, a couple of years at a school with a coach that will work his tail off to develop you to your potential might be the difference in Skal playing out one so-so rookie contract and never signing another one, or Skal having a 12 year NBA career and signing multiple contracts that pay him more over the long haul. My theory anyway.

Teague made himself about $5M....You'd have turned down that opportunity to play for free? Yeah right.

 

So if life was so good making that $ 5 M and you say, why is he still toiling in the D League? I will tell you why. Bet he has little to none of that money left. Thus the problem that exists in the NBA today.

Most of the guys you mentioned were not even close to being a lottery pick.

 

How far down is considered a lottery pick in today's day and age? Unless it is over half way down then I project that he is not a lottery pick. Again just my opinion.

So if life was so good making that $ 5 M and you say, why is he still toiling in the D League? I will tell you why. Bet he has little to none of that money left. Thus the problem that exists in the NBA today.

 

Oh please. He and his brother have made plenty of money, the Teague brothers are doing fine. He's still in the D-league because he's 23 years old and isn't ready to give up on playing in the NBA.

How far down is considered a lottery pick in today's day and age? Unless it is over half way down then I project that he is not a lottery pick. Again just my opinion.

 

I'll trust the guys who get paid to scout players over your projections. The top 14 is the lottery.

So if life was so good making that $ 5 M and you say, why is he still toiling in the D League? I will tell you why. Bet he has little to none of that money left. Thus the problem that exists in the NBA today.

 

What does the quality of life have to do with the D league? He's in the D league because he isn't good enough to contribute regular minutes in the League.

 

Regarding his financial security: what do you base that on?

What's the difference between Skal and James Young? Both are going to pull off the same hustle.

I guess that we will see what happens in a month or so. Kids game is not near good enough for the NBA. I do not need some "expert" to tell me what I see with my own eyes.

 

Good answer on Teague (not good enough), why he should have stayed in school.

Say you are Teague. Turn 23 and are out of the league, but out with $5,000,000 in your pocket. Heck, call it $2,000,000 in your pocket. Would you sign up for that? I think my parents would back hand me if I said I could skip school and pursue my dream, while becoming a young millionaire and I didn't jump at the opportunity. Money ain't everything, but having a couple million in the bank to start adulthood would sure be nice.

I guess that we will see what happens in a month or so. Kids game is not near good enough for the NBA. I do not need some "expert" to tell me what I see with my own eyes.

 

Good answer on Teague (not good enough), why he should have stayed in school.

 

So tell me Jack if Teague at the age of 23 now is not good enough, what makes you think he would have been good enough if he stayed in college? If he stays in college until he is a senior and then scouts see more of his weaknesses don't need to draft on potential and ends up not drafted at all. Then does that make it the right decision? Great he got himself an education but missed out on 5 million dollars. What sense does that make?

 

If Skal stays three to four years and never reaches his potential that scouts think he has. Then scouts will see they were wrong on his potential and may no get drafted at all three years from now and loses out on 5 million. Which guess what he then would be playing in the draft league and without the 5 million though that Teague did get because he did leave.

 

Is Skal ready for the NBA right now? No not at all. Is it the smart decision for him to leave yes it is! NBA bases things off potential and they still think he has that. So even if he is in the d league the rest of his life after his rookie contract he still has 5 million to help himself and family out for possibly the rest of his life depending how smart with money he is.

 

Which guess what he can still always go back to college and get his education. However the 5 million guaranteed he will get this year by being a first round pick wont always be there if he doesn't jump on it now.