That's the last reason I dislike Orton. The archives here on BGPs could prove that.

How many of you(us) would pass up the chance to make $1.3 million a year for at least 3 years?

 

How many of you (us) will ever make $1.3 in your lifetime?

 

Depends. Do I have the shot at 7 million guaranteed the next year?

Depends. Do I have the shot at 7 million guaranteed the next year?

 

Orton would not have been a top 5 pick. Wasn't going to happen. Not to mention the playing time he would have received would have put an even more extreme amount of wear and tear on the knee that he just injured. Him coming back was a disaster waiting to happen if you're looking at it as an unbiased observer and not a UK fan.

How many of you(us) would pass up the chance to make $1.3 million a year for at least 3 years?

 

How many of you (us) will ever make $1.3 in your lifetime?

Most will make that amount in a lifetime, but the chances are highly unlikely anyone will ever make $1.3 million in a year's time. Over the course of 3 years he will make almost $4 million... a number a lot of us will not independently attain over a lifetime. Let us say he never plays but comes out with $4 million. That is a nice start on whatever his future endeavors - if he even has any besides investing it - may be.

Depends. Do I have the shot at 7 million guaranteed the next year?

 

Not if you blow out your knee this year.

Orton would not have been a top 5 pick. Wasn't going to happen. Not to mention the playing time he would have received would have put an even more extreme amount of wear and tear on the knee that he just injured. Him coming back was a disaster waiting to happen if you're looking at it as an unbiased observer and not a UK fan.

 

So Orton was a first round pick after a freshman season in which he didn't start and got limited playing time, but it's unfathomable to think he could have been a top five pick?

1. A lockout is looming.

2. Orton was chosen in the 1st round & there was some speculation that he would go even earlier than he did.

3. Orton had suffered a knee injury in high school that cost him his senior season.

4. Had Orton returned to school, he would risk further injury to that knee & a knee injury would be more likely to end his career.

5. Had Orton returned to school, his flaws would have been exposed. It's not a given that his stock would have risen.

6. Had he returned to school, he would have been part of a "reloading" process since we brought in a ton of new frosh & basically all of his fellow classmates left for the NBA.

 

7. Had he returned to school, he would have actually had to go to class and pass.

So Orton was a first round pick after a freshman season in which he didn't start and got limited playing time, but it's unfathomable to think he could have been a top five pick?

 

Not this season, which is the max he would've stayed for, considering guys like Barnes, Kanter, Sullinger, Irving, etc. being in school...

So Orton was a first round pick after a freshman season in which he didn't start and got limited playing time, but it's unfathomable to think he could have been a top five pick?

 

His stock improved because scouts saw what he could do in limited spurts. He also had the #1 pick playing alongside of him, throwing him oops near the basket.

 

Orton would drastically improve this year's Kentucky team. But he would also get exposed offensively. Last year, he was in the perfect situation where all he had to do was play defense, dunk & rebound. He did exactly what was asked of him, and scouts recognized that. This year, he would have had to shoulder more of the load & may have been unable to do so. Add the huge risk of a knee injury, and it's an easy decision to go pro. Include the potential lockout, and it's a no brainer...

 

We get it - you don't like Orton. That doesn't change the fact that it was a great decision to strike while the iron was hot...

Hard for me to know what to think with Orton's decision to go pro. Like some, I see a valid point in his eventual decision to leave UK. He was drafted in the 1st round, got guaranteed money, and even if he never sees the floor as an NBA player, he'll make about $3.5-$4 million in three years.

 

On the other hand, Orton could have stayed and attempted to improve his draft status. He obviously would have filled a huge void for UK in the paint, and most assuredly would have averaged a double-double on this team. I'm thinking around 12 & 12 at the very least.

 

If I had to state an opinion, I would have to say that Orton made the right call. He could be one of those big guys with perpetual knee problems. He had it in high school, had it over the summer, and is now going through it again. Plus, an attempt to return to college could have also revealed the flaws that were hidden in 09-10 since he played behind Cuz & Pat. Defensively, I think Orton could be a good NBA player. But offensively, I think he has some detriments to his game than additional year in college may have revealed.

 

And then, there's this whole other issue. I remember Stephen A. Smith saying over the summer that he was told Cal didn't want Orton back b/c of attitude problems. We saw those manifested a bit against UT in the SEC tourney.

IMO ... any time you get picked in the first round, it is a good decision to go. I will never say it was a bad decision for a player to go pro if he gets picked in the first round. If he handles the money correctly, that should set you financially for your life. How can you argue against that?

7. Had he returned to school, he would have actually had to go to class and pass.

Good point, he wasn't interested in school at all. My view is I'm glad he left because he would probably cause problems on this years team. By him not finishing his classes showed what he thought of UK. He was a me first and the heck with everyone else.

How many of you(us) would pass up the chance to make $1.3 million a year for at least 3 years?

 

How many of you (us) will ever make $1.3 in your lifetime?

 

Exactly. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

FYI - Orton's knee injury is not a major injury but still not good. He has not "major structural damage" but there aren't many other details at this time. They aren't sure if he'll play any this season or not.