Early Departures

#1

Heebs

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#1
With the recent news of Thad Young turning pro, coupled with Brandan Wright declaring yesterday, two high profile in-state players that many Tennessee fans wanted have left their programs in lurch.

I'd say Brandan Wright was worth having for a year but was Thad Young? And now we are more primed than UNC and obviously GTech for a run next year.
 
#2
#2
With the recent news of Thad Young turning pro, coupled with Brandan Wright declaring yesterday, two high profile in-state players that many Tennessee fans wanted have left their programs in lurch.

I'd say Brandan Wright was worth having for a year but was Thad Young? And now we are more primed than UNC and obviously GTech for a run next year.

I agree with you about Young. It almost hurts a team to have someone like that for just a year. Now you have to re-coordinate your offense because its missing one of its focal points...and Gtech got next to nothing in return for that.

Wright was definitely worth one and done. Without him UNC not only would have been out 15 points and 7 boards but teams could have focused so much more on Hansborough that it would have probably limited him by...let's just say...3-4 points and 2-3 boards. So there is almost 20 points and 10 boards that have to be accounted for. Not to mention the intangibles that..even at a young age...Wright brought to the table. In the ACC tournament when Hansborough was limited Wright stepped up his game and was named tournament MVP. Man.. it would have been nice to have him here...even if it was just one year.

I'm not so sure we're more poised for a run than UNC. Even though they lost Wright they bring almost everyone else back. Terry is replaced by Green which is no loss if not an improvement. And between Thompson and Stephenson...Wright's contributions won't be missed. UNC will most likely be the pre season #1 after Rush leaves Kansas and maybe even if that doesn't happen. But we are definitely in a much better place than Gtech
 
#3
#3
With the recent news of Thad Young turning pro, coupled with Brandan Wright declaring yesterday, two high profile in-state players that many Tennessee fans wanted have left their programs in lurch.

I'd say Brandan Wright was worth having for a year but was Thad Young? And now we are more primed than UNC and obviously GTech for a run next year.

I guess we shouldn't always feel bad about not getting the top in-state talent. And I think Pearl's main focus now is getting the guys on the cusp of McD's status (just about as talented, not as highly touted, but hungrier and with a chip on their shoulder).

I don't know Young's story, but I wouldn't say Wright left UNC in a lurch. Most UNC fans here predicted he was a 1 and done-r.

And even if we get Tyler Smith for this year, I still think UNC is more primed for a run next year. Remember they still have 5 key players from a team 2 years ago that made it to the Sweet 16. And 4 returning sophs who will all contribute.
 
#4
#4
The combo of Stephenson and Thompson lacks the consistency Wright brought to the court, not to mention the FT shooting, which we all know is key. Terry is flat out a better player than Green or Ginyard. They are both serviceable for sure, but they are never going to be stars. My main point though, is not about us vs UNC, its about how UT would have been in a next to impossible position right now had we landed those two instead of Chism/Crews and Ramar.
 
#5
#5
Terry is replaced by Green which is no loss if not an improvement. And between Thompson and Stephenson...Wright's contributions won't be missed. UNC will most likely be the pre season #1 after Rush leaves Kansas and maybe even if that doesn't happen. But we are definitely in a much better place than Gtech

Agree 100% on Green over Terry. Terry can be spectacular, but Green is dang good and steady.

Also, it might sound idiotic, but I think UNC suffered a bit this year from having too many talented players. It's hard to keep them all involved and fresh and happy. They'll have plenty next year.
 
#6
#6
My main point though, is not about us vs UNC, its about how UT would have been in a next to impossible position right now had we landed those two instead of Chism/Crews and Ramar.

Agreed. I like the guys who aren't immediately thinking of the NBA when they come to college. Not blaming Wright or Durant or anyone who goes early, it just makes them less meaningful to the program. I think Pearl is focusing on those second-tier guys who will stick around and build foundations for years instead of re-stocking every year.

I used to compare UT's talent to Nebraska's in football in the 90s. UT's not alone here, but seemed players came to Kville to play in the NFL; players used to go to Nebraska to play college football. Was UT more talented? Yes. Did Nebraska smoke us anyway? Yes.
 
#9
#9
Young hasn't hired an agent and is still taking classes. He has also pre-registered for Summer school. I don't think he goes.
 
#10
#10
i think you should be able to do whatever you want

I think any athlete should be able to try to turn pro at whatever age they're ready. A basketball player shouldn't have to go to college for a year or more to play in the NBA.

At the same time, I think only students who attend class, make good grades, and conduct themselves appropriately on and off the court should be allowed to play, even if they're dismissed mid-season. The kids who play should be student athletes, not athletes who play for a university.
 
#11
#11
I agree that an 18 year old should be able to make a living as soon as they are given the opportunity. But, the company hiring the 18 year olds has the right to tells its employees that, for the good of the overall company, they are not permitted to hire 18 year olds. Or whatever parameters they want to put on that hirting. The NBA does not have to hire kids straight out of high school. Just like Microsoft wouldnt have to hire kids straight out of high school if they didnt want to. I think it is good for the NBA, in the long run, if they keep this parameter and maybe even bump it up to 2 years removed from high school.
 
#12
#12
For every Kobe Bryant and Labron James there are many, many more that have followed their path and failed. Sebastian Telfair, and those who have follwed a similar path, might have benefited from a couple years in college. Maybe they would be on a more successful path. And, the Kobe's and Labron's of the world would have still been just as successful after a couple years in college.
 
#13
#13
I agree that an 18 year old should be able to make a living as soon as they are given the opportunity. But, the company hiring the 18 year olds has the right to tells its employees that, for the good of the overall company, they are not permitted to hire 18 year olds. Or whatever parameters they want to put on that hirting. The NBA does not have to hire kids straight out of high school. Just like Microsoft wouldnt have to hire kids straight out of high school if they didnt want to. I think it is good for the NBA, in the long run, if they keep this parameter and maybe even bump it up to 2 years removed from high school.

I agree.

If the NBA wants to hire 18 year olds, then 18 year olds should be able to make the jump to the NBA...that's a livelihood issue.

However, I think the NBA would be wise to make a 2 year removed from high school rule. Most of these kids making the jump straight from high school are sitting on the bench for 3 or 4 years earning millions...it's just not smart business for franchises to draft an 18 year old, and pay him millions of dollars based on the projection that he'll be a contributer when he's 23.
 
#14
#14
I agree.

If the NBA wants to hire 18 year olds, then 18 year olds should be able to make the jump to the NBA...that's a livelihood issue.

However, I think the NBA would be wise to make a 2 year removed from high school rule. Most of these kids making the jump straight from high school are sitting on the bench for 3 or 4 years earning millions...it's just not smart business for franchises to draft an 18 year old, and pay him millions of dollars based on the projection that he'll be a contributer when he's 23.

Well, I guess the franchises in the NBA determine their own rules, but I don't know why they would prohibit players who are NBA-ready from playing, regardless of their age. The franchises must determine if it's smart business - that's their responsibility.

Seems it should work like it does in baseball. If you want to go straight into professional baseball, you get drafted and start playing - in the majors if your club thinks you're ready, or in the minors if you need more time to mature.
 
#15
#15
The franchises are not the company. They are subsidiaries. The NBA is the parent company. Its hard as a fan of a sport to remember that first and foremost this is a business just like a Wal-Mart or Kroger. There are certainly other elements involved but at the end of the day the NBA makes money or it makes changes so that it will make money. If the parent company thinks that the quick jump to millionaire status is causing sometimes ill-suited 18 year olds to give the company a bad name then that is their decision to make.
 
#16
#16
The franchises are not the company. They are subsidiaries. The NBA is the parent company. Its hard as a fan of a sport to remember that first and foremost this is a business just like a Wal-Mart or Kroger. There are certainly other elements involved but at the end of the day the NBA makes money or it makes changes so that it will make money. If the parent company thinks that the quick jump to millionaire status is causing sometimes ill-suited 18 year olds to give the company a bad name then that is their decision to make.

Got it.

So why isn't it done the same way as baseball, with a minor league system and such?
 
#18
#18
There is the NBADL

Okay, but the drafting system isn't the same. For most bballers, it's straight to the NBA or nothing, right? In baseball, prospects almost always go to the minors first, then work their way up.
 
#19
#19
That's true but the biggest differences between the NBA and college ball is the 3 point line and the length of the game.

It takes time to get accostomed to the wooden bats in baseball and pitchers learn new pitches and work on their old ones.
 

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