I completely agree. Maybe he is just ready to get his life started. Every junior "tests the waters" so we cant read that deep into it, but if he wants to leave I wouldnt have a problem with it at all.
im usually against guys leaving early but in this case i dont think it would be a stupid move. he could leave and still easily get his degree, and another year would be unlikely to help his stock. that's right, isnt it? what would he have to do to get on a nba roster? he's not explosive and that cant change. he's too short to guard the post so he'd have to become a solid perimeter defender. he'd have to become a knock-down 3 pt shooter. he couldnt consistently score in the post, but he has a decent mid-range game. he cant finish on breaks either, so he'd be limited to being the guy that sets up for a 3. he's got a kid. if he wants to leave and get paid now vs next year i can understand that.
Agree with all of that except the part about getting better next year. I think he can master some things (confident ball handling, outside jumper, reasonably consistent 3 pointer) that he currently is just OK at. I guess my logic is that he's not mastered those things because, until CTJ, he hasn't been tasked with it. But I completely agree with the logic that sez only Taz knows what's best for Taz. If he goes, I'll be disappointed for the team, but I hope he rakes in the Euros.
IF Tas' were to come back, here's the upside for him. CTJ has already laid out the developmental plan for each of the players. For Tas', it's conditioning and quickness. He'd want Tas' to run a ton, get lighter and quicker. I say, if we see Tas' back, he's got to be about 10-15 pounds lighter. Then, he's working on his mid-range to 3 point shot. If you go back and look at his 3 point shooting % over the years, he's been in the upper 30's, so there's no reason why he can't be about a 40% 3 point shooter, in the right system. If Tas can transform his body somewhat, he's got to prove he can be a decent perimeter defender with enough lateral quickness to lock someone down, and someone who can handle the ball at the 3. He can work on his movement without the ball on the outside, his passing from the perimeter, and his outside shot. He'd get that opportunity to work on these things with CTJ. I'd say if he can be a 17-18 ppg All-SEC guy with that kind of game, he'd improve his draft stock by 10-15 spots.
not sure that would be worth it (discounting any personal value of returning). that would still put him in 2nd rd where he'd get no real payday and still have only an outside shot at a roster. he could go get paid now and develop while proving himself at a higher level.
And, that's really the question. Does the kid spend another year at LSU helping his alma mater, enjoying time in B.R., finishing up school, or does he spend it on the road in some NBDL team (if he's lucky) or in Europe? I think that if he's an early 2nd rounder, sort of where Glen got drafted, it's still better than being late 2nd rounder or worse yet, not getting drafted--which is still a risk. It means that a team felt that he actually had a chance to make a roster and drafted you. Bottom line, what Tas' hears over the next few weeks from pro teams is going to be key. The NBDL is honestly not the same thing as a high 2nd rounder, IMO.
The people who are saying he can't improve his stock with an extra year musn't have seen the progression Marcus Thornton made from one offseason to the next last year. A player can ALWAYS improve their stock.
Said on cue, Clair :grin: I was just looking at current draft boards, and also trying to do some digging on LSU players. First, as you pointed out, Marcus Thornton is now projected as a late first rounder, esp with his performance in the tourney. http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2009/ It goes without saying, if you read the blog on MT, that coming back and buying into CTJ's system and coaching easily made MT hundreds of thousands, if not a million dollars. Being a mid 2nd rounder to a late first rounder is huge, and the fact that MT played better defense, reduced his turnovers, showed NBA scouts he can play smart, despite being "undersized" for a NBA SG was well worth the investment coming back. Right now, Tas' isn't even getting mention on the boards--rather, the late 2nd round is getting crowded with Euro picks that noone's heard of (again). With Tas' again, I think the key is investing on getting his body leaner and more prototypical for a NBA 3. The other key is to improve his perimeter defense and shooting and ball handling. So, again, coming back may very well be the difference between not getting drafted at all or being drafted mid to upper 2nd round. That's not only good money differential but quality of life differential. Chris Johnson did alright at the Portsmouth Invitational (7ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3 bpg, and 26% FGP, 78% FTP). Led the players in blocks (along with two other players at 3 per game), but didn't shoot particularly well (still baffles me where his shooting touch went this year :huh from the field, although he did well from the line. Right now CJ's not listed on boards, but man, talk about someone who could have done something with himself. I don't know why the kid could never gain weight at LSU--if he was even close to 220, the kid probably would have been drafted on 6'11", 220 lb alone. What's sort of sad is Jon Brockman the overachieving 6'7" burly PF (about 240?) from Washington (that lit LSU up a couple of years ago), led CJ's team at Portsmouth and did well... still not on draft boards :shock:. Similar to Tas', the kid's an All Pac-10 "undersized" 4 and he may not even get drafted. Tas' at least has the year to come back .
