Five second round picks that will hang around the league

The second round of the NBA Draft is, more or less, simply a chance for some lesser college stars to have their one, last chance at seeing their names on TV.

The NBA is not an easy league to make. There are a limited number of roster spots available and an even more limited number of spots in an NBA rotation. Making a team without getting a guaranteed contract through the draft is tough.

But it can be done. There are many stories of players that have carved out terrific careers despite falling out of the guaranteed money. Gilbert Arenas and Manu Ginobli were both picked in the second round. So were Michael Redd, Monta Ellis, Carlos Boozer, Stephen Jackson, and Rashard Lewis. Those are, or recently have been, stars in the NBA.


Finding a diamond in the rough like that is rare. But finding a solid starter in the second round does happen fairly often. Last year, it was Landry Fields out of Stanford going to the New York Knicks. The year before that, both Sam Young and DeJuan Blair fell to the second round after leaving Pitt. Before that, Paul Millsap, Trevor Ariza, and Mo Williams beat the odds to make it in the league.

It can be done.

Sometimes its simply the result of a fortunate pairing between franchise, player, and available roles. Other times, its the result of fears about a player's injury history that causes him to drop. There are times when a draft is loaded with border-line first round picks, causing players to go 45th that would usually be picked 25th. There are also times where a front office does their homework and finds a guy that has flown under-the-radar.

Landing in the second round shouldn't be seen as a disappointment to these players.

It should be seen as an opportunity to make the other 29 teams regret their draft day decisions.

Who in the 2011 NBA Draft Class will have an extended NBA career as a second round pick?

Jimmy Butler, Marquette: There is nothing about Butler's game that makes him appear to be an NBA prospect. He's a capable shooter, but not a significant three point threat from NBA range. He's a decent ball-handler, but he won't blow by you to get to the rim. He's a solid athlete with good size, but he won't be making Sportscenter's top ten. What makes Butler a promising prospect is the fact that he is a tough defender, a terrific teammate and leader in the locker room, a willing role player, and a guy that can do a little bit of everything. Throw in the success that former teammates Wes Matthews and Lazar Hayward have had landing a spot in the NBA and the rave reviews he received at the Portsmouth Invitational, and Butler appears headed for an NBA career. He certainly deserves it.

Charles Jenkins, Hofstra: Jenkins was a big-time scorer at the college level, thriving on his ability to shoot from beyond the arc and create space in the mid-range game. The problem is that those numbers came against CAA competition, which is a much improved league but still a far cry from the NBA. Regardless of who he is playing against, however, Jenkins is going to be able to shoot and score. He won't be a starter in the NBA, but the fact that he was able to score at the rate he did (22.6 ppg) while taking more than 20 shots just three times, creating for his teammates (4.8 apg), and protecting the ball (2.2 t/o's) makes him an ideal candidate as a scoring infusin


JaJuan Johnson, Purdue: Johnson's physical profile is terrific. He's a legit 6'10" with a 7'2" wingspan, he's exceptionally mobile for a player his height, and he has a 38" vertical. He also has a versatile skill-set. He can block a shot at one end and beat his defender down the floor for an open dunk. If that's not there, he can knock down 20 foot jumpers, use his dribble to get a better look should his defender close out long, and score in the post using his advanced repertoire of finesse moves. The knock on Johnson is that he has a slender upper body that will be difficult to add much mass or strength to. While that will limit his upside, his tools and skill-set should earn him a spot in the rotation of a team that likes to run the floor and pick-and-pop.

Josh Selby, Kansas: Selby is quite possibly the most unique prospect in this draft class. Coming out of high school, he was considered one of the top five recruits in the country. An explosive perimeter scorer, Selby's freshman season at Kansas was largely forgettable. He battled injuries (a broken hand in the preseason, a stress fracture late in the year), a suspension, and a role that didn't suit his skill set. As a result, he numbers were far from impressive this year. But that doesn't mean that the talent that garnered him so much attention in high school is gone, especially now that he is healthy.

Nolan Smith, Duke: I am a big fan of Nolan Smith's game. He proved this season just what he is capable at the collegiate level when he is the focal point offensively, winning ACC player of the year and finding himself in the conversation for national player of the year before a late slump. But until Kyrie Irving injured his foot, Smith also showed just how good of a role player he can be, ignoring his individual successes and exposure in exchange for winning games with the Blue Devils. Smith can do everything on a basketball court. He can shoot the three, he can beat a defender off the dribble, he can play on the ball or off, and he's a very good defender.

Bold Prediction: DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky: Liggins did not have a great career at Kentucky. As a freshman, he almost left the program due to his lacking relationship with former head coach Billy Gillispie. As a sophomore, in his first year under John Calipari, Liggins struggled to find a role on a team that was stacked with five future first round picks. But as a junior, Liggins really began to come into his own as a player. He embraced the idea that he was a defensive stopper. At 6'6" with length and lateral quickness, Liggins has the potential to guard all three perimeter positions. Throw in his ability to knock down catch-and-shoot jumpers, and I would be surprised if Liggins wasn't able to find a role on an NBA team somewhere.
Continue reading...

Looking at whether Kentucky's three early entrants should stay or go

We finally know the fate of the four Kentucky Wildcats that were pondering declaring for the NBA Draft.

Doron Lamb announced yesterday that he will be returning to college, which is probably the correct decision for him. Lamb may one day be a first round pick, but he certainly isn't this year, even with the weakened draft class.

Lamb was alone in deciding to return to school, however. On Wednesday morning, Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, and DeAndre Liggins all entered their names into the NBA Draft. None of them signed with an agent, however, which leaves open the opportunity to withdraw from the draft prior to the May 8th deadline.

The question, however, is whether it is worth it for them to come back.


For Brandon Knight, the answer is simple -- no. Emphatically no. Knight had a terrific freshman season, averaging more than 17 ppg and over 4 apg. He only got better down the stretch of the season, and even knocked down a couple of game-winners in the NCAA Tournament. Knight is a lock to go in the top ten and may even be able to sneak into the top five, as he is neck-and-neck with Kemba Walker as the second best point guard prospect in this draft.

Its tough to turn down being a single digit pick in the NBA Draft, and that choice gets even tougher when there is a chance of playing out of position by returning to school. Kentucky brings in another star point guard in the class of 2011 -- Marquis Teague, the younger brother of former Wake Forest star Jeff -- who many expect to take over the point guard reins. That would push Knight off the ball, as he is a better shooter and scorer than Teague, should he decide to return.

Liggins is an interesting case. He only averaged 8.6 ppg and 4.0 rpg this season, but his scoring and rebounding numbers are not what got NBA scouts interested in his ability. At 6'6" with terrific length and quickness, Liggins has the makings of being a lockdown defender in the NBA. He has the size and the wingspan to defender the two and the lateral quickness to defend a point guard if he has to. Throw in the fact that he knocked down threes at a near-40% clip this season, and in a weak draft there is a chance that Liggins can be scooped up late in the first round by a team looking to fill a hole.

Liggins is not going to add much to his stock if he decides to return. While he showed an improved ability to create off the dribble this year, no one is going to draft him for his offensive ability -- and that's assuming that he would have an opportunity next season to showcase that ability should he improve. This year is probably Liggins best shot at getting drafted high, but is that a risk he's willing to take knowing he'd play an important role on a title-contending team?

Jones, believe it or not, probably has the most to gain by returning to school. After a sensational start to the season, Jones really tailed off late in the year. He seemed to lose his confidence a bit and the amount of heat that he would take for John Calipari looked like it started to wear on him. That hurt his draft stock, as there is a chance that he could fall out of the lottery.

The other issue with Jones is that his weaknesses are no secret. He's left-handed with absolutely no right hand and he has a tendency to over-dribble -- there is a reason that Coach Cal would get on him about being selfish and a ball-hog. With a year of improvement, Jones has the skill set and the tools to be a top five-to-ten pick, even in next year's loaded draft.

Kentucky is going to be the preseason No. 2 team -- behind North Carolina -- if all three stay in the draft.

Anyone that pulls their name out will be icing on the proverbial cake.
Continue reading...