Monday, July 11, 2005

Why?

I understand why Tubby Smith would want Randolph Morris to come back to the University of Kentucky after going undrafted. Thinking the other center options (commonly referred to as the semi-useless stick figures) are better is pure denial, and Tubby is getting farther away from his only Final Four each year. What I don't understand is why Morris wants to go back. It's obvious from his behavior that he wasn't too enamored with college ball the first time around. So, now he's going to play with nothing to gain?

And there is nothing to gain. At least not much as someone at work pointed out. The main point of dropping out of the draft to go back to school is the hope of improving your draft stock into the first round where contracts are guaranteed. By rule, Morris cannot go back into the draft, so he'll never have a shot at the first round. I think he would be better off joining a pro league. For one, he'll get paid. Two, I'm not convinced college coaches are that much better at developing pros than pro coaches. Third, the minor leagues are getting better at supplying good players to the NBA, and it will probably only increase as the NBA puts more emphasis on the Development League. Bobby Simmons just signed for $9 mil a year , and Rafer Alston has averaged double digits the past two years. Both of them did time in the NBDL. Two key players on the Heat playoff team were Damon Jones and Udonis Haslem. Jones played in both the CBA and IBA, while Haslem went undrafted and played a year in Europe. So, you can make it if you're good enough. Why not get paid while you do it?

2 comments:

Philip Deskins said...

spoken like a true U of L fan

Sherman said...

I'm sure all the UK fans who want Morris to go back to school only have his best interests at heart.