Josh White
This is it, this is the day we’ve all grown accustomed to (willingly or not). How many of our Cats will end up playing NBA ball next season, or as Kenny Powers would say, “getting dolla dolla bills, y’all.” Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague have scheduled a 2:00 p.m. press conference to announce their intentions. The scuttlebutt says all five will enter the draft, but that’s far from set in stone. The question is, should they go pro, or come back for another season? Selfishly, I want them ALL to return, but what’s the right thing to do?
Case 1: Anthony Davis
Why he should go pro
Do me a favor, go on Google and search “2012 NBA mock draft”. Look at several of the resulting searches and try your best to find one that doesn’t have Anthony Davis at #1 overall. That means he’ll be making in excess of $5 million dollars a season. Be honest, are you going to turn down that much green? No. No you wouldn’t. Don’t lie to me. That’s not to mention he’s one of the best prospects in the last ten years or so. Even hateful, grumpy Bobby Kight compared to kid to Bill Russell, which is about as high praise as any big man could get. The kid’s ready.
Why he should come back
Honestly, what else is left to do? Davis won every player of the year award given on top of the national championship. The only thing the guy didn’t win was the SEC Tournament. That’s it. He won everything else. If by some miracle from Heaven he did return, he could try to become one of the most dominant NCAA players of all time, but there’s all that money…
Chance of return: .001%
The only way he comes back is if he gets lost on the way to the press conference.
Case 2: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Why he should go pro
His hustle, defensive prowess and slashing ability has been noted by NBA scouts, and most have him firmly planted in the top five picks in the draft. Some mocks even have him as high as #2 overall. At the very least, he’ll make $3.4 million per season. That’s not chump change, and coming back may not improve his stock much. You could argue that the sophomore returns of North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes and Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger may have actually hurt their stock, since both would have been top five picks last season, but are now around the 10-15 range. As much as he seems to love the team, he doesn’t want to leave a lot of money on the table.
Why he should come back
He seems to genuinely love the team, famously proclaiming his intentions to graduate from school after a huge win over Vanderbilt. We could have gotten caught up in the moment and the adrenaline, but if he likes the college experience, why should he give it up? By coming back, he could become one of the most beloved Cats of all time, right up there with the likes of Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Dan Issel and Tayshaun Prince.
Chance of return: 20%
MKG’s heart tells him to stay in school, but his brain tells him to go pro. The right decision for him would be to cash in on being a top five pick, and I think he realizes this. It may be tough for him, but common sense would have to prevail.
Case 3: Terrence Jones
Why he should go pro
Jones’ stock has never been higher. After a blistering hot start to his freshman season, Jones cooled off towards the end and his draft stock suffered because of it. His sophomore season, despite having some down moments of its own, has been more consistent. In the tournament, he showed himself to be a competent scorer and a tenacious defender. Not to mention the NBA is always looking for big guys who can defend and score.
Why he should come back
Jones may have been more consistent this year, but he still has a ways to go. At times, Coach Cal got so frustrated with him that he sat on the bench during key moments of games. Think back to the last ten minutes of the Indiana game, where he got to watch the game with Sam Malone and Brian Long. He could still use some polish, and he could stand to work on his outside shot a bit more. He could be called upon to play the 3 at times in the Association, and having an improved outside shot would be a valuable weapon.
Chance of return: 10%
Jones stayed last year to get his championship, and he got it. There’s not a lot of incentive to stay at this point.
Case 4: Marquis Teague
Why he should go pro
Point guards have become a hot commodity in the NBA of late, and their going for a hefty price tag. Just think, the Lakers gave up a first rounder and some key role players for Ramon Sessions, Cleveland’s backup point guard. Teague understands this better than anyone, and his late season blossoming has made him an attractive option in the draft. While most mocks have him going in the 20-30 range, there are rumors that a few teams may look at him with a lottery pick. The demand for point guards has never been higher, this could be his golden opportunity.
Why he should come back
He could still use some polish. A LOT of polish. He looked good down the stretch, but there were times early in the season where he looked absolutely atrocious. Another season under point guard guru John Calipari could improve his draft stock later down the road, maybe even in the top ten. He could also stand to work on his jump shooting a bit. He hit a big three in the championship game, but he’s far from a finished project as a shooter.
Chance of return: 25%
The word on the street is that he’s made his mind up and he’s going pro. There’s still the outside chance that he realizes he could improve further under Calipari, but there’s such a premium for point guards right now that he may go ahead and get his paycheck.
Case 5: Doron Lamb
Why he should go pro
Lamb has made a reputation for himself as a dead eye shooter. There aren’t many players in the college game who can shoot and score the way he can. There’s always room for a good shooter in the NBA, someone who can come in and get some big points at crucial moments of the game. Not to mention, Lamb was Kentucky’s most consistent player all season, scoring and making big plays. On top of all that, he can handle the ball and distribute as well. Teams love taking combo guards, and they’ll no doubt look hard at a championship-winning shooter.
Why he should come back
If not being necessarily guaranteed a first round pick isn’t reason enough, there are two big reasons he should return to UK. First of all, he needs a little work on the defensive side of the ball. At times, he let faster guards blow right past him for a layup, or left his man wide open for a three. NBA guards will eat him alive if he does that on the next level. Another thing is his size. He’s not small in a traditional sense at 6-4, but NBA shooting guards tend to play in the 6-5’ – 6-7’ range. His best bet is to work on becoming more of a point guard, his high school position. Another year of seasoning at the point could boost him from a 25-35 pick this year to a 10-15 pick next year.
Chance of return: 40%
I think out of everyone involved, Lamb has the biggest chance of returning. Some drafts have him slipping to the beginning of the second round, which would knock him out of a guaranteed contract. But remember Jodie Meeks, who is similar to Lamb in a lot of ways and was projected as a second rounder. We all thought he’d come back, but Milwaukee promised to draft and keep him, and that’s all it took. All it takes is one team to tell him they’ll keep him and he’s out the door.
