ESPN's top 25 transfers- Josh Cunningham #15

[Chico]

How was it in POB's best interest? Do you mean money wise? Even I knew he wasn't ready for the NBA and he really hurt the BU program by leaving. With the players we have coming in so far, Josh could have helped fix, as you say, the program. Better keep your long pants on Josh, splitters hurt.

[Da Coach]

There were a couple good reasons for POB to declare for the NBA draft in 2006, and neither of them had anything to do with his development as an NBA center.

The year POB left Bradley was the first year the NBA instituted the rule that high schoolers had to do 1 year of college (or wait 1 year after high school) to be eligible for the NBA draft. That made the 2006 NBA draft very thin with big men, since the players that were great out of high school could not declare for the draft and had to wait a year, and any good big men who were 1 year post high school already had declared the year before.

If POB had waited 1 more year, and every year after, there would have been a bigger pool of good big men entering the draft and POB probably would have been pushed down and out of the lottery. Plus, after the 2006 Sweet 16 run, and POB's incredible performance against Pitt, his draft value was never going to get any higher.

[Vent]

What I've never understood is this. If a college student leaves school to take a job at a factory, nobody says or word or cares. If a basketball player leaves college early to go to work in the NBA and make more in one year that 99% of the people in a lifetime, a lot of people think it's a bad move. I never hear people criticize football or baseball players for leaving early and turning pro. Just basketball. If a person really wants to get their degree, they can always go back and get it.

[ihatetea]

How was it in POB's best interest? Do you mean money wise? Even I knew he wasn't ready for the NBA and he really hurt the BU program by leaving. With the players we have coming in so far, Josh could have helped fix, as you say, the program. Better keep your long pants on Josh, splitters hurt.

There were a couple good reasons for POB to declare for the NBA draft in 2006, and neither of them had anything to do with his development as an NBA center.

The year POB left Bradley was the first year the NBA instituted the rule that high schoolers had to do 1 year of college (or wait 1 year after high school) to be eligible for the NBA draft. That made the 2006 NBA draft very thin with big men, since the players that were great out of high school could not declare for the draft and had to wait a year, and any good big men who were 1 year post high school already had declared the year before.

If POB had waited 1 more year, and every year after, there would have been a bigger pool of good big men entering the draft and POB probably would have been pushed down and out of the lottery. Plus, after the 2006 Sweet 16 run, and POB's incredible performance against Pitt, his draft value was never going to get any higher.

DC answered that perfectly. In addition to that pool of big guys being thin, most NBA talent evaluators probably hadn't even heard of POB and thought highly of Aaron Gray, Pitt's starting center. POB had an outstanding game against Gray, greatly boosting his stock. Had POB stayed even one more year, NBA guys would have paid attention to his games all year long and found out he wasn't really worth a lottery pick. He cashed in when his stock was at its highest and more power to him.

[Chico]

DC answered that perfectly. In addition to that pool of big guys being thin, most NBA talent evaluators probably hadn't even heard of POB and thought highly of Aaron Gray, Pitt's starting center. POB had an outstanding game against Gray, greatly boosting his stock. Had POB stayed even one more year, NBA guys would have paid attention to his games all year long and found out he wasn't really worth a lottery pick. He cashed in when his stock was at its highest and more power to him.

Reread my post. I asked if he meant money wise didn't I?

[ihatetea]

Reread my post. I asked if he meant money wise didn't I?

And that would be what the answer was. Yes, his draft stock, i.e. earning potential, was at an all time high and would never be that high again. That was said, wasn't it?

[Vent]

Although for selfish reasons I would have liked to have seen POB stay at Bradley, there is no doubt in my mind he made the correct decision. Shawn Livingston also made the correct decision. Both of the above players were first round draft picks. In the NBA only first round draft picks have guaranteed contracts, with pay, regardless of playing time or injury. The dollar amount of those contracts is several million dollars, more that most people make in a lifetime. If I had a son in the position of being a first round draft choice in the NBA, I would definitely encourage him to go to the NBA. He can always go back and get his degree if he chooses. He doesn't always have the option of making millions of dollars.

It's like hitting the lottery. If a person was guaranteed to win the lottery for millions of dollars on a certain day (NBA draft day), who wouldn't play.

Most people against the players leaving to play in the NBA are against it because it's is detrimental to the team they root for.

[Da Coach]

1st round draft picks get a guaranteed contracts, which usually run for 3 or 4 years. POB spent parts of 4 seasons in the NBA, he played in only 90 games and averaged less than 6 minutes per game. He actually spent most of his time in the NBA Development League. Even though his NBA career was not very memorable, his NBA earnings were pretty good. According to Basketball-Reference.com, his earnings for 4 seasons was $7,398,120-
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...obryapa01.html (scroll to bottom)

2006-07...Golden State Warriors...$2,061,720
2007-08...Golden State Warriors...$2,216,400
2008-09...Toronto Raptors...........$1,500,000
2009-10...Toronto Raptors...........$1,620,000
Career.....................................$7,398, 120


He has probably earned a couple million more by playing pro ball in a few countries since the end of his NBA career.

[tornado]

And that would be what the answer was. Yes, his draft stock, i.e. earning potential, was at an all time high and would never be that high again. That was said, wasn't it?

yup - strike while the iron is hot

[Chico]

So do we place JC in the coaching change fallout category, or, the suddenly thinking BU/MVC aren't "big enough" for my obvious talent category?

Seems to me to be more of the latter than former...

IMO, the MVC was "too big" for his overrated talent category.

[wily coyote]

There were a couple good reasons for POB to declare for the NBA draft in 2006, and neither of them had anything to do with his development as an NBA center.

The year POB left Bradley was the first year the NBA instituted the rule that high schoolers had to do 1 year of college (or wait 1 year after high school) to be eligible for the NBA draft. That made the 2006 NBA draft very thin with big men, since the players that were great out of high school could not declare for the draft and had to wait a year, and any good big men who were 1 year post high school already had declared the year before.

If POB had waited 1 more year, and every year after, there would have been a bigger pool of good big men entering the draft and POB probably would have been pushed down and out of the lottery. Plus, after the 2006 Sweet 16 run, and POB's incredible performance against Pitt, his draft value was never going to get any higher.

Yes you are 100% correct and POB is the answer to a trivia question. IT being , "who is the luckiest millionaire to ever play in the NBA." It couldn't have worked out any better for him but not the teams he played for. Timing is everything.

[ihatetea]

Yes you are 100% correct and POB is the answer to a trivia question. IT being , "who is the luckiest millionaire to ever play in the NBA." It couldn't have worked out any better for him but not the teams he played for. Timing is everything.

I believe he is also the answer to the trivia question "who is the first lottery pick to play in the d-league?"

[tornado]

Colorado State just hosted Tyrell Bellot-Green - a former Bradley (Geno) recruit and a similar player to Josh Cunningham...
the premium article says he is leaning towards CSU so it may affect Josh's choice...

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=299595#post299595

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=305826#post305826

[tornado]

ESPN's top 25 transfers- Josh Cunningham #15

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff...-transfer-list...

I think I figured it out - the longer he waits, the highest his name creeps up on that list of uncommitted transfers...
He's at #4 now as most of those who were above him have decided...
(actually he's #3 right now since Williams III already committed)