Patrick O'Bryant Declares for NBA Draft

[AV23]

No sooner does POB declare for the draft, then the latest mock draft projection drops him significantly.
He was at #10 in the 2006 nbadraft.net mock draft for the past several weeks, but he has now dropped to #15.
All the other Mock Draft sites have him from #9-15 but haven't been updated as recently.

I don't get into those sites. There are not run by the NBA teams so who reallys cares. The only think that counts is how POB does in his workouts.

[thefish7]

I think Les did the right thing, and I think POB would do well to listen to him. If he's in the top 10, he really has almost no optino but to go to the NBA. If he's below the top 10, then I think he really would be served getting up into the top 10 after his Junior year. We'll just have to wait and see.

At the end of the day, either way it's good for Bradley. The more guys we can get playing in the NBA, the more guys will want to come to Bradley.

So your saying you agree with Les if POB is not in the top 10 he needs to return to BU. Sorry I don't agree if POB is pick anywhere from 10-20 that is great and he doesn't need to return to BU. The list of centers that could enter the NBA draft next year could push POB out of the top 15 so he needs to go now.

10-16 I could agree with you, because of guaranteed years and money. Anything outside the lottery and he runs the risk of never playing for the team that drafted him and out of the NBA.

The top 30 picks in the draft is guaranteed money.

That's why I said years and money. Aren't 17-30 1 year contracts only? 2 years at $1M+ are worth leaving college for. 1 year at ~1M is not enough to live on forever.

[AV23]

I think Les did the right thing, and I think POB would do well to listen to him. If he's in the top 10, he really has almost no optino but to go to the NBA. If he's below the top 10, then I think he really would be served getting up into the top 10 after his Junior year. We'll just have to wait and see.

At the end of the day, either way it's good for Bradley. The more guys we can get playing in the NBA, the more guys will want to come to Bradley.

So your saying you agree with Les if POB is not in the top 10 he needs to return to BU. Sorry I don't agree if POB is pick anywhere from 10-20 that is great and he doesn't need to return to BU. The list of centers that could enter the NBA draft next year could push POB out of the top 15 so he needs to go now.

10-16 I could agree with you, because of guaranteed years and money. Anything outside the lottery and he runs the risk of never playing for the team that drafted him and out of the NBA.

The top 30 picks in the draft is guaranteed money.

That's why I said years and money. Aren't 17-30 1 year contracts only? 2 years at $1M+ are worth leaving college for. 1 year at ~1M is not enough to live on forever.

The top 30 picks have a two year contact with a team opt. for the 3 and 4 year.

[thefish7]

The top 30 picks have a two year contact with a team opt. for the 3 and 4 year.

Yeah, I've been trying to find a source on the rules relating to this, and haven't come up with anything. If it's true that he can get two years guaranteed, then he should go. Do you (or anyone else for that matter) have any source for how long/how much players contracts from the draft are?

[AV23]

The top 30 picks have a two year contact with a team opt. for the 3 and 4 year.

Yeah, I've been trying to find a source on the rules relating to this, and haven't come up with anything. If it's true that he can get two years guaranteed, then he should go. Do you (or anyone else for that matter) have any source for how long/how much players contracts from the draft are?

This link below is what last years rookies made. This years $$$$$$ amounts have went up alot to last years.

http://www.insidehoops.com/salaries-rookies.shtml

[TRIMAN]

Salaries for the top 30 picks in 2005:

http://www.hoopshype.com/draft.htm

pretty good overall site IMO. Has POB at #16.

Projecting on next years class is pointless at this point. No one knows what players are coming out next year for sure and what the order would be. Oden and Noah aren't guaranteed to be leaving next year. Can anyone name more than 5 players likely to be going pro next year that would definitely be ahead of POB? Do you really think that Glenn Davis is a much better player than POB? Guys that big don't typically do well in the NBA.

[ER3]

Everything I have read on guys like Davis and Hansbrough is that they wouldn't likely be lottery pick type of players...both seem to me to be guys who will be great college players, but may not project to be great NBA guys...not that this couldn't change in a year...Hansbrough is projected at #25 overall next year on NBAdraft.net and I don't seem to remember Davis even being projected that high...
So, while there may be guys like Oden, Noah, Durant, etc. that may declare next year that would most likely be slotted ahead of POB...I don't think it will be guys like Davis and Hansbrough that would be hurting his status in next year's draft...

[GoBraves]

AV23 wrote: So your saying you agree with Les if POB is not in the top 10 he needs to return to BU. Sorry I don't agree if POB is pick anywhere from 10-20 that is great and he doesn't need to return to BU. The list of centers that could enter the NBA draft next year could push POB out of the top 15 so he needs to go now.

I have not really followed the Braves much until the last couple of years, so my perspective might not carry much weight or insight, but I absolutely believe Jim Les was correct in his advice for several reasons.

First, there is no way for POB to know exactly where he will be taken. Trades occur, draft position swapped, and so forth. Obviously, any ???‚¬?“agent???‚¬?? source of information is going to paint the most positive outlook, so you can???‚¬?„?t count on that at all. Jim Les???‚¬?„? advice seems to provide a nice safety net ???‚¬??? If you THINK you will be in the top 10 ???‚¬??? go for it. Even if you fall you will likely be in the top 20 and be fine. If it looks like you might be 20th, any fall in the draft is going to be really damaging. While I have no proof, I bet Jim Les would tell POB that if he is selected 18th he should go, but to think you are going to be taken 18th, don???‚¬?„?t take the risk of falling.

Second, POB is just a 19 year old sophomore. I read where his mother said ???‚¬?“He can always go back to school.???‚¬?? No question, he can always go back and get a degree, but he can never again be a 20 year old college junior. Who would want to trade those years away? I can say with total honesty that if POB was my son, I would want him to stay in school and enjoy the time. I do not see this as a strategic window that is only open now or will be lost forever; he will certainly spend years in the NBA, I would be more than happy to let those years start a little later. I would take out a large insurance policy in case he was hurt to cover that risk.

Third, I guess I have much more faith and confidence in POB than AV23, Doyle, and all the others saying ???‚¬?“Go now while the going is good.???‚¬?? Here is a kid that would have been about (let???‚¬?„?s say) the 300th NBA pick out of high school; about 100th after his freshman year; and about 20th after his sophomore year. The coaching staff has proven they can help POB develop. In fact, he is a far better player now than last November. I believe he is not going to stand still ???‚¬??? he is on the rise and another summer of weights and year of playing and coaching, I believe he will continue up the charts. If he does not feel he will continue to improve (although all the signs indicate he will), then I guess this is the best time leave. I really do believe he will improve considerably.

In the end, I think everyone involved (POB, his parents, Jim Les, etc.) wants what is best for POB. However, there are serious questions and different perspectives about what that is. If there weren???‚¬?„?t, then just hire an agent, drop out of school, and work out full time.

[SFP]

HEY POB Can you say TIM DUNCAN.......

BTW Oden is one year and out! He will be the number one pick and if he went out this year he'd have been number one. Ohio State will be scary come March next year.

[AV23]

AV23 wrote: So your saying you agree with Les if POB is not in the top 10 he needs to return to BU. Sorry I don't agree if POB is pick anywhere from 10-20 that is great and he doesn't need to return to BU. The list of centers that could enter the NBA draft next year could push POB out of the top 15 so he needs to go now.

I have not really followed the Braves much until the last couple of years, so my perspective might not carry much weight or insight, but I absolutely believe Jim Les was correct in his advice for several reasons.

First, there is no way for POB to know exactly where he will be taken. Trades occur, draft position swapped, and so forth. Obviously, any ???‚¬?“agent???‚¬?? source of information is going to paint the most positive outlook, so you can???‚¬?„?t count on that at all. Jim Les???‚¬?„? advice seems to provide a nice safety net ???‚¬??? If you THINK you will be in the top 10 ???‚¬??? go for it. Even if you fall you will likely be in the top 20 and be fine. If it looks like you might be 20th, any fall in the draft is going to be really damaging. While I have no proof, I bet Jim Les would tell POB that if he is selected 18th he should go, but to think you are going to be taken 18th, don???‚¬?„?t take the risk of falling.

Second, POB is just a 19 year old sophomore. I read where his mother said ???‚¬?“He can always go back to school.???‚¬?? No question, he can always go back and get a degree, but he can never again be a 20 year old college junior. Who would want to trade those years away? I can say with total honesty that if POB was my son, I would want him to stay in school and enjoy the time. I do not see this as a strategic window that is only open now or will be lost forever; he will certainly spend years in the NBA, I would be more than happy to let those years start a little later. I would take out a large insurance policy in case he was hurt to cover that risk.

Third, I guess I have much more faith and confidence in POB than AV23, Doyle, and all the others saying ???‚¬?“Go now while the going is good.???‚¬?? Here is a kid that would have been about (let???‚¬?„?s say) the 300th NBA pick out of high school; about 100th after his freshman year; and about 20th after his sophomore year. The coaching staff has proven they can help POB develop. In fact, he is a far better player now than last November. I believe he is not going to stand still ???‚¬??? he is on the rise and another summer of weights and year of playing and coaching, I believe he will continue up the charts. If he does not feel he will continue to improve (although all the signs indicate he will), then I guess this is the best time leave. I really do believe he will improve considerably.

In the end, I think everyone involved (POB, his parents, Jim Les, etc.) wants what is best for POB. However, there are serious questions and different perspectives about what that is. If there weren???‚¬?„?t, then just hire an agent, drop out of school, and work out full time.

I like how you try to but your spin on it, "However, there are serious questions and different perspectives about what that is. If there weren???‚¬?„?t, then just hire an agent, drop out of school, and work out full time". By POB and his parents not hire an agent is a smart move it has nothing to do with BU.

[GoBraves]

AV23: I like how you try to but your spin on it, "However, there are serious questions and different perspectives about what that is. If there weren???‚¬?„?t, then just hire an agent, drop out of school, and work out full time". By POB and his parents not hire an agent is a smart move it has nothing to do with BU.

Does that mean you agree with me or disagree with me? I need some interpretation.

[AV23]

AV23: I like how you try to but your spin on it, "However, there are serious questions and different perspectives about what that is. If there weren???‚¬?„?t, then just hire an agent, drop out of school, and work out full time". By POB and his parents not hire an agent is a smart move it has nothing to do with BU.

Does that mean you agree with me or disagree with me? I need some interpretation.

I disagree with you when you said there are serious question and different prespectives about POB/Parent hire an agent and just leaving school. None of us really know the reason for why they didn't hire an agent yet. If you look at most of the young men coming out about 90% of them didn't hire an agent yet

[GoBraves]

Perhaps we do agree. My comment was that if a person knew for a fact that they were leaving (not making themselves eligible for the draft, but definitely leaving), it would make sense to get some representation and work out full time. Not hiring an agent maximizes your options, which seems like a good thing. Thus, it appears there is some uncertainty about what is best ???‚¬??? so take the middle road for the time being. Make yourself eligible, keep in school, do not hire an agent, and gain more information.

Do you disagree with that? Do you disagree with my explanation and logic for the ???‚¬?“go if you are in the top 10???‚¬?? comment?

[AV23]

Perhaps we do agree. My comment was that if a person knew for a fact that they were leaving (not making themselves eligible for the draft, but definitely leaving), it would make sense to get some representation and work out full time. Not hiring an agent maximizes your options, which seems like a good thing. Thus, it appears there is some uncertainty about what is best ???‚¬??? so take the middle road for the time being. Make yourself eligible, keep in school, do not hire an agent, and gain more information.

Do you disagree with that? Do you disagree with my explanation and logic for the ???‚¬?“go if you are in the top 10???‚¬?? comment?

For the most part I do agree with you GoBraves. As for go if you are in the top 10 comment I don't agree with. To me if POB is a top 20 pick that is great and he should go.

[collegehoopjunkie]

Barring an injury or weird unforseen event, there is simply no possible way POB will fall in the draft projections beyond #20.
Given that, at least 5 teams are in big need of a center or backup (Houston, Orlando, Philly, Boston, Bulls, and others), so I expect POB will stay in the draft and get picked near the end of the lottery choices, and have a Chris Kaman or Michael Olowokandi type career. Not All Star, but decent and productive.
Today's revision of the nbadraft.net mock draft has POB back up from 15 to 12.