<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As the 12th pick of the second round, the 42nd pick overall (right between Roko Ukic and Mile Ilic) and the third pick of your Golden State Warriors, Taft is promised nothing but a training-camp per diem and a couple of cable-car rides. In other words, that guaranteed multimillion-dollar contract he was counting on suddenly seems as far away as the Cathedral of Learning is from the Golden Gate Bridge. Taft's scholarship is toast. He burned it, bolting from Pitt after an apathetic sophomore year, figuring he would become a rich man June 28. What a gross miscalculation. Taft instead became the draft's biggest loser. Who's to blame? Two people top the list: Taft and his agent, Billy Ceisler, who told me on June 5 that he'd be surprised if Taft wasn't a lottery pick (among the top 14) and that Taft recently had "dominated" Final Four MVP May "in every facet of the game" during a workout for the L.A. Clippers. Yeah, that's believable. You'd think Ceisler, who also represents Villanueva and Ben Gordon, among others, would be connected enough to have long ago provided Taft with a shot of reality (and perhaps preserved Taft's college eligibility). On the other hand, Ceisler hadn't yet seen Taft audition for NBA teams, and, contrary to what the agent later reported, it now seems clear that those auditions were received about as well as Vin Diesel in "The Chronicles of Riddick." In observing Taft, people must have wondered if they were seeing the reincarnation of Chris Washburn. ESPN.com's Chad Ford chronicled Taft's draft-board descent. As recently as May 26, Ford had Taft going 8th overall to the Knicks. But that was before Ford got a first-hand glimpse of Taft's lazy ways. Prior to visiting various teams, Taft held individual workouts in New York. Ford was there and wrote, "You would have liked to see him rev the motor a bit more." Imagine an aspiring musician inviting record companies to a private recital and not bothering to tune his guitar. That's Taft. Ceisler subsequently barred Ford from Taft's workouts. The first formalized one was in Toronto, where Raptors GM Rob Babcock publicly questioned Taft's heart. In Charlotte, Taft quit a workout, citing a sore knee. Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff privately joked with reporters that it might have been the Chinese food Taft had eaten. For the record, Bickerstaff said, "We're calling it tendinitis." Reports describing a workout for Golden State indicated that Ike Diogu had systematically destroyed Taft in a one-on-one. Ceisler, predictably, said it was the other way around. Who was right? Put it this way: Golden State snatched the 6-8 Diogu with the 9th overall pick. None of which is to suggest that Taft is doomed. He might yet become an NBA player. All he needs are some new advisors and a radical personality change. </div> Source
That's rather unfortunate for Chris Taft. He still could blossom into a hard worker(like Ben Wallace) down the road when he realizes what it takes to get minutes in the NBA. I've always thought getting into the L is easierr than staying in it. The average NBA career is just 2 years.
This article is rediculous. Chris Taft only has one person to blame for his fall, and that's himself. He had all of the physical tools in the world to be a top three (or maybe even number one) pick in the draft but he let his work ethic and laziness hold him back. It's sad to think that somewhere down the line he'll probably accumulate at least a million dollars or so bouncing around the NBA because the kid has no heart. I feel bad for Ceisler. He worked wonders for Villanueva, but he was given the draft's most difficult player to work with in Chris Taft. You'd kind of expect Taft to at least give a lot of effort in one or two workouts. I will fault the agents of Roko Ukic, Martynas Andriuskevicius, Kennedy Winston, or Alan Anderson, but not Chris Taft's.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">This article is rediculous. Chris Taft only has one person to blame for his fall, and that's himself. He had all of the physical tools in the world to be a top three (or maybe even number one) pick in the draft but he let his work ethic and laziness hold him back. It's sad to think that somewhere down the line he'll probably accumulate at least a million dollars or so bouncing around the NBA because the kid has no heart. I feel bad for Ceisler. He worked wonders for Villanueva, but he was given the draft's most difficult player to work with in Chris Taft. You'd kind of expect Taft to at least give a lot of effort in one or two workouts. I will fault the agents of Roko Ukic, Martynas Andriuskevicius, Kennedy Winston, or Alan Anderson, but not Chris Taft's.</div> I cant blame the agt on this one either. Ceisler had a lottery pick at beginnning of the process. Then Taft decided that he could coast and still get drafted in the 1st round. Im sure the agt told Taft what the deal was at every stop. This is all on Taft. The agt told everyone that he couldnt see his client moving out of lottery. What is he supposed to do. What is he supposed to say "Hey my client sucks, he is going in the second round." " No time for losers"- Queen " We Are the Champions"
This was definately not Tafts agents fault. It was Tafts fault for not giving 100% in the workouts and drills.
Taft's play was unimpressive in the season,I saw a game.expecting to see a guy worthy of a round 1,and what I saw was a guy who looked like no more than a journeyman backup,he had just a few skills to use,he seemed strong,but was not really using that strength. The agent was painting a false picture for teams-or so he thought,I assume he was also telling Taft everything was looking good,in short,he was a liar who was so far off it took a fool to buy his crap...and Taft had just fallen off the turnip truck. Taft needed the reality check. He can choose to bust his butt or be one of several players with a rep they never paid dues on,who are very close to looking for a real job when the "potential" bubble bursts
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miamiballa12:</div><div class="quote_post">This was definately not Tafts agents fault. It was Tafts fault for not giving 100% in the workouts and drills.</div> exactly, from what i read, he showed no detirination at all in his workouts, which isnt very good if you want to get drafted in the first round.
Lasting past 40 may be the reality check Taft needed. Maybe. If so,he still needs to make up for wasted time,learn many new skills. He may become the quality of a mid-rd 1...may wind up a semi-pro somewhere. Now it's his choice. Let's see if he gets it.
The last time I checked, Taft's agent didn't play two years at Pitt, nor did work out for numerous NBA teams so I am baffled how Chris Taft can blame his agent for this. The 42nd pick is right where Taft belongs because of his work ethic, and talent (or lack there of). This is very immature of Taft to blame your agent for being picked in the second round, which quite frankly is part of the reason he got picked in the second round, is because he is immature and has a poor work ethic..
The agent can't make his player play hard, thats up to the player. and taft proved to be lazy and a loser, and now its his agents fault that he didnt care? that sucks for the agent. its not his fault, its taft's lazy butt thats to blame.
