Wow. Kid sounds like he doesn't have either his head or his heart in the game. Valhalla help any coach who insists on discipline and accountability with this guy.
If you’ve watched him play he’s super talented. But makes some of the most stupid mistakes I’ve ever seen. He won’t be an All Star
Sounds like a kid I used to coach. As he closed in on our school's career scoring record, our local newspaper decided to do a profile on him. Made a fool of himself, saying how he really didn't like basketball, among other things. This was a kid that never missed a varsity game, once playing when he didn't have to with a 102 temperature and playing well. Same kid also picked a fight with his point guard because a jealous teammate told him the PG said something behind his back ... turned out the PG didn't say it and the kid never bothered to ask. I got the kid a spot on a DIII college team, which he ditched before graduating HS. After his last HS game, he comes up to me on the bus and tells me he wished he would have listened to me. Yeah, kid, me, too.
Is he a less talented version of Michael Beasley? Seems like a good fit for the Wolves or Hornets culture.
Even in the "two weeks later" section, when he supposedly sounds a lot better, espousing love and enthusiasm for the game that he hadn't previously, he's still saying that the reason he loves basketball is because of what the game can do for him. He still might end up successful, but I wouldn't want to be the GM who takes the chance on him.
Getting strong whiffs of a Greg Oden mixed with Anthony Bennett on this one. Kid is an uber athlete and could be great but if you don't have that desire to be great every single day, then at best you'll just be another guy in the NBA.
Love the side by side comparison of how agents clean up prospects. Sounds like this kid has huge bust potential.
He’s got so many red flags it’s ridiculous. After his warriors workout he claimed his mindset changed and he realized he had to go hard every play, or some bullshit like that. Good luck to whoever drafts him.
...on the other hand, if the right team (ahem, Spurs) gets a hold of him and lights a fire under his ass, he could go from biggest bust potential to steal of the draft. The tools are obviously there, being a #1 prospect despite all the red flags. I would still stay far away.
I haven't watched Ball and Wiseman play, but they sound like they'll at least be contributors if not stars. In a draft full of role players and no surefire building blocks, I don't think that'll result in them being labeled busts. The expectations just aren't there. Edwards actually has expectations, but a high likelihood of flaming out completely.
I don’t think that’s fair to Oden. He’s bounced around long after his knees exploded and wants to coach. Bennett sucked and is like taking a more athletically talented yet lesser college career Thomas Robinson at #1.
Maybe it's not fair to Oden but it never seemed like basketball was priority #1 for him ... maybe that changed once it was taken away by injuries.
