He was taken in today's expansion draft....dammit!! I really liked this kid, and I honestly thought he could have been a solid starting center for the Lakers someday... He was suppose to be the Lakers little secret project, but apparently the Bobcats found out...
Yeah, I remember over the season hearing about him being a long term project many times. I liked Sampson a lot, and I also agree that he has the potential to be a quality player in the league. Damn, I was really hoping the Bobcats would pass on him, but kind of saw this coming. I was real disappointed to find out they left him unprotected, because of him being a "project." I think they'll be regretting this next season, especially if Shaq is traded out of town. We could have used his size and defense, and our already thin front court is about to get thinner this offseason.. Damn you Bickerstaff!!!
Yeah, I remember over the season hearing about him being a long term project many times. I liked Sampson a lot, and I also agree that he has the potential to be a quality player in the league. Damn, I was really hoping the Bobcats would pass on him, but kind of saw this coming. I was real disappointed to find out they left him unprotected, because of him being a "project." I think they'll be regretting this next season, especially if Shaq is traded out of town. We could have used his size and defense, and our already thin front court is about to get thinner this offseason.. Damn you Bickerstaff!!!
Secret project? Man I hope not...Jamal Sampson was a huge bust for the Bucks when he was drafted (I think the Jazz originally drafted him though). He played 5 games, 8 minutes total. I remember Legler talking about him during the season...he only played one year at California and averaged 6 points, 6 boards a game, which isn't terrible...but not good enough for a "potential" center...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Secret project? Man I hope not...Jamal Sampson was a huge bust for the Bucks when he was drafted (I think the Jazz originally drafted him though). He played 5 games, 8 minutes total. I remember Legler talking about him during the season...he only played one year at California and averaged 6 points, 6 boards a game, which isn't terrible...but not good enough for a "potential" center...</div> The potiential is there...last season, in limited time, he average over 5 rebounds a game in about 13 minutes per game..... In addition, you bring up his college...what I'm sure you don't realize is that Sampson was one of the most heralded prep stars in California history...Injuries and poor work ethic hindered his development...based on what I saw from him in preseason and limited action in the regular season, he was beginning to turn the corner...his potiential is definitely there And if he is not a "potiential center," why would the Bobcats draft him?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post"> And if he is not a "potiential center," why would the Bobcats draft him?</div> Well, the Bobcats didn't really draft anyone though. Their intentions were to just draft young guys and pretty much build their team with their draft pick and trades this off-season. The Bobcats are looking to get Okafor...or hoping to. If they feel like Sampson is a good candidate for the starting center...does that mean they'll pass up Okafor? I don't think they would do that. It would be different if Sampson had the numbers to prove he was able to take that role, but he's not even close in my opinion, and that's also why the Bobcats grabbed a couple more big guys, like White...who is (and has proven to be) a better all-around player than Sampson.
I'm not going to lose any sleep with Sampson off the team. He was high recruit at Cal, but he's just another 7foot bust coming out of there. He joins Yogi Stewart and Kiwi Marks. I don't think Sampson has the desire to be a good player in the league. I expect to see him in the NBDL or CBA in the next couple of years.
I think the kid is a project and can be pretty good down the road... think Samuel Dalembert. He is also the cousin of former Rocket center Ralph Samson, who could teach him a trick or two.
