ESPN on DeAndre Jordan & the NBA Draft....

[Pumchavas28]

ESPN is breaking down NBA prospects by Region... When you go to the West... DeAndre Jordan is the 1st one on the list.....

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=westregion-080319 (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=westregion-080319)


1. DeAndre Jordan (http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/player?draftyear=2008&playerId=19136), C, Fr., Texas A&M


The Good: Jordan has two big things going for him. First, he's huge. Second, he's a very good athlete. Combine that with soft hands, good lateral quickness and the ability to attack the rim and you can see why scouts have fallen in love with him.

The Bad: His production has been very spotty. He's been coming off the bench in the second half of the season and doesn't really have any plays run for him. He also has a questionable work ethic, according to some scouts.

The Upside: On paper, Jordan is a top-three pick in the draft. In practice, the story is much fuzzier. He has great talent, but hasn't shown the consistency that some of the other top freshmen have. If an NBA team takes him, they'll be taking on a project and gambling that, in two or three years, he'll be the next Andrew Bynum. He might be worth the risk.

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/0122/nba_g_jordan_200.jpg
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
DeAndre Jordan just might be the next Andrew Bynum.


Joseph Jones was mention in the "OTHERS TO WATCH" category.



If you click on the TOP 100 Prospects Link..... DeAndre Jordan is #3.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/rank?draftyear=2008 (http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/draft/tracker/rank?draftyear=2008)

[whitelightnin_23]

Pretty much our main problems this season:


doesn't really have any plays run for him. He also has a questionable work ethic, according to some scouts.

[Pumchavas28]

The Questionable Work Ethic could be leading to the lack of plays run for him....... or the other way around....

Chicken before the egg or the egg before the chicken.....:undecided:

[whitelightnin_23]

so is DJ the Chicken or the Egg? Which one is Turge?

[Loftin]

Upside is the key thing scouts look for in the NBA draft. I would be shocked if Jordan is not a top 10 pick.

[jacruzer01]

I honestly think DJ is NOT ready for the NBA but he is pretty much gone. I think one more year in college could really help him mature his game and get even better. He needs to improve on his shot blocking skills, outside/inside shooting, better transition. But when they tell him he could go top 5 and wave millions of benjamins in his face, he will leave.

[Dustin00whoop]

He should leave. Why hang around for a year when NBA money is guaranteed. If he is going to be a top 5 pick he is an idiot if he doesn't go.

[Loftin]

He should leave. Why hang around for a year when NBA money is guaranteed. If he is going to be a top 5 pick he is an idiot if he doesn't go.

Exactly. He is guaranteed to be a lottery pick and make tons of money.

Sure, another year of college could improve his game, but a year in the NBA would probably help him even more. There is no reason for Jordan to put it off a year and risk an injury, just so he can make the same amount of money later.

[aggie1997]

I honestly don't think he is ready for the nba. He has a lot of maturing to do imo. He was not at all the player I thought he would be. Should easily be one of the top freshman in the country, but is not really mentioned in that conversation. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a ton of potential and obviously that is what the pros are banking on. Just hope he stays another year and really develops into what we all expected.

[Loftin]

I honestly don't think he is ready for the nba. He has a lot of maturing to do imo. He was not at all the player I thought he would be. Should easily be one of the top freshman in the country, but is not really mentioned in that conversation. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a ton of potential and obviously that is what the pros are banking on. Just hope he stays another year and really develops into what we all expected.

Don't get your hopes up. He's a projected lotto pick, and he wouldn't have even come to college if they hadn't made it a rule in the NBA.

I don't understand why people think that he needs to be a rookie of the year candidate in order to be "ready for the NBA." Look at other players who went to the league early and took a year or two before becoming VERY good. Kobe averaged 7.6 points as a rookie, and Kevin Garnett averaged 10.4 points as a rookie. Obviously, they learned a lot and developed their games over the course of a rookie season. Teams have no problem whatsoever in taking a project with freakish athleticism. Why do you think Orlando drafted Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor?

[whitelightnin_23]

do you think DeAndre is sandbagging a little (he knew he would be a NBA lottery pick after his mandatory time in NCAA)???

[Dustin00whoop]

It doesn't matter if he is ready for the NBA or not. Most of these guys aren't playing to be the next Wilt Chamberlain. They are playing to be millionaires. Dre has millions guaranteed & would be a fool not to take it.

[Loftin]

do you think DeAndre is sandbagging a little (he knew he would be a NBA lottery pick after his mandatory time in NCAA)???

No, I really believe he always tries hard. I think he's a little immature. Also, I don't think he's a good fit for his coach/teammates (nothing against him or us, just not everywhere is a great fit for you to maximize your potential).

I'm glad we had him this year and I think he'll do well in the NBA. However, I don't anticipate Turgeon recruiting too many more one and done's.

[aggie1997]

Don't get your hopes up. He's a projected lotto pick, and he wouldn't have even come to college if they hadn't made it a rule in the NBA.

I don't understand why people think that he needs to be a rookie of the year candidate in order to be "ready for the NBA." Look at other players who went to the league early and took a year or two before becoming VERY good. Kobe averaged 7.6 points as a rookie, and Kevin Garnett averaged 10.4 points as a rookie. Obviously, they learned a lot and developed their games over the course of a rookie season. Teams have no problem whatsoever in taking a project with freakish athleticism. Why do you think Orlando drafted Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor?

I don't think he has to be a player of the year in order to be ready for the NBA. My point is he has not played up to expectations this year and I would really like to have seen what he could have done in college. At least for one year. Everyone always assumed he would be here only a year. However, everyone also thought we would get a lot more production out of him during that one year.

[Mezentius]

Millions guaranteed he's gone. He should be gone, we would all be gone. Will he languish on the bench in the NBA? yes If he has a bad work ethic will he be a bust? Yes
Will that change the fact that so long as he doesn't blow the money stupidly he and his family is set for life? No.

[AustinAG07]

Has he given any indication about what he plans to do? Said anything publicly?

[whitelightnin_23]

Has he given any indication about what he plans to do? Said anything publicly?

I think right now, he should have his focus elsewhere...I would HOPE he hasn't made any comments...