This would definitely make the crop of players at the 8th pick less enticing... http://sports.espn.go.com/nbadraft/story?id=1391826 CHICAGO -- Although Mike Dunleavy Sr. is leaning toward advising his son to return to Duke for his senior season, Mike Dunleavy is due in Friday for an NBA-sponsored physical in case he decides to stay in the NBA draft. The conflicting signals add even more suspense to Dunleavy's decision, which has to be made by June 19 or else he'll give up his remaining eligibility. And Dunleavy's decision affects more than Duke's roster and chances at the Final Four in 2003. Dunleavy affects picks No. 3 through the rest of the first round because of the dominoes he would cause by staying in or withdrawing from the NBA draft. "I told him over the weekend that I think he should go back because he's struggling with it this much,'' Dunleavy Sr. said as he watched the second day of the pre-draft camp at the Moody Bible Institute. "This should be something he wants to do. It's all about going back for his senior year. It's not about the teams. It's not about where he's going to go. They're all great cities. He didn't plan for it. He could have graduated and would have done it. He's looking forward to the challenge of his senior year and it being his team.'' Dunleavy Sr. said his son is savvy to the financial benefit of leaving early. He isn't under any financial duress but would be "giving away $15 million,'' according to Dunleavy by not getting into the draft and starting the clock toward his second contract in four years. "There is a draw for both sides,'' Dunleavy Sr. said. "They're both good for different reasons. If he goes back he could get his number retired and have a chance to be player of the year. I'm his father and I wouldn't put him in a position if he weren't a lock for the top five.'' Dunleavy Sr., the former coach of the Blazers and Lakers and a former player with the Bucks, said he quizzed his son if there was a team, say the Lakers, that had the No. 1 pick and said they would take him, would he go? He said the answer was yes. "Then if there is one team that he feels that about, there could be others,'' Dunleavy Sr. said. "He could be the No. 2 pick this year. He could be No. 1. You never know. Obviously, he understands that LeBron James (of Akron's St. Vincent-St. Mary High) is the No. 1 pick next year. It has nothing to do with the draft.'' Most observers believe Duke's Jay Williams will be selected No. 2 by the Bulls, while China's Yao Ming will go No. 1 to the Rockets. Dunleavy isn't scheduled to hold any individual workouts after the Chicago draft camp. Dunleavy would be a consensus preseason all-American and one of the top candidates for player of the year if he returns to Duke.
I think it'd be a mistake for him to go back.... Honestly I don't see him raising his draft stock any higher with another year of college. But I wish him well either way, I wish I was able to be in his position.
Jay, I don't mean to seem like I disagree with each of your takes, but this isn't about a decision to 'improve' his stock as you say... While this year he's firmly entrenched behind J-Will and Yao, next year he'll be behind at least Lebron... It's merely a roll of the dice if he can deal with going to to of three franchises he would rather not play for (Warriors, Nuggets-----probably wouldn't mind reuniting with Shane in Memphis)... Going back to school means another serious run at a Final Four, landing the cover of nearly every college basketball preview mag, having Dickie V. as his personal p.r. guy for the entire season, and hoping that next year's lottery shakes out well for him.... I think it makes perfect sense in the case that whether he goes this year or next, he's still a 2-5 pick....
MD should come out IMO if he is top 5 (which everyone thinks he is). My feeling is next year isn't going to be a cake walk for him without Jason, Boozer and/or Shane to put on the big drawers. One thing that isn't mentioned is injury potential and the fact the NCAA doesn't allow you to get a big insurance policy for staying in school. I am not making ANY predictions though. I thought for sure Jason Williams would decide at some point to change his mind and declare last year. Turned out Jason should have as he would have been the #1 pick last year (but not this year) and he ended his college career with a big fat "L" instead of on top. At least Jason didn't get injured, but it was a risk I don't think he should have taken and it certainly cost him financially by not being the #1 pick and delaying his money making seasons 1 year. This voodoo spell Mike K puts on his players bugs me.
I agree with you that he's looking to go to specific teams, and he doesn't like the draw right now on who could pick him. He's already said if he could be assured the lakers would pick him he'd stay in the draft.... So he's hoping 3 teams with better futures get the top 3 picks next year? I don't know that's a pretty tough dream to hope for. Odds are Memphis will be out of the top 5, eliminating one team he'd probably like to go to. What possible team could be moving up in the draft next year that he wants to go to? What happens if the top 5 teams are Denver, Golden State, Chicago, New York and the Clippers. At least in this draft he has a chance to get on a developing and talented team with a fellow Dukie on it. You're right that next year the draft order could get better for Dunleavy, but it could just as easily get worse.
1. How likely is he gonna be in the Final Four with the J will gone [I dunno . . don't watch much college ball] 2. Injury 3. Stock drop [Felipe Lopez] 4. other's stock rises Rocket River
