Just heard on the SportsFlash on 610 that Dunleavy reportedly said he would stay in school since he had been advised he would likely go as the 3rd pick in the draft to the Warriors. If the Rockets aren't sold on Ming, this might affect any potential trades that they might have been contemplating.
I hope this is not true. All the reports I have heard were the contrary. I just want Dunleavy in the draft so he can push one more talented guy down to the Rockets at #15. Chris
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2002/draft/news/2002/06/19/dunleavy_draft_ap/ 'A hard decision' Dunleavy decides to keep his name in NBA Draft Posted: Wednesday June 19, 2002 11:31 AM Updated: Wednesday June 19, 2002 12:44 PM DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Duke junior forward Mike Dunleavy will pass up his senior year and remain in the NBA Draft, he said Wednesday. "After carefully weighing my options, I have decided to stay in the draft," Dunleavy said in a news release. "It was a hard decision to make, but after going back and forth, I have decided to pursue my dream of becoming a professional basketball player." Dunleavy, who as an underclassman had until midnight Wednesday to make his decision, said he believed he would go "reasonably high" in the draft. He said he planned to finish his remaining courses and graduate from Duke as soon as possible. The 6-foot-10 Dunleavy declared early for the NBA Draft in May, but didn't hire an agent, leaving an option open to return to the Blue Devils. Local Look There are likely lots of reasons behind Mike Dunleavy's decision, but the San Francisco Chronicle says one stands out as wildly improbable and deeply refreshing: Dunleavy's coming out because he wouldn't mind playing for the Warriors. For a team whose recent history is riddled with players forcing their way out of town, this counts as a major coup. If the Warriors managed to convince Dunleavy that this place was worth staking his pro future upon, then the struggle for respectability might not be as steeply uphill as it appears. Dunleavy was named one of Duke's captains for 2002-03, and it appeared that he was sure to return. But that was before he began hearing from several sources that he could be taken in the top five of the draft. He asked his father, Mike Dunleavy Sr., a former NBA player and head coach, and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, to confirm his standing among league executives. Dunleavy averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocked shots as a junior in 2001-02. He became the 50th Duke player to reach 1,000 career points, and he increased his career scoring total to 1,371 points, 28th all-time at Duke. He was a consensus second team All-America, a second team Academic All-America, a first team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a first team ACC all-defensive team honoree in 2002.
WOW...I usually never like to try reporting a "scoop" and I guess this might be one of those reasons. They are still continuing to run the info that I reported on the SportsFlash report that runs on the hour on KILT. Hmmmm...maybe it's part of "The Conspiracy"...damn The Man...
Dunleavy was asked about playing for his dad and he said he didn't much like the idea, at least not early in his career.
