Guys like Ridnour and Hinrich are a dime a dozen in the pros. Look at Dan Dickau for example. The upside on TJ is tremendous once he develops a J. If he comes out this year, he'll be most valuable to a team with scorers, but not a distributing PG (hmmm...sound familiar?). Hell, imagine TJ running the Lakers offense instead of Fisher.
He won't be though. The Cavs might be a good fit for him, I guess, but outside of them and the Knicks, I can't think of a team in the lottery that would greatly benefit from having T.J. as is.
Who's the most successful Longhorn ever to play in the NBA? LaSalle Thompson? Mihm has been a bust so far. Mays, Blanks and Tyler were first round flops. Rencher and Clack second round flops. Owens still hurt. Muoneke and Freeman undrafted. Burditt, waste of a Rockets 2nd rounder.
I can't think of a single good pro point guard who can't shoot. The closest ones that come to mind are Mark Jackson and Tinsley. I take that back, Kidd, Payton and Miller couldn't shoot a lick outside of 15 feet early in their career either, but TJ isn't 6'4" like the first two nor physically overpowering like all three. IMO Ridnour and Hinrich are closer to Nash or Bibby than Dickau--but we will see. Basically if Ridnour has a 40% chance to be a Nash and TJ has a 20% chance to be a Kidd or Iverson I'd go with Ridnour as a pick. The Lakers don't need a playmaker. They are much better off with a PG who can sit there waiting for a shot and play decent physical defense than a guy like TJ--Fisher is just fine for them as Kenny Smith was for us (except Kenny's ole d). If you are an NBA guard, especially a starting one, you almost have to keep your opponent honest with a decent J. It is even more true now with zones allowed. TJ may be picked high because of potential, but if he doesn't get that jump shot he will never be a good NBA player.
After reading everone's posts the only conclusion I can come to is: Man, Big XII basketball is gonna suck next year.
