Benched for Laettner a couple of days ago ...OUCH He had a DNP - Coach's Decision tonight ..DOUBLE OUCH I just waived him on two different teams.Beginning of the year I was thinking he might be a steal.I took him off the waiver in both leagues.
I feel like he has loads of potential, but he just isnt improving like the Wizards had hoped. It looks like it will be another long season on the bench for him.
He's still young -- has a lot of improvement to come. Because he was the no.1 pick, everyone is expecting a lot from him now. I think in 2 more years he'll be establishing himself as a good player.
This guy had a couple of monster games at the start of the season and I was just about to hop on his bandwagon, but I haven't heard jack squat about him lately. Its ashame he's doing poorly, the Wizards need him to contribute to a playoff push this year. I really felt bad for him last year with his poor play and off court trouble (that huge speeding ticket), so I hope he comes around and starts to play well.
There was a recent article about this, I think. Kwame's been pushed down the bench as his early-season play has gone erratic; coaches think he still needs to adjust to the NBA schedule grind. And probably King Michael wants to win now in this, his last season, so he helped bench Kwame.
yao was considered a bust before setting foot on an NBA floor and he goes out and shuts people up with his play. kwame brown, also a number one pick, can't do jack and i see no hating from the media on jordan. wow, the media has been wrong two years in row? no?
Him, along with all the other High School phenoms would have done better to go to college, at least for a year or two. Would get more attention and playing time.
If you can be the #1 pick coming out of high school, I see no reason to delay things. He could only have hurt his chances of being drafted high if he (Kwame) would have gone to college.
If he's that good, what's wrong with going to college. Ideally, your game will improve with a coach focussing on you.
Theoretically it makes sense to get some college experience, but practically you're just so much better off going to the NBA if you're a top 5 pick. Imagine Kwame Brown had stayed in school. Instead of getting $10 mill guaranteed over three years he earns nothing (CWebb-type endorsements notwithstanding). In three years he enters the draft, and, if absolutely everything went right, -- no disappointments, no injuries, no new high school phenoms to go #1 -- he is selected #1 overall. At that point he gets the 10 mill contract. In his current situation, don't you suppose that even if he was a total bust in three years time some team will give him a three year $10 mill contract on potential alone? So, by going to school he risks not living up to his hype, he gives up $10 mill (plus endorsements) and his starting contract is no better than if he had three years of disappointing NBA experience behind him. What he loses in potential development he has 6 years of NBA experience to make up (assuming Washington doesn't renew (which won't happen) and some other team picks him up for a three year rookie money contract (which also won't happen). So by going to college he gains what? Possibly improvement in his game, which, long-term, may result in higher contracts -- but at such risk. Because of the size of the guaranteed rookie deals if you're a high lotto pick, it makes no sense to go to college.
It makes no sense money wise to go to college. I'm not saying that if I had all that money thrown at me, I'd pass it up. But, with my parents paying for it, college was a blast. Plus they get a chance at an education and get to refine their skills. If they're good enough, the NBA isn't going anywhere. Just take out an insurance policy and enjoy being a kid.
Good point about the "enjoy being a kid" bit. Some guys just aren't ready for the pressure of the NBA and the celebrity lifestyle and expectations. But the "education" to fall back on is a fallacy. Top rate college athletes don't necessarily get a great education (with all the athletic pressure and time commitments). Plus he'd be giving up a guaranteed $10 mill over three years. To earn $10 mill from that education he'd have to earn an average of $230K per year from 23 to 65. That just doesn't happen to all college graduates. Also, college will always be there too. It's a lot easier to go back to college at 23 with $10mil in your jeans, then it would be to crack the NBA if you had a lousy college career. I too wish top prospects would stay in school, but if I were advising them, I just couldn't justify passing on a potential high lotto selection.
Being a kid is important. I hear a lot of kids in the nba talking about how the ncaa tournament doesn't mean as much to them as it does the other guys. However, in terms of improving your game, I think the NBA is the way to go. You are forced to play at a higher level faster. I think your game jumps by leaps and bounds. I don't think college is the best place to hone your skills. I think the NBA is.
let's say these high schoolers decide to go to college and what if during their stint there they have a Grant Hill-like injury. now that's a major risk they are taking. i'd give up college for an NBA contract without a second thought.
