🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@Statmachine You are correct .. 2010-11. We had 10 guys average over 10 minutes. But we had a true 8 man rotation. Releford averaged just over 10, but he didn't play every game. So that skews it. And by the end, he was not playing much. And EJ averaged just over 10, but again, got cut out of many meaningful minutes, including very little time vs. VCU.

Here are the years and number of players averaging double figure minutes -

1. 2008-09 - 8
2. 2009-10 - 8
3. 2010-11 - 10
4. 2011-12 - 7
5. 2012-13 - 7
6. 2013-14. - 8

Remember, last season, at exactly this time, my folks were also speculating on a bigger rotation because of all of our talent.

History says it won't happen. Self will settle on his favorites, his comfort zone. Other guys will get scraps.

I think it will be four post guys (Ellis, Alexander, Traylor and either Mick or Lucas).

Then five perimeter guys (Mason, Selden, Oubre, Greene and then either Graham or CF).

The fifth perimeter guy getting the scraps. Could that fifth guy average 10 minutes? Sure.

I have always used the arbitrary number of 13 minutes to qualify as "rotation" level minutes. Just my arbitrary number.

Great work. Really appreciate the efforts in getting this new site running. Now, on to hoops season ...

@jaybate 1.0 On the "springs" thing, Wiggins absolutely has the quickest second jump of anyone I've seen -- the second jump vs. KSU was amazing.

@VailHawk I do think court vision can be learned but there are those that are blessed with that skill. Some may improve, but like anything else, each person has their ceiling. One reason why I think Wiggins is a horrible passer right now is that he's never had to do it. I think when he has to do it, he will get better. The NBA is a much different game.

@jaybate - great analysis there. "Wigs is a project" -- He is. I'm reserving my opinion on whether he even falls in the "could" be great category until he really plays some games. I'm not entirely sure of that yet. Personally, he's not my type of player. He's soft, finesse, doesn't dive for balls, and can't/won't pass. He does play defense. That's a positive. But my opinion remains skeptical. Wish he had three seasons to develop under Self.

@icthawkfan316 - Good point on Lebron's D. And to your point and @drgnslayr's, the summer league assists simply mirrored what we saw at KU. A guy who seemed to work NOT to pass the ball. I doubt that will fly over the next few seasons. I'm sure some of those 28 year old men in the locker room might suggest that the youngster could set them up for a few scoring opportunities.

@JayHawkFanToo and @Statmachine - I trust both of you noted my relatively clear comparison to Bryant, who had low assist numbers to start and progressed upward. And pointing out what Jordan did in college. My post was in no way suggesting that Wiggins couldn't do that. It was to point out that assist numbers are an important element of a superstar.

As to @JayHawkFanToo and your "what ifs", -- what if Wiggins was under the influence of the mob, and his contact told him that his boss was betting the under on the Wiggins assist line held by the local bartender running book?

Right, coach Self told Andrew -- "Andrew, when you drive, I want you to ignore your teammates. Focus solely on the rim. If you can pass and give your teammate an easy basket, you should ignore that." Your premise (what if) is just silly.

I watched Wiggins the entire season. I posted regularly about his failure to even look at teammates when he drove to the basket, I periodically cited examples, and even posted a few pictures as examples. You are correct, we "don't really know how many times he had the ball in a position to make a pass/assist." Right, who has the exact number. That's, respectfully, a useless argument. It says nothing. It doesn't refute anything. And pointing out what he led the team in (statistically) means nothing either. We're talking about a guy who is the supposedly the next superstar. The complete player.

And using one stat is appropriate to demonstrate a flaw. If Billy Butler as a DH can't hit home runs, that's a flaw. If a post player has low rebounds, that a flaw. If a shooting guards shoots 25% from three, that's a flaw. Wiggins low assist rate is indicative of a significant weakness in his game "at the moment" (as I pointed out -- now, perhaps not in the future). And my sole point was that it was an item to watch if he is to ascend to superstardom.

Yes, “one” is the loneliest number.

The number “one” tells us the most about Andrew Wiggins so far.

The number “one” was demonstrative of Andrew Wiggins’ greatest weakness this past season at Kansas.

The number “one” exhibits a huge flaw in Andrew Wiggins’ game at the moment.

The number “one” defines Andrew Wiggins’ right now.
Andrew Wiggins had “one” assist in four summer league basketball games. “One”, as in the number “one.” Not two – “one.” When you have one assist in four games, that’s a .25 average. Easy math.

It is puzzling to me how you can be on the court for so many minutes, with the ball in your hands so many times, and have “one” assist. Unless you are consciously trying not to pass, or you are selfish, or you simply don’t know how to pass.

We debate the trade possibilities and some like @DoubleDD would not trade “future Jordan, Bird, Magic, Jordan, or Duncan.”

Heck, Kevin Love is a 4.5 assist per game guy. Lebron James, always around 7 assists per game. Heck, the allegedly selfish Kobe Bryant around 6 the last couple of seasons and around 5 most of his career as was Michael Jordan. Tim Duncan a pedestrian 3.1. Larry Bird over 6 per game. The alleged most selfish player, Carmelo Anthony – of black hole proportions -- is around 3 per game in his career.

When you compare Anthony and James, the assist difference is the biggest contrast between the two. It's perhaps why James is considered to be a much better player than James. It is actually, in fact, what makes James the much better player.

At KU, Wiggins averaged 1.5 assists per game. We saw over and over where Wiggins would fail to pass, even when three guys collapsed around him. His most famous move (as Keegan correctly pointed out) was to drive, lose the ball, and get bailed out on a foul call. Wiggins was just a freshman. He needed and deserved time to work on his game at Kansas. The microscope and the OAD drama unfairly causes more scrutiny of his game.

So some may question whether Wiggins should be traded. Or whether he’s a future superstar on the James, Jordan, Bird or Bryant level. We should first consider whether Wiggins will learn to pass the ball. This element seems to be his most significant challenge.

I looked at the progress of the superstars. Bryant averaged just 1.3 assists per game his first season, climbing to 6.3 by his fourth season. Jordan average 1.8 assists per game in college, but had 5.9 his first NBA season. Bird had 4.5 his first NBA season.

With Wiggins, this will be a stat I pay attention to. If he’s going to be a superstar, he’s got to score. He has to look to shoot. He has to be aggressive. But I’d also suggest that effectively passing the ball fits into that equation. I’ll be interested in the progress of that stat, and I'm interested in whether others think this stat means anything in the scheme of NBA superstardom.

@JayHawkFanToo Sorry, replied on my phone. Didn't read as closely as I should have.

@JayHawkFanToo Hmm .. I think you can trade a guy not under contract. You can trade the rights to him. The reason players are signed before they are traded with veterans is because they can sign a better deal with their original team. And in a sign and trade, the trading team gets some compensation. Perhaps a big salary vet in the last year of a deal to then give them some salary cap relief when he leaves.

This all falls under the description of "I think". Not 100% sure.

If you are going to gamble for a living, you better know what you are doing. Much like being a trader in the stock market -- if you "think" you know what you are doing, you will quickly learn that you don't.

@icthawkfan316 Do you think Oubre is significantly better than Greene?

Also, some have suggested CF to be the most improved. I suggested Mason. If one of them is the most improved, this team will be in a great position.

@DoubleDD - No worries. My powers of persuasion are best utilized in the CBB arena, or so I think ....

Great topic -- I personally think the most "improved" will be Frank Mason. Greene may get more PT than last season, but I think he will be a bit similar to what he would have been last season with real rotation minutes. I believe guys really make leaps when they actually get game minutes, where they experience the pressure, the crowd, the exhaustion (mentally, emotionally, and physically), and where they really play at game speed against a non-teammate opponent.

My vote is Mason. There was a significant uptick in the quality of Mason's play at the end of last season. A clear indication that he was learning. His three point shooting improved. Everything was better.

@jaybate 1.0

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. Yes.

4. Yes.

@JayHawkFanToo - Part of this is explaining away Love's dominance by playing on a crappy team. If he is "the" man -- "the" option -- can't that also make it hard to produce, thus being "the" focus of the other team? It can go both way.

But I really like your Bosh comparison. That might cause some pause, and supports your theory there. The point guard thing is interesting too.

Coach K said this of Love -- "I've coached him on two teams, and no pun intended, I love Kevin Love," he said. "You look at LeBron, and you have the best player in the world. He's 29, I'm not saying he's at the end of his career, but he's in the second-half of his career. And in the first half of his career he was becoming a great player. It took time, just like with Andrew Wiggins, it takes time. LeBron is a great player right now, you do not want to waste any year of a great player's career. Love is close to being that. He's not as great a player as LeBron, but he's there. You know who Love is right now."

When you say "crapshoot" -- to me, it seems like Wiggins, Bennett and a first rounder for Love is worth the gamble given you have Lebron. Best shot, % wise, to win now.

@Bwag What has Wiggins won? Wiggins is what is called an "expectancy" .. like the money one might get from a grandparent when they pass away. It's not yours until it is. Wiggins isn't anything yet. Love is.

What would you call Wiggins if, before age 25, he put up Love like numbers?

Good gosh, trading Wiggins and Bennett, and a first round pick, for Kevin Love is an absolute no brainer. I mean do it now. Kevin Love is a superstar right now. Not speculative. Not in the future. Not maybe. Love is a double double machine. He averaged over 26 ppg and 12 board per game -- average!

This is not even a debate. It's not a debate because it's the classic bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Sure thing vs. maybe thing. If Cleveland wins one title in the next three seasons, and Wiggins because Michael Jordan, it is still a good trade. That is because no one can say that Wiggins will become Jordan. He could just as easily be a flop.

Lebron, Love, Irving is better than any other "big three" around -- all due respect the Spurs.

@approxinfinity - I would agree with @bskeet; would like a way to access old stuff. But whatever you think is best. It's a new season anyway. Really appreciate your time and efforts. I think the site operates great now, but if there's better stuff, we can go with the flow.

@JayHawkFanToo On CF, you will acknowledge a big difference, right? CF was a top 50 player (#34). Reed was outside the top 100 (#109).

That just sets expectations.

But I do like your comparison. Though CF was ranked much higher, I wonder if the ceiling is the difference. I don't know.

I would not bank on CF simply being satisfied with bench time at KU, or waiting for his senior season. The #34 player has the expectation to make a living playing basketball. Maybe not NBA, but certainly a career.

On the camp videos, though, you can see certain things. Nothing definitive. Certainly little correlation to real game situations. But there are nuggets that can provide some good intel. Like Selden shooting more in front of his head (unless I'm hallucinating).

@truehawk93 - Tyrel "better" than CF? Tyrel didn't play as a freshman. CF played. No way to compare now. I am intrigued by your critique of his shot. But don't you think long, athletic defenders jack everyone up? He's small. Small dudes are at a disadvantage. Smaller quarterback's have to find passing lanes. I didn't note that CF experienced any real trouble finding open shots last season. But certainly worth following.

Anybody see that Mudiay is gone .. going overseas .. skipping SMU?

Seems like the college scholarship and the claimed lack of choice is not the indentured servitude some might suggest ....

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11214190/smu-mustangs-prospect-emmanuel-mudiay-headed-overseas ↗

@ralster Here's the lineup I really like .. Mason, Selden, Oubre, Greene, and the fastest big -- Alexander, Traylor, or Ellis. Play zone. 1-3-1. Selden on the baseline. Can't do it all the time, but 1/4 of the time, or 8 minutes per game? And play fast. Real fast. Like ball out of hoop and go. Like gun three's. Like push, push; trap, trap; press, press. Attack.

But it's only a dream.

From the lineup discussions, it appears Svee and Graham may not be the "instant" or "immediate" impact that has been projected.

Defense may change this whole discussion. If Graham is a substantially better defender than CF, I could see CF seeing the bench.

@ralster "FreddyMac" -- you're on a roll today.

By the way, watching the soccer game for some reason right now ... is this legal?!?!

!photo.JPG ↗

@ralster Truth be told, I think this season is a make it or break it at KU for CF. If we was pondering transferring after last season, as was reported, a minimal role this season will certainly steer him that way. If two of either Mason, Graham, or Svee are ahead of him, or if Selden stays, PT will be slim. I really think it is a "free your mind" type of deal. The freedom to gun. It's also experience shooting in front of thousands of fans, with high energy and stress. That's a wee bit different that shooting in front of campers in June.

You make a point I didn't consider -- players becoming accustomed to Mason's pace. Contrast that to CF's pace. It's like two different worlds. Wondering if that can work, meaning the team staying consistent regardless of point guard.

So do you think it's reasonable that Mickelson slides in to the 3rd post spot then? You know I'm a rankings guy, but Traylor is now in his 4th season in the program. He has made steady progress and had a great game vs. EKU. It's just really hard for me to see Mickelson passing him now.

@ralster "Heard IowaState got a 7footer? So the 'Clones are licking their chops...ACME Co. finally delivered yet another box of schemes at Freddy's door. Well, we'll see what it does for ravenous Cyclone-icus. Meanwhile, back on the Hill, jayhawkus untouchii disappears quickly into the Phog, as usual, with a quick 'meep-meep'."

Now that is good stuff! PHOF quality.

Along the lines of old TV programs, I noticed today at the end of one of the old 1960s Batman episodes that it was produced by one "William Self."

@ralster Yes, but as the clock gets shorter, game decisions, missed shots, etc., are magnified. I always love the referees/officials, or their apologists, who say, "one call doesn't decide a game." Yes, one call can -- if it's the last one. Everything that has been done is already in the books. It can't be changed.

If Self directs his team to foul before a shot is attempted vs. Michigan, our chances for victory skyrocket. What we do know for sure, is that the wrong decision was made. Burke made the shot, we ended up losing.

I do not understand the mindset that gives Self a pass. Ever. As if he only contributes to the positive outcomes.

Against Michigan, it is very hard to fault any decision making during regulation except the fateful decision not to foul.

But against Stanford, Self flat lost us the game. He was out coached. Out schemed. Out strategized. Rudimentary, basic adjustments to scheme and approach were obvious. Some changes were late, others never came. But we've been over that.

Self has clearly won us many games due to strategy, scheme, etc. And really, many, many more than he's lost.

Self winning us massive numbers of games, and losing us some crucial games, can co-exist.

I am most curious heading into this season if he tries to fit a square peg into a round hole, like he did last season. Maybe this team is more of the round peg, and will fit.

But can anyone deny that we did not get near the maximum out of last year's team?

Or, on the other hand, we could have simply fouled Burke before he shot, right?

@JayHawkFanToo You are absolutely correct. We can't make any definitive determinations off these scrimmages regarding defense. And, really, anything else. I was kind of comparing Mickelson to what I saw from the other bigger guys. Also, from seeing him in the open scrimmage last October. Mickelson is really battling Lucas for the 4th big role, and then, after that, scrapping for minutes. I'm not suggesting that Mickelson won't contribute, he just seemed to be a lesser player than Ellis, Alexander, and Traylor.

For my money, the absolute star was Frank Mason. Quick, shot looks great, created some shots for others, a few lobs, penetration was dynamic. Given his improvement on trouble areas near the end of the season -- where he cut down on driving into traffic, and was much better creating shots -- I am very confident in his ability to be the point guard we have been looking for. There were reports that the coaching staff worked with him on getting the ball off of his palm and more into the triangle position when shooting, and that adjustment could be the one thing that creates a much better three point shooter.

One very small thing I saw with Selden. It appears that he isn't pulling his his shot back as far over his head as he did last season. It looked like he was shooting it more conventionally, in front of his head. It at least appeared that way. His shooting form was an item of discussion last season. And I had read where NBA scouts had noted that as an area of concern. So it's not surprising that it has been adjusted. We'll see if it sticks.

Brannen Greene did look good, hitting shots, as did Frankamp. @jaybate said CF looked the same. He is right. I thought Greene looked about the same too. Those guys are shooters and this team will need their mind free of concern, and free to shoot when open.

And here's why -- as @jaybate noted, Mickelson does not appear to be a rim protector. Sure, he might offer some protection there, but he's clearly not near what we have been used to. Actually, Traylor is more the "help shot blocker" than anyone else.

With that, we'll need to shoot the ball. No doubt. We can't be an average three point shooting team. I think we've got excellent potential. But it will be up to coach Self as to how much freedom guys are given.

Assume Mason improves by 5% on threes, as does Selden. Add in Greene and CF, both of whom have no business shooting below 40%, and three point shooting could be this team's calling card. Actually, it should be. And that's not even mentioning Oubre or Svee.

Playing outside in. Will Self permit it? Could he be so flexible as to adjust to his team's obvious strength?

Somehow, I am more interested in whether Hunter Mickelson can be a rim protector ...

But, when in Rome -- I would trade Wiggins without a second thought if I could get Kevin Love. Have you seen that guy's numbers? He is a superstar.

James, Irving, and Love would be a much more dynamic big three than the Miami three.

Some have suggested that Cleveland simply wait until Love is a free agent. But by trading, you lock it in. I don't see how they can pass on this obvious opportunity.

Now, back to real basketball ...

@KirkIsMyHinrich Wiggins, Waiters, Bennett for Love?

Win now.

Hopefully the severely sprained ankle won't be an issue in the season .. better now than later.

@dylans I have to say, I love the "punch out" avatar. Perhaps my greatest achievements in video gaming came as a pretend Mike Tyson. I'm very proud of myself ...

@KansasComet Quite ironic .. I am actually headed out of town on vacation. So I will take your advise. I started a thread I can't really participate in. Maybe that's a good thing for everyone involved!

@Statmachine Do you think that a coach's system, scheme, approach, patience, demands, expectations, etc., can impact his ability to be successful with inexperienced players?

@Statmachine Looking at it that way, though, permits you to arrive at any conclusion. The 2011-12 team got to the title game. The 2005-06 team flopped in the tourney. Senior laden teams lose. Freshmen laden teams lose. All lose. All lose bad games. 2011 we lost to VCU. That's not really the analysis.

What mix creates the most consistency?

What mix has been more tried and true, and more proven, when it comes to winning national titles?

What mix creates better program stability?

What mix creates the better team for coach Self to coach?

And the last one is really the big one. Just as Self identified in his quote. As much as I believe in Rivals rankings when it comes to talent identification -- who is the better player -- that does not take into consideration a freshman vs. a junior -- who is the better player.

@brooksmd -- the distinction you point out is part of my point. Self states that we could have a better team this season. But he acknowledges that last season's team was more talented, citing Wiggins and Embiid.

By the way, I love your George Bernard Shaw quote. It is the ultimate political truth. And I fixed the typo .. thanks.

@Statmachine - See, you are falling for the OAD myth. Lebron James, in his first season, as a freshman, under coach Self (which is important) -- you think we would have been better than if we had Simien? See I don't think so. No way we can prove our opinions. But we can look at this past season, when we just had the supposed second coming of Lebron, right? The best college recruit since Lebron is what we were told. He may very well be from a talent perspective, but to expect these OADs to come in and assimilate and actually play to that talent level their first season (in coach Self's system) is too high of an expectation.

As @globaljaybird said, the OADs can't be the "headliner." There has to be talented, multi-year players as the foundation, and perhaps the stars. This season, Selden and Ellis have to take that mantle.

@VailHawk - you know what I will say -- we don't have to recruit the most talented players. We just don't have to do that. Talent doesn't equal the best team. It might on some occasions. Or with some coaches. But with this coach, a single focus pursuit of the best talent is chasing a false prophet. It's fool's gold. Adding a highly talented OAD to the right mix, maybe.

But it has been proven unequivocally that the best path to a national title is stockpiling talent that stays more than one season. Getting that high level of non-OAD talent is certainly no easy task. But if you look at our perimeter players in particular, it's pretty impressive.

Quotes from coach Self. They are the best education. Many times you can string them together and get an insight into his mind. Sometimes, more than that, you can learn the truth. And sometimes, one quote says it all.

A premise that many have operated under is that coach Self is pursuing OADs because he knows that talent wins. Recruiting the best players, regardless of OAD status, gives you the best chance win.

I personally think that is baloney. I am now convinced that coach Self knows it is baloney as well.

Self said in a KC Star article by Rustin Dodd: “If you have two of the top three picks, I don’t see how you could be more talented,” Self said. “But I do think we could have a better team (referring to this upcoming season). Last year, I think that because we were so young, I think we didn’t play as well consistently as what we had hoped for.”

This quote told me all I need to know. It told me, honestly, what I already believe. It also told me that Self feels the same way. That provides me an incredible sense of relief.

It told me that Coach Self knows that a young team will not be the best team --- under coach Self and under his leadership. He knows that a young team won’t be consistent, and won’t function at the level that he wants them to perform.

First, Self admits that a highly talented team does mean that you have the “better team.” This may seem obvious to some, but it isn’t to many, many KU fans. In fact, I think the majority thinks that the most talented OADs will equate to the best “team.” Truth is, the best talent that has time to develop, with equate to the best team.

Second, Self admits that there is very little chance that we could have a more talented team than last season (“I don’t see how we could be more talented”). Self thus thinks that, perhaps, we had our most talented team last season. He can also see the result of that high level of talent.

Third, he understands that KU didn’t play consistently well because they were young. Plainly, Self sees the high level of young talent, and that it did not equal consistency. Self sees the relationship there. It's not a pure OAD chase.

So, what is the conclusion?

The conclusion is simple. KU, to be its best under coach Self, cannot rely upon OAD talent to be the foundation of the program. We had two of the top three picks in the NBA draft – our two focal point players last season – and we didn’t play the way Self wanted. KU cannot simply land highly talented freshmen recruits, plug them into the starting lineup, and expect to have the best possible “team.”

Many think it’s possible, though. Get the OADs and you will have the best team. Some wish it to be true. But it is pure fantasy at KU. Self is not Calipari. Self operates better, more in his comfort zone, with experience.

The true revelation here is that coach Self knows “young” does not equal “better” under his leadership. He knows OADs are not going to make the best coach Self coached “team.” He recognizes that OADs aren't the panacea.

God bless America. This revelation is an incredible relief. I have been concerned. But now, I will sleep a bit better. We all should. Another title is coming. Perhaps sooner than you think.

From the ESPN article on Self:

"That's another of the debates that has occasionally haunted Self. The tournament has not always been kind; Kansas has been upset more times than it has prevailed. What if Mario Chalmers hadn't made that shot in 2008? How would we look at Self then?"

As unfair as the "what if" is regarding Chalmers' shot, is as fair as the criticism of premature tourney exits is. The only way for Self to increase his stature is to win more NCAA titles. That's it.

@KansasComet "most Germans were overconfident." --- Right, until they got to Stalingrad!

Also, I would have never guessed that Self was your favorite coach. Not in a million years!

What is the this football thing we are discussing? I am lost ...

If I had the #1, I'd talk to the Sixers. Trade the #1 for the Sixers #3 and #10. Then when I got the #3, see if the Celts would deal #6 and #17 for the #3.

Then draft Randle at #6, and try to get 2 of the following 3 at #10 and #17 - Stauskas, Warren, Napier, with Ennis and Hood as back up plans.

Ideally then, Cavs get Randle, Stauskas, and Warren. Add that to young guys Bennett and Irving, not too bad. If they get a back up point in Napier or Ennis instead, that of one of the latter two, that's not too bad either.

Of course, I can make trades with myself all day and I always get the deal I want.

My top player in the draft .. Julius Randle. The guy is a truck.

Sacramento shopping B-Mac?

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/are-kings-preparing-offer-celtics-rondo ↗

@icthawkfan316 I like the comparisons. I really do. That actually caused me to view this a little differently. The Kaun-Mickelson comparison is the one that will be the deal breaker, because Mickelson is such an unknown. Kaun was a big dude that was perfect in certain spots, perfect in certain matchups (Davidson, for example). Can Mickelson be an equivalent to Kaun.

Ellis and Arthur are very similar -- Arthur must have defended better because I don't recall ever worrying about his defense. But very similar.

@joeloveshawks "I love Mickelson. Can't even say why."

Well, because joe loves his hawks, right?

@icthawkfan316 - Actually, it would be kind of intriguing to see what would happen with those three as our top 3 big men. Kind of an "anti-OAD" flavor, I would say.

@drgnslayr Ok .. but do you think Self will forget he's 7 foot tall? Self would stick this dude on the block and fantasize about having B-star back to feed him.

Sounds like a monster rim protector. Seems like we need an OAD. Hopefully he'll reclassify to 2015 and we'll snag him.

Yippee .. another likely OAD. Of course we'll likely need that in the post because we have no top tier non-OAD talent in the stable right now. As it stands, we could have Traylor and either Lucas or Mickelson starting as our two post guys in 2015, if Ellis and Cliff turn pro.

The merry-go-round keeps on turnin'.

@JayHawkFanToo I, too, wonder why something like this wasn't caught or diagnosed. It's very sad in final analysis not only because the kid doesn't get to play, but also because of the timing -- getting close to something he had worked for his entire life. But on the bright side, if it was caught three years ago, maybe he wouldn't have gotten to play CBB?

@icthawkfan316 I agree in that I'd like to see other teams get better. The NBA is really the league where the power stays with just a few teams.

NBA champs since 1980? Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Pistons, Spurs, Heat? One season of Sixers, Mavericks, and two from the Rockets? What am I missing?

@icthawkfan316 If you were an agent, what would you do? For example, remember Eli Manning refusing to play for the Chargers based on the GM/management situation? I do think it's difficult, but if you can get your guy to a good situation and a chance at a better career, is that not part of your job description? Maybe more precisely, keeping him out of bad situations. But I see your point too. You don't like it being manipulated.

When I heard the foot fracture thing, the first thing is that I thought it was that it was all a ruse to get him to drop -- but I do look for the conspiracy stuff in a lot of these things.

@VailHawk - It would be real cool if Embiid did land in the right spot. I am not up to speed on NBA rosters, but I was kind of thinking the 76ers are a rebuilding franchise that is putting together a lot of pieces.

@globaljaybird Right, the "Embiid is the key to KU's assent" thread from last October. I was also thinking about the Randle Miss May Define KU's Season thread -- imagine if we got Randle, not Wiggins. Greene/White played the 3? I think we would have been much better. But that's all irrelevant because we didn't get him -- just interesting (at least to me) to speculate on.

@KansasComet - Just might be. Probably part of the process that led to it. Just never know. Stress fractures can lay dormant, until an aggravating event. Pretty crazy how a guy this talented may never even really play, or could be a hall of famer, solely because of the way his bones heal themselves.

For whatever it's worth, I think this injury completely reinforces and supports Embiid's decision to turn pro. There is a very strong possibility that this stress fracture in his foot has been present, but not symptomatic, for quite some time. Perhaps the entire season. Some folks are fully functional with stress fractures.

It was a very wise roll of the dice to turn pro. Imagine if this thing didn't surface until July? He almost was the number one pick. He almost got there.

Heck, if he would have come back to KU, he could be sitting right now on campus, laid up for 4-6 months. You don't think that thing would have flared up in our scrimmages and other workouts? Or later?

Now, he's still going top 10. Imagine if he came back to KU, healed from this and had another stress fracture somewhere else, or worse, in his foot or back?

Given his health issues, turning pro was the wisest thing he could of done. This current injury actually reinforces that decision. And it may be a blessing -- he could get to the perfect franchise for him. We'll cross our fingers for the young man.