On Wednesday we learned that John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton, all from the University of Kentucky, declared for the NBA draft, but I am concerned. Let’s get right into it.
John Wall - Wall isn't going to fall out of the top two but I do not see him making an immediate impact. At times during his freshman season he seemed to struggle to get good shots. He is a poor outside shooter so in the NBA teams will most likely incorporate a strategy similar to what is employed against Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics where he won't be defended away from the basket. Wall is listed at (6'4') and will give him an advantage over smaller guards on offense and defense. Whatever team gets Wall will give him plenty of minutes to work on his game. I see Wall struggling at the next level but not as bad as Brandon Jennings is.
DeMarcus Cousins - My father said Cousins reminded him a lot of Glen "Big Baby" Davis. One of my co-workers said his game is a lot like Eddy Curry's. My brother flat out thinks Cousins is fat. Cousins is a big boy, he is listed at 6'11' 270 pounds. To compare, Rasheed Wallace is listed at 6'11' and 230 pounds. So we know that 230 pounds is definitely not Rasheed's weight, Sheed is at least 290-300 pounds let’s assume 230 is Rasheed's college weight. DeMarcus is 40 pounds heavier then Sheed was coming out of college but also Sheed was at least two years older, DeMarcus isn't done growing so in about three years he should be well over 300 pounds. Whatever team drafts him will definitely need to get him a nutritionist.
Patrick Patterson - His points and rebounds were down this year but that is going to happen when a DeMarcus Cousins joins your team. I think Patterson is ready and I think he was ready last year. He will be a good fit for any team looking for a big man.
Eric Bledsoe - I was really high on Bledsoe all season but I thought he should leave his sophomore or junior year. Bledsoe fell out favor with me after he didn't show up against West Virginia where he only scored seven points, went 1-6 from the free throw line and missed all five of his three point attempts. He was awful the entire game, it reminded me of John Starks 2-18FGM-A in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA finals where the Knicks lost to the Rockets. As a matter of fact Bledsoe's stats went down every round of the tournament, in the first round against East Tennessee State he had 29 points and made eight of his nine three point attempts, versus Wake Forest he scored 13 and Cornell 12, so as the competition and pressure increased his game decreased. Bledsoe also shot .667 from the free throw line. Bottom line Bledsoe isn't ready.
Daniel Orton - Freshman Orton averaged 3.4ppg and 3.3rpg for the wildcats; you can't tell me a guy who averaged those numbers is ready to make the leap to the pros. According to ESPN insider Chad Ford, Orton could possibly be a lottery pick. Can anybody say Marvin Williams? I remember a few years back Marvin Williams was given similar praise despite never starting for the University North Carolina. Williams was selected number one overall in the 2005 NBA Draft and has not and will not ever live up to the hype. Williams has career numbers of 12.5ppg and 5.5ppg which isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination but when you look at the guys he was selected over Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Danny Granger, Monta Ellis etc. it’s kind of pathetic. When it is all said and done Orton will probably return to school, I can't see him going thru with this.
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