Butler to enter NBA draft!?
| by Matt Barker Arpil 25, 2007 Though I am a day late addressing this issue as I recover from back surgery last Friday, and even though I am still buzzing on pain medication it’s a topic I should not omit. According to a report published Tuesday by Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch, point guard Jamar Butler is contemplating his inclusion to the NBA draft. When Greg Oden announced he was entering the NBA draft, that was a no-brainer because he would of been the No. 1-pick last year. After the NCAA tournament, Mike Conley Jr.’s stock rose to where he is the top point guard prospect in this year’s draft, and will likely be one of the first 12 players selected in June. Again, it’s no surprise now that he’s leaving Ohio State for the NBA. When fellow freshman Daequan Cook also announced he’s entering the NBA draft, I was scratching my head. |
In all of the mock NBA drafts around the Internet, Cook’s name is not one of the 60 listed to be picked in the two round selection process.
Now Butler is going to throw his name into the NBA hat?
“By entering the draft and not signing with an agent, Butler would reserve the option of returning to Ohio State for his senior season while making himself eligible for the NBA pre-draft evaluation camp May 29 through June 4 in Orlando, Fla.” according to the article by Baptist.
Only three now-former Buckeyes are expected to be drafted in June. Oden, Conley, and Ron Lewis are consensus picks in every mock draft I have seen.
I have always understood that signing a contract for millions of dollars and playing a sport professionally is everyone’s dream, sometimes you have to be a little more realistic.
At this time, I will assume that Butler will be back for his senior season, and I would also hope that Cook wakes up before it’s too late. Both could use one more year on the college level to develop their game.
If Butler stays in Columbus for the 2007-08 season, he will be the only returning starter for the Buckeyes. And with Butler the only one really capable of playing point guard on the roster, he should see nearly 40 minutes of playing time.
With point guard Anthony “Noopy” Crater on Matta’s list of commitments for 2008, it’s highly unlikely that he would dive into the JUCO ranks for a point guard, meaning there won’t be much depth at that position next season.
Matta has hinted that David Lighty or incoming freshman Evan Turner could play point guard as either a starter or backup.
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