Does Walker go pro or not?

[WildCatzPhreak]

I know he wants to really badly.  But it depends on his draft projection.  I've seen him anywhere from mid first round to mid second round.

The money's not great there, and you're not even guaranteed a contract, but at least he'd be making money.

Would he really improve his draft status enough to make it worth waiting another year?

[hemmy]

IMO he hates Manhattan but if thought 1 more year could be a difference in a million or more

[Pett]

Two things:

I want Bill to stay badly....and second of all, money wise, it would be smarter to stick it out one more year, especially if Mike leaves, so Bill has the chance to be the leading man on his team. Which as been the exact opposite for him since probably middle school. (OJ in HS and Mike this year)

Plus he hasn't shown the consistency that the NBA likes at the end of this year.

[jester66]

If he can get to the league, he should go.  The only way I see him staying is if the other option is Europe.

I doubt most of us could understand what it's like to come from a true poor background.  I couldn't imagine my mother finding an abandoned house and telling me that's my new home.  And the thought of cleaning out dead animals in that house just so I could have a place to sleep is creepy.

I really wish Bill and his family well regardless.  He didn't get the hype of Mike, but he's just as important in my mind.  He was the first of the elite recruits to come to KSU.  And after Huggy left him high and dry, he handled it better than most young people would.

The best we can hope for both of them is that they enjoyed their time and will advise others to take the same path.

[cas]

Does the NBA have slot money? (like if your selected #6 you get a certain amount of money guaranteed)

[WildCatzPhreak]

Does the NBA have slot money? (like if your selected #6 you get a certain amount of money guaranteed)

I'm not sure if the whole draft does, but I know the first few spots do.

[doom]

If he has the work ethic to improve his status and can stay health = smart to stay.  If he's not committed to those things = dumb.

I would rather him succeed in life than stay and fail.  But staying a year longer could help him succeed. 

[cas]

If he would leave he would probably be a really late first or a early/mid second. It really is in the eyes of the beholder (GM) some like him some don't.

[WildCatzPhreak]

I think the biggest knocks on him right now are his 3 pt shooting, defense, and attitude on the court.  Another year could really jettison him up in the draft standings to the point where he would make a lot more money than if he were to leave now.  But it's a question of if it's worth it to him to wait another year and push himself to get that extra money and guaranteed contract.

[jester66]

Couple of things:

NBA is not really looking for consistency.  They're used to dealing with 18 year olds and know their flaws.  What they want is talent, pure and simple.

If he does go late, it's a real blessing for him in that it's probably to a good team that will not pressure him to contribute immediately.

I would love to have him back, but want it to be because it's the best decision for him and his family.

[hemmy]

If he can get to the league, he should go.  The only way I see him staying is if the other option is Europe.

I doubt most of us could understand what it's like to come from a true poor background.  I couldn't imagine my mother finding an abandoned house and telling me that's my new home.  And the thought of cleaning out dead animals in that house just so I could have a place to sleep is creepy.

I really wish Bill and his family well regardless.  He didn't get the hype of Mike, but he's just as important in my mind.  He was the first of the elite recruits to come to KSU.  And after Huggy left him high and dry, he handled it better than most young people would.

The best we can hope for both of them is that they enjoyed their time and will advise others to take the same path.

I do, after paying for my tuition and buying me a house my dad can't afford to get me a nice car 

[jeffy]

Maybe he could be our Brandon Rush.

[ECN]

2nd round = no money, and no contracts.

1st pick...14-20 million.

last pick of first round 1-2 million.

[cas]

2nd round = no money, and no contracts.

1st pick...14-20 million.

last pick of first round 1-2 million.

If he were to stay another year he could potentially become a fringe lotto pick.

[Trim]

2nd round = no money, and no contracts.

1st pick...14-20 million.

last pick of first round 1-2 million.

If he were to stay another year he could potentially become a fringe lotto pick.

If you're guaranteed 1st round, you go.  Guaranteed million now plus an extra year of making money in one's career will beat any increase he could get in the 1st contract a year from now.

[PCR]

My guess is that he goes and ends up in the D-league or Europe before long.  If he stays he's got a shot at a solid NBA career.  And I'm not being self-centered, just judging by what I've seen happen in the past from other mid-high end Big 12 players.

[jester66]

Need to remember folks that the NBA has been watching Bill since he was in junior high.  They want to know if he's got over the injury.  He's still a four time MVP at ABCD, and has schooled most of the top talent coming out of college in one on one matchups.

[~WabashRoll~]

My guess is that he goes and ends up in the D-league or Europe before long.  If he stays he's got a shot at a solid NBA career.  And I'm not being self-centered, just judging by what I've seen happen in the past from other mid-high end Big 12 players.

qft

Right now, he is not a first rounder.

Mt suspicion is he'll go anyway and sit on the bench somewhere for about three years as a roll player or end up kicking it around in the NBDL.

The reality is athletic players like Walker are a dime a dozen at the small forward in the NBA.  In college he can rely on pure athleticism, however until he develops a consistent jump shot, he will not be a success at the next level.  AGAIN, without a consistent mid-range jump shot he won't be a success at the the next level. 

If he was smart, he would declare without signing an agent, participate in the summer leagues and truly get an indication of his draft stock.  If he's solidly in the first round, he should jump.  If he projects out in the second, he should come back for a sophmore season, really develop an all around game, be THE star for this team, and become a complete player that he has the potential to be.  Will he do it, I highly doubt it.

[WildCatzPhreak]

If he does go I see him ending up in a similar situation to JamesOn Curry, where he leaves expecting to go in the first round and then ends up in the D-league or Europe.

[Legore]

I think he'll go and get drafted in the bottom of the first round.  I don't see D leagues or Europe in his future.  He'll have a solid NBA career nothing special but he's good enough to be a contributer in that league for 6-8 years.

If he were to come back with the other guys in the league likely going pro(Rush, Arthur, Beasley, Augistine etc) he would have a shot at big 12 player of the year.  Talent is going to be down in the conference next year this was one of the more talented years in a long time.   

[Hawkish]

Hahaha. He'd do well in Turkey.

[doom]

Hahaha. He'd do well in Turkey.

He would own Turkey.  I think he could actually do poorly there, only because his motivation and drive would be less there.  I hope the people around him advise him correctly because I'm not sure anyone knows what is best for him.

[blackman-era-front-rower]

Does the NBA have slot money? (like if your selected #6 you get a certain amount of money guaranteed)

[BarryMcCockner]

2nd round = no money, and no contracts.

1st pick...14-20 million.

last pick of first round 1-2 million.

If he were to stay another year he could potentially become a fringe lotto pick.

If you're guaranteed 1st round, you go.  Guaranteed million now plus an extra year of making money in one's career will beat any increase he could get in the 1st contract a year from now.

Not true.  In fact, completely &@#%ing wrong.  If he could raise his draft position even 10 spots in 1 year, it would be worth staying.  If he goes now, he'll get less money not only in the first year, but also in whatever years he contracts for.  If he goes low first round, and signs a 3 year deal, he would be MUCH better off waiting a year if he could jump up to mid 1st (and have a chance of being a lotto pick).  Hell, his year 1-3 income could potentially triple (hell, even more) if he stays.  If you are projected to go in the mid-first or higher, or if you don't have much of a chance to elevate your stock, then yeah, go.  But if you are a freshman with injury history projected late 1st/2nd round, and have been playing in the shadow of Beasley, you would be making a huge mistake.

Also, this is a loaded draft, and although next year could be as good, it will likely be much worse, which will also help his position.  Throw in that staying healthy for a year will also help his position, add in the fact that he'll be the feature player on the team next year, and this is an easy decision.

[Trim]

If he's in the first round, he gets approx. 1 million in '08-'09.  Compare that to $0 (plus Hummer) at KSU in '08-'09.  More importantly, that gets him to the next contract earlier, and as a basketball players career is finite, gets him an extra year of getting paid at the end of his career when he makes the most.  Opportunity cost.

projected late 1st/2nd round

If that's his projection, then he should stay because that generally translates to solid 2nd round in real life.  The key is getting solid advisors with his best interest in mind and knowing definitively he's first round and in the money.

[sys]

trim, you need to account for some sort of risk mgmt.  if he fails to develop into a long-career player, or suffers a career ending injury, then a high pick a year later might be more profitable overall than a low pick a year earlier.

[Trim]

trim, you need to account for some sort of risk mgmt.  if he fails to develop into a long-career player, or suffers a career ending injury, then a high pick a year later might be more profitable overall than a low pick a year earlier.

I'm factoring risk mgmt in that he could suffer a career ending injury next year in Manhattan, or not improve his stock any.

It shouldn't matter - I don't think he's played himself up to a first round lock.  It'll just depend how honest he and/or his advisors are w/him.

[sys]

trim, you need to account for some sort of risk mgmt.  if he fails to develop into a long-career player, or suffers a career ending injury, then a high pick a year later might be more profitable overall than a low pick a year earlier.

I'm factoring risk mgmt in that he could suffer a career ending injury next year in Manhattan, or not improve his stock any.

It shouldn't matter - I don't think he's played himself up to a first round lock.  It'll just depend how honest he and/or his advisors are w/him.

yeah, have to include risks both ways.

i think walker will be very honest/smart with his decision.  i just have no idea if he will be a 1st round lock or not.

[doom]

trim, you need to account for some sort of risk mgmt.  if he fails to develop into a long-career player, or suffers a career ending injury, then a high pick a year later might be more profitable overall than a low pick a year earlier.

I'm factoring risk mgmt in that he could suffer a career ending injury next year in Manhattan, or not improve his stock any.

It shouldn't matter - I don't think he's played himself up to a first round lock.  It'll just depend how honest he and/or his advisors are w/him.

yeah, have to include risks both ways.

i think walker will be very honest/smart with his decision.  i just have no idea if he will be a 1st round lock or not.

I worry that he's just itching to go and will jump on a pile of non-existent money.  He's done so much for us, that I don't want to see him fail. 

I don't think he's first round at all. 

[Trim]

i think walker will be very honest/smart with his decision. 

I hope so.  But it's human nature to believe the advice you want to hear and tune out the stuff you don't.

Hopefully BW's connected enough to know that 50 of his buddies have all been promised 1st round too.  Plus Euros.