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Some of the better-known invitees - albeit players uncertain of their draft status - are advised by their agents to avoid the potential pitfalls of unstructured games not tailored to anyone's particular skill set. For all that's said about the PIT's legacy and how much the scouts love it, avoiding the tournament has served a lot of prospects well over the years.
"I shook my head," said Ryan Blake, director of NBA scouting. "This is the first year that I've really gone, 'What happened?' But we've always brought in (alternate) guys late that have done well."Blake believes players who aren't likely be drafted in the NBA's two rounds get bad advice from agents intent on signing them."There's so much posturing, or the agents just want to sign the guys and tell them what they what to hear," he said. Sometimes, Blake said, agents will tell a player he will definitely get into pre-draft camps, like a prestigious one in Chicago in June, or that the agents can arrange individual workouts. But there may be as many as 15 players not at this year's PIT who don't get invited to Chicago, Blake said, and "individual workouts compared to playing five on five?" "Chicago - basically it's a combine," Blake said. "Here, what we do is play basketball, and this is where you need to show you can play basketball. ... Especially in a year where we may not have a summer league (because of a looming lockout), this is the opportunity."So why do some agents advise players not to attend? If a player goes undrafted and signs to play internationally, "the agent still gets a hefty percentage" of that contract, Blake said. Not so much if a player winds up in the NBA Developmental League.Former NBA star Doug Christie, helping coach this year's Portsmouth Partnership team, told Blake he turned down a chance to play in the PIT out of Pepperdine in 1992. "He said, 'I turned this down. I really wish I would have played here,' " Blake said.Of course, there is another reason players don't show up."I think some players may have a fear to play and perform. We know it," Blake said with a glance over his shoulder at the triple-decker row of NBA scouts stacked behind the baseline.
Anyone know who Jake's agent is? Has he picked one?
Don't know if it has already been discussed but it appears Jacob has withdrawn from the Portsmouth Invitational. Anyone have to scoop on the reason for this or know anything more about it? Originally thought he was supposed to be on the Roger Brown squad. http://www.portsmouthinvitational.com/rosters2.php
