2014 NBA Draft Open Thread

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Will tonight be the first time since 1990 where Michigan has a trio of first rounders?

Will the Pistons take a Wolverine if one is available?

Will Jordan Morgan sneak in the draft?

John Beilein said he will wait out all 60 picks to see if JMo gets drafted.

Voltron is Handsome

June 26th, 2014 at 6:49 PM ^

I hope Jordan does, but don't think he will. I do think that someone will sign him as a free agent.

snarling wolverine

June 26th, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^

Probably better if Jordan doesn't get picked.  Undrafted free agents can choose their team whereas second-rounders are locked in to that team (without being guaranteed money).  Realistically though, he's probably a longshot to make a team.

 

TheLastHarbaugh

June 26th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^

Mitch.

Rumor has it the Hornets told him they'd take him at 24, but they just traded for Omir Asik, so who knows if that's true anymore. I would imagine Miami at 26 would be a fit seeing as they lost Birdman and already had a lack of big guys, but rumor has it LeBron is trying to force them to move up and take Shabazz Napier. 

In other words, it's probably going to be a wild draft.

Str8tguy4biguy

June 26th, 2014 at 7:30 PM ^

I think McGary would be a great fit for OKC! OKC needs some better rebounders and someone that can shoot a 12-15 footer when necessary and doesn't mind taking that contact and going straight to the hole!!! Can't wait to see him excel in the NBA! Like his attitude, his demeanor and just his overall knowledge of the
game! He has good hands and seems to be able to pass the ball with force and aggression getting it right to the spot or hands of another player when needed! Good guy with great basketball IQ of the game and an overall great player for the NBA! They should feel honored to have such a lad!!! Go buddy - show them what your really made of!!!

TheLastHarbaugh

June 26th, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^

Considering Jordan didn't even make the DraftExpress list of top 100 seniors, let alone top 100 draft prospects, I'm going to guess the odds of him getting drafted are not very good.

You have to be realistic. The latest mocks I've seen don't even have Melvin Ejim getting drafted. He was the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, 2nd Team All-American, averaged 17-8 on 50% shooting.

JMo is a 6'8" center who is limited athletically, doesn't block shots, averaged 6 and 5, and he'll be 23 by the time the NBA season rolls around. 

He's not getting drafted.

LKLIII

June 26th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

Unfortuantely I agree with this.  Still though, Morgan is a class act and a Michigan Man.  The dude is in his early 20's.  His next 5-10 years would look something like this if he wants:

 

  • Sign a contract to play in Europe for several years at a solid salary.  Get some life experience living in a foreign country.
  • In the off season, keep in touch with the UofM BB program and continue to do community service around Metro Detroit.
  • Eventually retire from professional BB in Europe and either get a sales job in Metro Detroit (while coaching a HS BB team and moonlighting as beloved local celebrity) or land some type of staff position on UofM BB squad.

It ain't a bad 5-10 year plan.  He's a class act, and he will have some options no matter what happens tonight.

BlueCube

June 26th, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^

It would be great to see him get a shot. From his standpoint he might be better not getting drafted so he can pick his team though.

Lucky Socks

June 26th, 2014 at 7:13 PM ^

Potentially three first rounders.  A chance at a fourth draftee.  They're going to be talking a lot about Michigan tonight.  The extensions for our assistants has been in the works for a couple of weeks.  I applaud the tactical decision to release the news tonight.  High schoolers will hear something like this:

"OKC takes Mitch McGary at #29.  That's the third first rounder from Michigan, and the fifth in the last two years.  Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. being the other two - fresh off successful rookie seasons that placed them on the All-Rookie Team.  Tremendous talent development up there at UofM, and they've rewarded their assitant coaches with contract extensions through 2018."

 

Mr. Yost

June 26th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

I just took a look at last year's draft.

Obviously there's PLENTY of time to turn it around, but at the one year mark...that draft was exactly what we thought it'd be. AWFUL.

Wolverine Devotee

June 26th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^

Earlier today I felt like doing a video of every Michigan first round draft pick.

Obviously, there wasn't enough consecutive years of video to do them all, so I was going to 1989-present first rounders.

Then, I couldn't find 1998 where Traylor was picked in the top-10, so that shot my whole plans.

Anyways, here's Michigan's last #1 draft choice that I uploaded. The Palace hosted the draft and that's probably why you couldn't hear the TNT commentators after he was picked-

 

Mr. Yost

June 26th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^

Adam Silver still can't put together a full sentance without looking down at his notes.

Awful...just like the Sterling press conference.

ixcuincle

June 26th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^

Why did the Spurs get booed? 

And Silver is better than Stern. Stern just went out there and got booed heavily, and for good reason. "I can't hear you." Shut up and run the draft