When Blake Griffin opted to leave Oklahoma early, it’s safe to say nobody argued with his decision. Let’s see, should he leave college early to be the No. 1 pick in the draft or return and … what? He can always get his degree, but he can’t improve his draft standing.
Here are some others who have declared for the draft who yield more mixed opinions:
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DeJuan Blair
Good move » He’s strong and he rebounds well, a trait that usually translates well from college to the NBA. Blair has been compared to Paul Millsap and Jason Maxiell, which would bode well for his future. Also, keep in mind that this is considered a weak draft. That helps him.
Bad move » At 6-foot-7, he’s a tweener who needs to develop more of a mid-range game. He’s not considered explosive and that will hurt him in the NBA.
Jordan Hill
Good move » At 6-foot-10 and 235 pounds, the Arizona junior has good size. Draftexpress.com said, in a best-case scenario, that he would become a better rebounding Chris Wilcox in the NBA. That means someone who is athletic, dunks a lot and can help on the boards.
Bad move » He’s still a raw, developing player. He needs to work more on his post-up game, something he’ll need in the NBA.
Tyreke Evans
Good move » Memphis is about to stumble with the loss of coach John Calipari. So why should the freshman Evans stick around from a basketball perspective? He’s not Derrick Rose, but he is explosive. The 6-foot-6 Evans can handle the ball, too. More importantly, he can create his own shot.
Bad move » Evans needs to become a better shooter, especially from three-point range. Evans won’t be able to dominate the ball in the NBA as he did in college.
James Harden
Good move » The Arizona State sophomore guard has been talked about as a top-five pick. He has a nice all-around game and Draftexpress compares him to Manu Ginobli. Think teams would like that?
Bad move » Did anyone see his NCAA tourney performance? Putrid. Harden wilted under defensive pressure. For someone projected to go where he is, that’s not good.
