Obviously it benefits our team to root for players to hold off until next year to declare for the draft as we have the potential for a lottery pick then. I've heard a couple scrubs say they were entering without agents, but I think this thread would be best saved for potential lottery guys this or next year.

I've heard rumblings that Aldridge will wait until next year to declare, but I'll wait for an offical mention.

This is fresh to me today:

Hansbrough Passes On NBA Draft
Tyler Hansbrough, who recently wrapped up the most prolific freshman season in the history of UNC's tradition-rich program, has decided to return for his sophomore year. Hansbrough announced that he will not enter the NBA Draft, even though he received information from UNC coach Roy Williams that he would be a first-round pick. -- The Herald-Sun

I'd assume TH will be a lottery pick if he performs similairly next year, certainly a guy for us to keep an eye on.

From what I've been reading on Draft Express a lot of quality guys could be in the 2007 Draft.

As long as Orlando doesn't end up with a Top 5 pick we'll be fine.

All that said, here's a list from Draft Express that relates to this:

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1243

I don't know if it updates all the time or not though, so someone might have to check it

Speaking of the ORL pick, I am looking for some clarification I heard that Orlando has full power over the 2006 pick, but when it comes to the other years their is limited protection.

It was previously reported that the earliest we could recieve the pick was 2007, if it was not top 5 or whatever. Now I have heard there is a slight albeit very slight chance Orlando could send Detroit the pick this year if they fall out the 6th -8th pick slot. Just to be clear their is no language from the trade that stipulates this rather it would be a Orl decision to fulfill the trade now. Likely because they aren't high on guys who they could get if they fell out of the range they wanted, figuring next year is a deeper draft and they rather have that pick. I mean next year it is possible the 13th pick would be a top 5 pick comapred to this class.

The main reason I bring this up is because as it stands Orlando is on track to get the 6th pick but when you look at the standings they are only 2-3 games (wins) from falling/climbing to the 10-13 pick range. Which makes me think unless Orlando s high on somebody they could be out of their comfort range at 10-13.

Where did you find that info J?

I haven't heard anything about that - I hope it's not true

It was mentioned by a beat writer for Orlando when asked about Orlando's draft philosophy for this year. The same writer who broke the Darko to Orlando trade.

There is talk that Gay, Aldridge, Noah and even though the chances are remote Morrison may wait for next years draft. With the exception Noah the other three have been projected as the 1 pick in 06. So you can see why Olrando could want to abort the 06 pick.

J, I remember hearing Joe Dumars explaining the trade on one of the radio stations the day of the trade and he said that Orlando wanted it completely lottery protected this year and Dumars said if they were so adement about that to take the 2006 year off the table because he didn't want to accept a pick where he didn't have the chance to "gamble and win" sorta deal.

I can't see Dumars accepting the deal where Orlando would decide our fate sorta deal.

Like I said I was just looking for clarification, so I am not stating this as fact, I am just wondering if there was a chance this could be true.

I never heard that we could get it this year at all. That would be news to me.


BTW, good thread Hermy.

Noah, Brewer, Horford will help Gators defend title

Gators sophomores say they will return to Gainesville

Florida sophomores Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford told a partisan crowd at the national championship celebration Friday night in Gainesville that they would return for their junior season.

Florida sports information director Fred Demarest said the three sophomores announced to the fans that they would return, bringing the "O'Connell Center down."

Noah was the Final Four most outstanding player with an NCAA Tournament record 29 blocked shots in six games. The Gators beat UCLA on Monday night at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis for their first national title. The Gators were ESPN.com's preseason No. 1 team in the annual post-title game Top 25 released Wednesday.

Demarest said that Horford grabbed the microphone and asked the crowd "we've won two SEC [tournament] titles, an NCAA championship and we're not sure how much more we can accomplish." But Demarest then said Noah followed up with, "What do you people want us to do?" The crowd apparently chanted back, "two more years." And then Noah said, "we're coming back."

Coach Billy Donovan confirmed the news, telling The Associated Press that he met with the three players Friday afternoon and they told him they wanted to try to repeat.

No team has won consecutive championships since Duke in 1991 and 1992.

The deadline to apply for the NBA draft is April 29. Players can declare and return as long as they don't sign with an agent. They must also pay for any NBA workout in advance (except for the Orlando pre-draft camp in June) or run the risk of sitting games the following season if they choose to return.

A year ago, North Carolina junior Sean May said he would return upon the championship Tar Heels returning home. But he later declared. So, it's probably good to wait for the 29th once all the emotion from the title is over before locking in the three Gators for next season.

The Gators had only one senior on the roster this season -- forward Adrian Moss.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2401235

i dont think you can give a pick before the agreed upon time unless both teams consented-just basing that off my thoughts.

and i dont think this year's draft will be too bad. all these guys talking about staying... i bet ~10% of them end up staying.

i also dont think orlando would have any interest in giving it this year. theres a chance they could get gay, roy, or carney, all guys that could help there team right now.

Boo-

Mercury News - Sources say friends and family are interviewing agents to represent LaMarcus Aldridge. He and his mother, Georgia, have not responded to phone messages.

Three NBA player personnel directors told The Dallas Morning News that Aldridge is a top-three pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

Son of a bitch... Cedric Simmons is going to the NBA.

I was hoping he'd wait untill we had a shot at him next year [smilie=annoyed.gif]. I'm guessing he's a mid to late lotto pick in this draft.

Big Baby indicates he may be staying in school.

Thought this could belong in here

Something from NBADRAFT.net that makes sense

http://www.nbadraft.net/2006mock001.asp

Tyrus Thomas coming out

Draft Express - According to Draft Express, Freshman Power Forward Tyrus Thomas is scheduled to conduct a press conference on Monday at 3 PM to announce he’s entering the 2006 NBA Draft.

Morrison too

Draft Express - According to Draft Express, multiple sources confirmed Sunday night that Gonzaga Junior Adam Morrison will be announcing his intentions to enter the 2006 NBA draft.

Morrison will hire the services of Chicago based Mark Bartelstein and his agency Priority Sports, and thus void the possibility of returning to Gonzaga for his senior year.

Bartelstein, who has around 40 NBA clients, represents numerous former Gonzaga players including Blake Stepp and Dan Dickau, as well as current Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo’s brother, Jannero Pargo.

Morrison is considered a likely top 5 pick and possibly #1 overall depending on how the ping-pong balls play out

Gay is coming out

[smilie=anxious.gif]

UCLA guards Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar both declared for the NBA draft Thursday, but neither will sign with an agent, giving them the option to return to the Bruins for their junior seasons.

Afflalo and Farmar plan to hold individual workouts for specific teams that ask, with each player paying his own way to the workout sites.

So the Top 5 is likely to be:

LaMarcus
Thomas
Morrison
Europe Bum
Gay

???????????????

Patrick O'Bryant helped Bradley make it to the Sweet 16 last month. Now he's hoping to make it to the NBA.

The Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star reported on Sunday that O'Bryant has declared for the June 28 NBA draft. However, he has not yet hired an agent, meaning he has until 10 days before the draft to opt out and maintain his college eligibility.

O'Bryant is a huge (take that however you want) get for whoever picks him in the draft. He's an absolute beast, but he does need polish. Think David Harrison, much MUCH better.

Damn, that stinks. Other than Noah we aren't getting a lot of hold-over, but I guess thats to be expected when the class is so soft and next year has some bonafide studs available. Get while the gettings good.

If you're a likely Top 10 pick you have to come out IMO.

Actually, if you are projected to be a top 20 pick you should come out this year.

Next year's Draft is likely to be extremely deep so you risk falling out of the first round if you have a so-so season.

O'Bryant made the right choice.

Brewer should declare as well - dude is supposed to be a Top 15 lock

MSU's Brown to enter draft without agentAssociated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State junior Shannon Brown will enter his name in the NBA draft but hasn't hired an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to college.

Brown averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season at Michigan State, and shared team MVP honors with Paul Davis and Maurice Ager. While he had a solid season, he didn't finish well, scoring five points on 2-of-11 shooting in a first-round loss to George Mason.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard from Maywood, Ill., is expected to compete at the NBA's pre-draft camp from June 6-10 in Orlando, Fla., where he will be able to gauge what league scouts think of his game. Brown is regarded as a player that is expected to be drafted late in the first or early in the second round, if he stays in the draft.

He has until June 18 to pull his name out of the draft, which will be held June 28.

I think Brown would actually be a good pick up for the Pistons early in the 2nd round.

Texas junior forward P.J. Tucker will test the NBA waters, making an announcement to that effect on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, teammate Daniel Gibson is expected to also declare for the draft, despite Gibson's proclamation immediately after the season-ending loss to LSU in the Elite Eight that he would return for his junior season.

According to sources, neither Tucker nor Gibson is expected to hire an agent. Texas sophomore big man LaMarcus Aldridge has already decided he will hire an agent and forgo his final two years of college eligibility.

Josh McRoberts of Duke is returning. I've seen him listed as potential lottery, so thats a coup for us.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/04/27/ap.nc.bkc.duke.mcroberts.ap/index.html

I saw some mock that had him in the top 6, so hell yeah it's good for us.

Maybe we should start tracking the Magic pick?

Players that may (or may not) be available between 5 and 14 and then another thread for players that are "projected" from 15-40?

I know it's early, so maybe we could do it after the 2006 Draft?

Villanova sophomore Kyle Lowry will announce he is putting his name in for the NBA draft this morning, but the Wildcats guard will not sign with an agent, according to a source close to the situation.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Saturday.

Lowry went back and forth on his deadline, but according to sources, got late word that he could be taken in the middle or late first round.


South Carolina forward Renaldo Balkman declared himself eligible for the NBA draft Thursday, though he has not hired an agent.

The 6-foot-8 junior hopes his performance in the NIT, where he was the MVP as the Gamecocks won their second straight championship, opened the eyes of NBA personnel.

However, since Balkman hasn't hired an agent, he can still withdraw from the draft and return for his final season with the Gamecocks.


Arkansas junior Ronnie Brewer said Thursday he would make himself available for the NBA draft, but has not hired an agent in case he wants to return to school and play another year for the Razorbacks.

"I just want to test the market to see where I can go," Brewer said in a news conference at Bud Walton Arena.


Pitt's Aaron Gray, a 7-footer chosen All-Big East in his first season as a starter, plans to skip his senior year and enter the NBA draft.

The center has not signed with an agent, allowing him to withdraw from the June 28 draft and return for another season. Pitt point guard Carl Krauser also planned to turn pro last season, but went back to school after sensing little NBA interest.

Most of these guys haven't hired an agent yet, so its possible that they could return to school next year.

Here's a final list early entries.

http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1285

mcroberts staying kind of surprises me. probably the right move in terms of his development, but he's giving away ~3.5 million dollars.