Jared Sullinger not invited to NBA Draft
In a surefire sign that one-time possible Pistons target Jared Sullinger is now a longshot to be taken in the lottery, something that was at one time unthinkable, Chad Ford of ESPN reports that Sullinger will not even be invited to the draft:
NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson told ESPN.com that Sullinger wouldn’t be invited based on the reports the league had received that Sullinger wouldn’t go in the top 15.
“He’s more likely to go in the teens or in the 20s,” said Jackson. “We continue to have contact with teams but at this late date we don’t anticipate inviting him.”
Dan and I are both not-so-secret Big Ten basketball fans, in particular of Michigan (Dan) and Michigan State (me), so we’ve both watched and rooted against Sullinger and Ohio State quite a bit the last two seasons. But this is awful news for a player who, on talent alone, is easily one of the 10 best players in this draft. Whoever gets him is going to find a steal. It’s just unfortunate for Sullinger, because the different between going in the lottery and going late in the first round or even the second round will cost him millions of dollars.
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Jun 25, 2012 • 1:57 pm
by bugsygod
Now i know why i like Dan better……U of M allday!
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:03 pm
by Daye and Knight
Same lol I go to schoolcraft now but I’m going to U of M for Fall 2013 as soon as I get my degree in broadcast journalism here…go U of M!!!
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:42 pm
by Patrick Hayes
Man, at least like Dan better for his superior analysis or use of fancy charts. I actually grew up a UM fan. I root for MSU now because I’m a Flint guy, so I became a fan in the late 90s/early 2000s when Izzo started recruiting Flint guys. Then I ended up going there for grad school b/c they had my program and other schools in the state didn’t. I have no hate for UM though. I just have more connections to MSU. Never really saw the point of being a die-hard for a school I never went to.
Jun 25, 2012 • 3:21 pm
by Daye and Knight
Lol I don’t have a preference when it comes to you and Dan, both of you are good and bring different aspects and contributions to the website. I just agree with the guy above when it comes to U of M all day. I’m a fan because unless my grades take a huge hit (which I doubt) I’ll be there next year and my friends and I have always talked about going there. There’s a small chance I could end up somewhere else but at this point I’ve already visit the school and see myself there even if it is just for the moment. I am a pretty big fan of Izzo and whenever U of M doesn’t do well and gets eliminated I go for the next team in Michigan which is MSU.
Jun 25, 2012 • 7:01 pm
by tarsier
I almost went to MSU for grad school. But when I visited, all the grad students seemed miserable. So I went to Drexel instead. But they don’t give nearly as inspiring basketball to watch. And they somehow even got left out of the tourney this year.
Jun 25, 2012 • 1:58 pm
by Vic
I think it’s going to end up better for him, he’s going to end up on a better smarter team, he will win faster, etc. he’s definitely good enough, I have no doubt he’ll prove doubters wrong
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:22 pm
by Patrick Hayes
Yeah, I’m not worried about his talent. But financially, this is terrible for him. He’s potentially lost a lot of money over the last few weeks.
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:37 pm
by Brian P
If Sullinger is as good as advertised, he will make up some of the lost money on his second contract, and he will play for a playoff team or contender right from the start.
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:44 pm
by Patrick Hayes
Maybe. People said the same about Blair when he fell — namely, that if he could play and stay healthy, he’d make it up on his second contract. Well, San Antonio isn’t interested in signing him long-term and he might not find much of a market because those injury concerns — that his knees could go out any time — are still scaring teams off even though they haven’t been an issue to this point in his NBA career. If Sullinger’s back is considered the same type of long-term injury that could have debilitating effects, he could run into similar situations. I just hope the doctors have correctly diagnosed him, because if they haven’t, they’ve done a lot of damage to his potential earnings.
Jun 25, 2012 • 4:23 pm
by DB
Blair is losing money in his long term contract because he lost his spot in the rotation when Boris Diaw came to town.
Not because of injury concerns. Guys like Blair are a dime a dozen, and when Pistons fans who are so wrapped up in their numbers realize that Blair is a flash in the pan in 5-10 minutes a night (much like a younger Maxiell who they fawned over) then they’ll realize why everyone passed over him.
Jun 25, 2012 • 7:08 pm
by tarsier
Maybe I’m callous, but I have a hard time feeling bad for his financial situation. He should be able to make a couple million dollars during his NBA career. And he should have an easy time getting a job thereafter too just because if I’m a hiring manager and a former NBA player and NCAA star’s resume is in my pile, it gains a bump just for name recognition.
Jun 25, 2012 • 2:45 pm
by A
If his med reports aren’t too bad and he starts to slip into the later first round, I’d love for the Pistons to package their two 2nd rounders to try and snag him. I’m not a huge fan of his but he does have a refined post game. Even if he turns out to be just as good as glen Davis, he would be well worth a late first round pick.
Jun 25, 2012 • 7:10 pm
by tarsier
I can’t see him slipping too far into the 20s. By that point, you have teams who are contending right now drafting. They should be more in the market for immediate production than long-term upside picks.
Jun 25, 2012 • 5:07 pm
by vic
he’s going to produce no doubt. The only reason i’m not too concerned with missing out on him is that his type of Scola/Love/Barkley/Millsap/Brand power forward have yet to produce a championship.
But no doubt he’ll be a good player, and hopefully star enough to make up for it on commercials and winning and 2nd contract.
Sep 9, 2012 • 6:14 pm
by Anjelica Schnelder
This is years off! I very much doubt the iPad? has anything to worry about anytime soon.