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Trent Plaisted is smart to put his name in the NBA draft and not hire an agent. It's a way to find out what the NBA REALLY thinks about him. Trent has a lot of physical gifts and a 6-foot-11 guy that can run will draw some attention. If someone wants to pay him millions of dollars on his potential, take it and run.
Is he NBA-ready? After watching Trent for three seasons, I think his biggest strength is his athleticism. His biggest weakness -- apart from free-throw shooting -- is he doesn't face the basket on the offensive end. Right now, his only moves are power left and power right. To survive in the NBA, Trent needs to develop a face-up game and a 12-foot jumper. His performances against Louisville (21 points, 12 rebounds) and North Carolina (24 and 17) in the preseason showed he could compete against Top 10 competition. But he needs to bring that game every night to truly be an elite player.
A look at what Cougar Blue users said about Plaisted's decision:
"This actually doesn't surprise me whatsoever. By not hiring an agent, he can play the field and determine his draft stock, and he can still take his name out of the draft by some time in June and retain his eligibility. I personally don't see any way an NBA team takes him in the first round, (which is the only guaranteed money in the NBA), so I think that he'll be pulling his name out of draft consideration." -- bostoncoug
"This is probably the smartest decision he could make in the situation he's in. He can see where he might be drafted and then make a decision. I think this is the right move for him.
"I personally feel that it will show him that he needs to come back for one more year, but if it shows that he is ready then good for him and it was great that he was a Cougar for as long as he was." -- dlcoug
"Not a big deal. He'll find out that he's not as good as he thinks he is; nbadraft.net has him going at #52. I doubt he'll leave if he's not at least a first rounder. Unless he has AMAZING workouts he'll be here next year." -- harlinestillopen
"I don't think abandoning your (free) college education is great decision. The percentage of NBA draftees that are actually able to make a profitable career is very, very small." -- Real.Men.Wear.Blue
"Considering 1st round picks get guaranteed money and many 2nd round picks make it into the NBA, the money they will receive would be at minimum 6 to 7 times greater than the average college graduate would receive. Spend 1 or 2 years in the NBA and another couple of years in Europe. It is very likely that the scant 4 year "career" would be more profitable than the lifetime career of many college graduates." -- mormonrasta
"It would be smarter for Trent to stick around another year. The NBA draft is extremely deep this year and I have a hard time believing he would be anything but a low second rounder...he may not even get drafted. He would be smarter to wait another year, dominate the MWC, and then declare. I think his stock would rise. Plus, BYU would be pretty amazing with the big three returning and adding Jimmer Fredette to the mix." -- CougarPokes |
