Spring Break
Gordon to test NBA draft waters
Junior starting point guard says Stansbury encouraged him to go pro
C.J. LeMaster
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
"Regardless of what round he's drafted in, I believe Jamont's going to make a team," Power said. "I think it's extremely risky to go out this year. This year is the best point guard draft ever."
Gordon could go in the first round, but the amount of point guards and 6-foot-10-inch players going into this year's draft coupled with high demand for the position could spell second-round pick and a significant salary reduction, Power said.
"They're saying there may be four or five Jason Kidd-type point guards in the draft," Power said. "When you go first-round pick, you get anywhere from $950,000 to $1.5 million for a middle-of-the-round first-round pick for a minimum of three years. If you make second round, it'll be $425,000 for one year."
Among message boards like SixPackSpeak.com, rumors circulated that Gordon's departure could have been caused by either conflict between Gordon and other members of the team, or Stansbury allegedly playing favorites with Gordon and others.
Grant said he thinks Gordon's perceived attitude is a misnomer.
"A lot of people mistake his toughness and willingness to win as an attitude, but we never had any problems with him interacting with any of our players," Grant said. "If we had problems with that, we wouldn't have appointed him as a captain."
As someone who played under Stansbury, Power addressed the allegations of "star treatment."
"I really feel like Stansbury does a good job of treating players fairly and equally," Power said. "He leaves what happens in practice between the lines, and outside those lines he treats you like family."
Though Gordon's announcement came two weeks after sophomore Ben Hansbrough decided to transfer, Power said he doesn't view Gordon's departure as a negative for the team or the school.
"It's a win-win for everybody," Power said. "He came in, had three phenomenal years and we won two championships in three years. He's earned his chance to go."
Gordon could go in the first round, but the amount of point guards and 6-foot-10-inch players going into this year's draft coupled with high demand for the position could spell second-round pick and a significant salary reduction, Power said.
"They're saying there may be four or five Jason Kidd-type point guards in the draft," Power said. "When you go first-round pick, you get anywhere from $950,000 to $1.5 million for a middle-of-the-round first-round pick for a minimum of three years. If you make second round, it'll be $425,000 for one year."
Among message boards like SixPackSpeak.com, rumors circulated that Gordon's departure could have been caused by either conflict between Gordon and other members of the team, or Stansbury allegedly playing favorites with Gordon and others.
Grant said he thinks Gordon's perceived attitude is a misnomer.
"A lot of people mistake his toughness and willingness to win as an attitude, but we never had any problems with him interacting with any of our players," Grant said. "If we had problems with that, we wouldn't have appointed him as a captain."
As someone who played under Stansbury, Power addressed the allegations of "star treatment."
"I really feel like Stansbury does a good job of treating players fairly and equally," Power said. "He leaves what happens in practice between the lines, and outside those lines he treats you like family."
Though Gordon's announcement came two weeks after sophomore Ben Hansbrough decided to transfer, Power said he doesn't view Gordon's departure as a negative for the team or the school.
"It's a win-win for everybody," Power said. "He came in, had three phenomenal years and we won two championships in three years. He's earned his chance to go."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Sisyphus
Brent
posted 4/25/08 @ 3:45 PM CST
I hope Stansbury isn't encouraging our players to leave for the NBA.
Sure, I want us to win as much as the next guy, but we have bigger reasons to keep these kids around. (Continued…)
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