Austin Daye Makes Horrible Decision, Enters NBA Draft
Austin Daye (Cleveland Plains Dealer)
According to ESPN’s Andy Katz, sophomore Austin Daye has decided forgo his final two years at Gonzaga and enter the NBA draft.
As H&F’s resident Gonzaga fan, I must say that this seems like a horrible, ill-conceived idea on Daye’s part. Mock draft projections have the 21 year old Daye going to the Pistons with the 15th pick. And while that would be ahead of well-known players like Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough, B.J. Mullens, and Terrence Williams, Daye would be lucky to go this high.
In his two years of Spokane, Daye never added the inside game that he will need to be a true offensive threat in the NBA. Primarily a perimeter player, a majority of Daye’s points came from outside jumpers. If he does indeed have the range to shoot the corner three the NBA loves so much, then yes, he could play in the League for 10-12 years. However, I’m not convinced he has this range yet.
He also could have used another 12 months to get some more meat on his frame. As other H&F’ers pointed out previously, he faded against superior competition and also did not do much down the stretch.
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Daye’s results from the combine are shocking. He had the slowest lane agility other than Jordan Hill. He tied with Greivis Vasquez for the worst maximum vertical jump. And he was second from last to Vasquez in the no step vertical jump.
Worst of all? He couldn’t life 185 lbs ONCE. NOT ONE REP.
Ndudi Ebi thinks Daye should stay in school.
http://www.nbadraft.net/node/6301
I’d draft Daye top-five if the NBA allowed two-platoon basketball. Can you name a single NBA starter Daye would stand a chance of guarding?
Austin Daye going to the draft is the worst decision in college basketball history! Goodness gracious sakes alive. The only thing Daye will turn into is another team’s drafting mistake. The guy has ruined every situation he has ever been in. The ghost of an Arvydas Sabonis-worn suit could post this guy up in the lane. Throw it down Sabonis’ suit, throw it down!
He must have been swayed by Adam Morrison’s performance in the playoffs. In any event, Gonzaga is at 14 minutes, 30 seconds and counting.
Worst Decision? Try best decision ever. Kid sucks balls at Gonzaga yet has managed to convince NBA scouts that he belongs in the middle of the first round? Take the money and run young man, you’re not going to see one dime of it at an NCAA institution. And Spokane in Winter isn’t exactly world class. Three years of guaranteed money plus little to no expectation of success in the league: sounds like the best job ever.
bad decision but remember: Kevin Durant couldn’t muster one rep at 185 either and he’s looking ok (as much as it pains me to point out).
Apples and Oranges, Jon.