uh-oh... chad ford thinks varnado sneaks into the first round...

[lawdawg02]

he bases his information on talks with "a number of GMs and NBA scouts"... link to the story

<font color="#225FB2">Jarvis Varnado</font>, PF, Jr., Mississippi State*
Varnado is the best shot-blocker in college hoops and an elite athlete who can really fly up and down the floor. He's still figuring it out on the offensive end -- and he needs to add strength -- but his shot-blocking and rebounding alone ought to get him into the first round on draft night if he decides to stay in the draft.

 

[lawdawg02]

he bases his information on talks with "a number of GMs and NBA scouts"... link to the story

<font color="#225FB2">Jarvis Varnado</font>, PF, Jr., Mississippi State*
Varnado is the best shot-blocker in college hoops and an elite athlete who can really fly up and down the floor. He's still figuring it out on the offensive end -- and he needs to add strength -- but his shot-blocking and rebounding alone ought to get him into the first round on draft night if he decides to stay in the draft.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

1. Because I reeeealllllly want him to.

2. He could make more money by improving his stock. Basically he could make better than a million dollars by staying one more year.

This is the rookie salary table. If he sneaks into the first round as Ford implies, let's say that would be in the last six picks. That's between 2.6 and 2.8 million. If he comes out next year and moves up even from the 25-30 range to the 15-20 range, that's 3.5 - 4.5 million dollars. So that's my reasoning....stay in school, increase your profile, have more help this year, get more exposure......get picked in the top 15-20. Doing that makes you between $1 - $2 million more in your rookie contract.

<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 210pt;" width="280" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <col style="width: 24pt;" width="32"> <col style="width: 47pt;" width="63"> <col style="width: 43pt;" width="57"> <col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(218, 218, 218); height: 30pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="40">Pick</td> <td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(218, 218, 218); width: 47pt;" width="63">1st Year Salary</td> <td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(218, 218, 218); width: 43pt;" width="57">2nd Year Salary</td> <td rowspan="2" class="xl63" style="border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(218, 218, 218); width: 48pt;" width="64">3rd Year Option Salary</td> <td class="xl63" style="border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl64" style="border-left: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" width="64" height="20">TOTAL</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">1</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">4,152.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">4,464.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,775.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">13,393.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">2</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">3,715.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">3,994.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,273.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">11,983.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">3</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">3,336.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">3,587.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,837.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">10,761.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">4</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">3,008.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">3,234.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,459.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">9,702.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">5</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">2,724.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">2,928.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,132.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">8,785.80</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">6</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">2,474.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">2,660.00</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,845.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">7,980.00</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">7</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">2,258.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">2,428.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,597.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">7,284.60</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">8</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">2,069.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">2,224.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,379.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">6,673.80</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">9</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,902.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">2,044.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,187.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">6,134.60</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,807.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,942.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,078.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">5,827.80</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">11</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,716.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,845.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,974.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">5,536.30</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">12</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,630.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,753.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,875.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">5,259.60</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">13</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,549.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,665.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,781.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,996.50</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">14</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,471.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,582.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,692.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,746.90</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">15</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,398.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,503.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,608.00</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,509.30</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">16</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,328.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,428.00</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,527.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,284.00</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">17</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,261.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,356.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,451.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">4,069.70</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">18</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,198.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,288.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,378.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,866.40</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">19</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,144.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,230.70</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,316.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,692.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,099.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,181.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,263.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,544.50</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">21</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,055.10</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,134.20</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,213.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,402.60</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">22</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">1,012.90</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,088.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,164.80</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,266.50</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">23</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">972.5</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,045.40</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,118.30</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,136.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">24</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">933.5</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">1,003.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,073.50</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">3,010.50</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">25</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">896.2</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">963.4</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">1,030.60</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,890.20</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">26</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">866.5</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">931.4</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">996.4</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,794.30</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">27</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">841.4</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">904.5</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">967.6</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,713.50</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">28</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">836.3</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">899</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">961.7</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,697.00</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">29</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">830.2</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">892.5</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">954.7</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,677.40</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;"> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; height: 15pt; width: 24pt;" width="32" height="20">30</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 47pt;" width="63">824.2</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 43pt;" width="57">886</td> <td class="xl65" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">947.8</td> <td class="xl66" style="border-top: medium none; border-left: medium none; width: 48pt;" width="64">2,658.00</td> </tr> </tbody> </col></col></col></col></table>

All that being said, who among us would pass up 2.6 million?

 

[lawdawg02]

it would be very hard to turn down a first round guarantee, and i wouldn't fault anyone who leaves for that. the 3 year guarantee of the first round is huge.

i remember watching one game this year, and realizing just how much i'm going to miss watching varnado when he leaves. his shot-blocking is amazing and is so much fun to watch. i really hope we get one more year, where he'll have help in the paint.

i don't guess i've mentioned it before, but you'd probably appreciate my old softball glove - the name in the palm of the rawlings glove reads "Ryne Sandberg". i've had it since little league - still a great glove.

 

[Coach34]

1. Jarvis becomes the 2nd pick of the 2nd round
2. He is talked into signing and is basically guaranteed a roster spot
3. We have a good basketball season, and lose it OT in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tourney on a turnover by Phil Turner and subsequent foul by Augustus.
4. I bash Stansbury repeatedly again for a 2nd round loss

 

[ckDOG]

1) Stick around to improve stock, blow out your knee, and never make a nickle.
2) Take a gamble, get drafted in second round, and learn to speak Turkish.

 

[patdog]

He'd be very unlikely to improve himself above the #15 pick even if he did come back. And given the choice of a guaranteed $2.6M if he was promised a 1st round spot today and taking a chance of getting anywhere between $0 and $4.5M if he came back to school, I'd take the $2.6M every time.</p>

 

[maroonmania]

Either I have a guarantee from a team, any team, to take me in the first round if available or I'm out of that draft in a heartbeat. If Varnado can't get the guarantee and stays in, he and his Dad aren't nearly as smart as I believe they are.

 

[cowbell9]

...he aint a 5 and def doesnt have the shooting skills as a 4. So where do they put him?

 

[Foronce]

people lie... look at austin, roberts, jamoney

roberts went but he fell down, i think

do what rhodes did explore and come back,,, draft stock with increase tenfold with a deep run in NCAAT

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

with the lone exception being the first pick having a contract in place.

Maybe there has, but I've never heard of one

 

[OMlawdog]

Varnado can and will find a spot on an NBA roster.

The biggest reason he may go this year is that this year's draft class is horrible. He may be the 25th best player this year, but 40th next year due to talent.

 

[patdog]

Austin and Gordon listened to agents. I don't recall the NBA scout/GM consensus being 1st round for either of them. Roberts didn't go pro until after his SR season. Varnado isn't going to listen to agents like Austin and Gordon did. He's going to listen to the NBA guys. And if they're telling him he's a solid 1st round pick, he should go pro.

 

[GloryDawg]

If he turns down a first round draft pick he is crazy! However that is never a guarantee ask Monte Ellis. (It did work out in the end for him)

 

[gtowndawg]

 

[maroonmania]

and for the others metioned in this, Roberts of course did not go early and Austin and Jamoney had NO guarantee from anyone but were just determined to stay in the draft regardless.

 

[FlabLoser]

1. Jarvis becomes the 2nd pick of the 2nd round
2. He is talked into signing and is basically guaranteed a roster spot
3. We have a good basketball season, and lose it OT in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tourney on a turnover by Phil Turner and subsequent foul by Augustus.
4. I bash Stansbury repeatedly again for a 2nd round loss

Especially the "we are M State" part. As soon as the stars begin to align, a supernova explodes and blows **** all out of wack again.

 

[fishwater99]

Been saying that for a while, if SWAT can not be a quality starter in the NBA, why darft him..

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

They aren't going to pass on a much better player just because they told someone they'd pick them.

 

[markymark.sixpack]

i saw this article yesterday and googled mock drafts. i looked at the first 3 and none of them even had him getting drafted...let alone in the first round. FWIW (which may be nothing).

 

[VegasDawg13]

the Hawks did that very thing with Shelden Williams a few years ago.

I believe what happened was that the GM promised Williams he was taking him before the lottery had even happened, then the Hawks ended up with the third pick and took Williams there, much higher than he was projected.

I may have some details wrong, but the main point is that the idiot Hawk management did what you're saying no one would ever do.

Edit: They promised him they'd take him at number 5, not number 3.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

i don't guess i've mentioned it before, but you'd probably appreciate my old softball glove - the name in the palm of the rawlings glove reads "Ryne Sandberg". i've had it since little league - still a great glove.

Sniff sniff......makes me long for my childhood again. My first glove had Dave Cash's signature on it. Don't remember Dave Cash?

 

[OMlawdog]

Unless you want to draft a guy that you know won't be on your team, like some european that can't get out of his contract.

NBA teams draft players based on one or two skills. Reddick could only shoot the 3 at an NBA level when he came out, and he was a lottery pick. Varnado can play defense at an NBA level. He can fill a role as an energy guy and defensive guy. He can guard a lot of the bigger 3's and smaller 4's. Also with the NBA going to more of an up tempo style, Varnado would fit well with a young running team. I think a team that lacked an inside presence would draft him thinking he could be a Chris Anderson type.

I still think the biggest reason he goes pro, is the weak draft talent.

 

[seshomoru]

There is a glut 6'8"-6'10" defenders/rebounders in the NBA. He's really about 20 pounds shy of being the perfect role player.

 

[Todd4State]

It's my favorite glove. I actually went to the infamous "Fernando Valenzuela Game" at Smith-Wills Stadium and got to meet him after the game. I don't think he had any idea what the hell I was saying to him. I guess even after 12+ years in the Big Leagues, he still hablo muy poquito ingles.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

..that there are people out there who think JV is ready for the NBA.

JV's ability to block shots is a huge plus, but blocking shots against the Auburn & Ole Miss big men is a far cry from blocking the shots of the Chicago Bulls & Boston Celtics' big men.

Other than his ability to block shots on defense, JV's offensive game isn't even ready for European basketball yet, much less the NBA.

Add to that JV is way too skinny & weak for the NBA right now.

So & I just don't get all this NBA talk associated with JV (even though I fully understand why he is testing the NBA waters).

 

[Irondawg]

But if you're a playoff team that has time to develop a guy - Jarvis is the perfect fit. You don't need a rotation guy, but rather someone you can groom and hope he becomes at least a role player in a few year. A team like New Orleans or Utah would be a decent fit for him or maybe a Miami, Denver, SA type.

I can certaily see a team with an established rotation taking a flier on a guy like Varnado thinking they have 2 years or so before they'll need minutes out of him

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

[No message]

 

[Bdog9090]

[No message]

 

[Todd4State]

Jenny Finch is the only reason I went out to see USA softball play "Team Mississippi" a few years ago. I don't regret it.