Daniel Orton could be a steal in this Thursday's NBA Draft as a late 1st round pick. Orton is a kid who has played behind the likes of Blake Griffin in high school and DeMarcus Cousins in college. He's competed with two of the best big men the game will see in years on a daily basis in practices. He could also be the guy to make history for the Cats, as he is projected to be the record breaking fifth 1st round pick in the draft from the same school. Not even the '96 Cats put 5 players into the 1st round of the draft in one year.
He might also be Calipari's biggest recruiting tool, even more so than top picks like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans. Why? Because what other coach in the country can tell a kid that he can sit on the bench and average 3 points a game and be a first round pick after ONE year? The fact that 3 points per game in limited action was enough for Orton to probably be picked in the first round after just one year begs the question of how high he could have been picked if he stayed just two or three years at Kentucky. The sky could have really been the limit. I don't think it would have been impossible at all for him to become a Top 5 pick or maybe even the #1 overall pick after another year or two if he had stayed and proven himself with quality minutes alongside Enes Kanter and Terrence Jones.
He could have definitely benefited from another year, but possibly Orton was concerned about finding himself on the bench again with two more super talented freshman big guys coming in? Maybe he thought that if he was going to have to fight for playing time in either situation, he might as well be getting paid for it in the NBA. That is a point of view from Orton that I can understand. Especially considering that he originally came to Kentucky to be a star player under Billy Gillispie until Cal came in and brought along DeMarcus Cousins. He still decided to stay at Kentucky through it all and become a role player turned into an NBA first round pick, a decision that I'm sure he feels very comfortable with.
The success of Orton and point guard Eric Bledsoe, who came to UK despite the fact that John Wall already signed his letter of intent to play here, will help Calipari continue to convince kids that they should come and be a role player at UK instead of being a star somewhere else. For the above reason that his success makes him a huge recruiting tool for UK and because I think Daniel really is deep down a good kid, I hope that he has great success in the NBA and I genuinely wish him the absolute best. However, I believe the national media and NBA GM's are seemingly giving Daniel a free pass on character issues during his time at UK, while unfairly placing labels on his other teammates, mainly DeMarcus Cousins.
I don't blame Orton for leaving after a year and I understand his decision, just as I do for the other four Cats' that are leaving early. However, he did not live up to his end of the bargain on his commitment to UK. Competing daily with DeMarcus Cousins in practice, working out with John Calipari for a year, and playing on the nation's most talented and nationally recognizable
basketball team are reasons why Daniel is in the current position he is in. He owed it to Calipari and Kentucky to stick around for an extra month and finish up his 2nd semester grades to not hurt the program's APR ranking and team GPA.
Instead, Daniel selfishly left his teammates behind in Lexington and flew out to California instead of finishing his 2nd semester classes. If Orton had done what he was supposed to finish up in the classroom, the Cats would have had an exceptional improvement from the previous semester on their team GPA and would be at no risk of an APR hit in the future, which could eventually cost UK scholarships, if another situation like this occurs again. The most disappointing thing about all of this is that Daniel is a smart, well spoken kid. He has a lot of academic potential and made the decision that an education will not serve him any good throughout his life. On the other hand, his teammates that are projected higher than him in the draft all made the decision to stick around and finish strong in the classroom, not only for the good of the program, but also to open the doors to come back and finish up a degree someday as Rajon Rondo and Jodie Meeks are currently doing during the off-season.
John Wall, the almost certain #1 pick on Thursday, finished with the team's highest GPA and plans to eventually earn his degree despite being the most gifted point guard the game has seen in possibly a decade. Another probable Top 10 pick, Patrick Patterson, earned his diploma after just three years on campus. Bledsoe and Cousins, whom both lack the academic potential as Daniel Orton seems to have, still kept their commitment to the school and finished up classes, even though they may not ever return to school again. Cousins, for sure, probably won't ever need to return to school as he possesses the size and skill to play many years in the NBA. John Wall doesn't have a need to return either, but wants to. Bledsoe probably simply doesn't have the smarts to stick around and work towards a degree. Orton is less talented than all of his teammates entering the draft and very well may need to come back to school someday. His 0.0 GPA last semester could come back haunt him if he ever has to make that decision.
The way Orton left Kentucky and the sound of jealousy that comes out of his mouth when asked about teammate DeMarcus Cousins, combined with the incident of Orton actually leaving the UK bench and walking into the locker room in the middle of a game this season because of frustration over being taken out and put back onto the bench, are justifiable reasons for more scrutiny and criticism of Daniel as teams ponder drafting him or not. Orton talks smooth,
he's intelligent and very well spoken, and seems like a good guy. While Cousins has a perception problem because he isn't as well spoken, wears a headband, has tattoos, and plays like a monster on the court. Daniel just likes dressing up as a Power Ranger from time to time in Wildcat Lodge.
Despite the fact that Orton has a good sense of humor highlighted in the picture to the right with DeMarcus, the reality is that he is a riskier pick than Cousins, even though the perception seems to be the opposite. He's not just more of a risk because of his physical ability is not as strong as Cousins, but because he has a bit of an attitude problem that may not be worth dealing with. While in Cousins' case, even if he was a head case (and his time at UK proved nothing but the opposite), his talent alone would make him worth taking. When fans criticized Orton for the way that he had left, it was very fair criticism (for the most part), even though the media made all UK fans out to be villains. I wish all UK players the best in this Thursday's draft and am rooting for Daniel to prove me wrong, just like DeMarcus has proved many wrong all year in Lexington. I just wish the media would get off of Cousins' back, who has done everything the right way at UK, and give a little bit of fair criticism where it's actually deserved.
He might also be Calipari's biggest recruiting tool, even more so than top picks like John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Rose, and Tyreke Evans. Why? Because what other coach in the country can tell a kid that he can sit on the bench and average 3 points a game and be a first round pick after ONE year? The fact that 3 points per game in limited action was enough for Orton to probably be picked in the first round after just one year begs the question of how high he could have been picked if he stayed just two or three years at Kentucky. The sky could have really been the limit. I don't think it would have been impossible at all for him to become a Top 5 pick or maybe even the #1 overall pick after another year or two if he had stayed and proven himself with quality minutes alongside Enes Kanter and Terrence Jones.
He could have definitely benefited from another year, but possibly Orton was concerned about finding himself on the bench again with two more super talented freshman big guys coming in? Maybe he thought that if he was going to have to fight for playing time in either situation, he might as well be getting paid for it in the NBA. That is a point of view from Orton that I can understand. Especially considering that he originally came to Kentucky to be a star player under Billy Gillispie until Cal came in and brought along DeMarcus Cousins. He still decided to stay at Kentucky through it all and become a role player turned into an NBA first round pick, a decision that I'm sure he feels very comfortable with.
The success of Orton and point guard Eric Bledsoe, who came to UK despite the fact that John Wall already signed his letter of intent to play here, will help Calipari continue to convince kids that they should come and be a role player at UK instead of being a star somewhere else. For the above reason that his success makes him a huge recruiting tool for UK and because I think Daniel really is deep down a good kid, I hope that he has great success in the NBA and I genuinely wish him the absolute best. However, I believe the national media and NBA GM's are seemingly giving Daniel a free pass on character issues during his time at UK, while unfairly placing labels on his other teammates, mainly DeMarcus Cousins.
I don't blame Orton for leaving after a year and I understand his decision, just as I do for the other four Cats' that are leaving early. However, he did not live up to his end of the bargain on his commitment to UK. Competing daily with DeMarcus Cousins in practice, working out with John Calipari for a year, and playing on the nation's most talented and nationally recognizable
basketball team are reasons why Daniel is in the current position he is in. He owed it to Calipari and Kentucky to stick around for an extra month and finish up his 2nd semester grades to not hurt the program's APR ranking and team GPA.
Instead, Daniel selfishly left his teammates behind in Lexington and flew out to California instead of finishing his 2nd semester classes. If Orton had done what he was supposed to finish up in the classroom, the Cats would have had an exceptional improvement from the previous semester on their team GPA and would be at no risk of an APR hit in the future, which could eventually cost UK scholarships, if another situation like this occurs again. The most disappointing thing about all of this is that Daniel is a smart, well spoken kid. He has a lot of academic potential and made the decision that an education will not serve him any good throughout his life. On the other hand, his teammates that are projected higher than him in the draft all made the decision to stick around and finish strong in the classroom, not only for the good of the program, but also to open the doors to come back and finish up a degree someday as Rajon Rondo and Jodie Meeks are currently doing during the off-season.
John Wall, the almost certain #1 pick on Thursday, finished with the team's highest GPA and plans to eventually earn his degree despite being the most gifted point guard the game has seen in possibly a decade. Another probable Top 10 pick, Patrick Patterson, earned his diploma after just three years on campus. Bledsoe and Cousins, whom both lack the academic potential as Daniel Orton seems to have, still kept their commitment to the school and finished up classes, even though they may not ever return to school again. Cousins, for sure, probably won't ever need to return to school as he possesses the size and skill to play many years in the NBA. John Wall doesn't have a need to return either, but wants to. Bledsoe probably simply doesn't have the smarts to stick around and work towards a degree. Orton is less talented than all of his teammates entering the draft and very well may need to come back to school someday. His 0.0 GPA last semester could come back haunt him if he ever has to make that decision.
The way Orton left Kentucky and the sound of jealousy that comes out of his mouth when asked about teammate DeMarcus Cousins, combined with the incident of Orton actually leaving the UK bench and walking into the locker room in the middle of a game this season because of frustration over being taken out and put back onto the bench, are justifiable reasons for more scrutiny and criticism of Daniel as teams ponder drafting him or not. Orton talks smooth,
he's intelligent and very well spoken, and seems like a good guy. While Cousins has a perception problem because he isn't as well spoken, wears a headband, has tattoos, and plays like a monster on the court. Daniel just likes dressing up as a Power Ranger from time to time in Wildcat Lodge.Despite the fact that Orton has a good sense of humor highlighted in the picture to the right with DeMarcus, the reality is that he is a riskier pick than Cousins, even though the perception seems to be the opposite. He's not just more of a risk because of his physical ability is not as strong as Cousins, but because he has a bit of an attitude problem that may not be worth dealing with. While in Cousins' case, even if he was a head case (and his time at UK proved nothing but the opposite), his talent alone would make him worth taking. When fans criticized Orton for the way that he had left, it was very fair criticism (for the most part), even though the media made all UK fans out to be villains. I wish all UK players the best in this Thursday's draft and am rooting for Daniel to prove me wrong, just like DeMarcus has proved many wrong all year in Lexington. I just wish the media would get off of Cousins' back, who has done everything the right way at UK, and give a little bit of fair criticism where it's actually deserved.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment