Quote Originally Posted by elnutsmalljaws View Post
Wall, Cousins and Patterson were all givens. Bledsoe and Orton are IDIOTS because another year under Coach Cal, which both of them need, and they would increase their draft status tremendously. Add the 3 seniors leaving and that leaves 5 left on the team returning with Dodson, Miller and Liggins as the only 3 that played any significant minutes. Rebuild / Reload, whatever you call it, Coach Cal had better get out the Checkbook and start writing a few.

I just saw a thing on ESPN where Chad Ford says Wall is number 1 unless Utah or New Orleans gets the number 1 pick and they have Deron Willions and Chris Paul respectively and either of those would take Evan Turner but any other team that gets the number 1 pick and it is Wall. Cousins will go between 3-5, Orton and Patterson will go between 10-18 and Bledose goes between 12-20. Unbelievable to have 5 projected in the top 20, but Bledsoe and Orton should come back and could be Top 10 each next year - In my opinion.
Don't know if I would call them "idiots". Put your self in a 19-20 year old's shoes. Guaranteed millions, a chance to live your dream and play in the NBA, never having to worry about money, taking care of your family--it's hard to pass that kind of stuff up. As fans, we all want them to stay. And another year would probably move their draft status on up the charts--but that's a probably. If they don't play well their status could fall, just as easily as it went up. Right now it's almost a guarantee that they all will go top 20....25% of the top 20 draft picks will probably be from UK. On a positive, that's huge for recruiting purposes.
-Then you've got the injury factor as well if they come back.
I don't blame them one bit. If draft experts, GM's, NBA coaches, and Coach Cal all say they should go and will be that high on the draft board, then more power to them. I hope they get everything they ever wanted. Let's just hope Coach Cal can bring in another top 3 recruiting class. Look out for the 2011 class--it may be bigger than Wall's class...