As I do, I know that everyone feels that Okafor, Winslow and Jones are gone, but just for fun consider:[/B]
ARGUMENTS TO STAY[/B]
Enjoy College[/B] - Once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy college. The NBA is a job and will be there in another year.
Enjoy Playing With Your Friends[/B] - The NBA is business and they probably will not have a lot of choice of where they may live, who is their coach and who they play with over the next few years. They have a great group at Duke and these kids really seem to enjoy playing together. What they have is not normal and they could stay and take advantage of that opportunity for another year.
Win Another National Championship[/B] - There are not many who can say they won two National Championships.
Develop Game[/B] - One more year at Duke and playing under coach K will help these guys develop a better game for the NBA. They will be more polished and versatile when they get there which could affect the roles that they are allowed to play. In turn, that could really impact the strength of their careers and the amount of their future negotiated salaries.
Build Body[/B] - Although guys like Winslow and Okafor seem strong in the college game, they are still just 18 - 19 years old and their bodies could use some further toughening up for an NBA career. They played 40 games this year and have taken a physical beating. In the NBA they may have to play more than double that many games against much stronger and bigger men.
College Degree[/B] - At the end of the second year, these kids will be more than halfway along in getting their college degree. It would be very obtainable in the future at that point.
Increase Endorsement Value[/B] - Endorsement earnings for a number of NBA players far exceed their player's salary. Image and Name recognition play the biggest roles in getting endorsements and a run for a second National Championship and the exposure that it would bring for the next year could do wonders in that respect. Even after winning the National Championship most people across the country still have no real recognition of Okafor, Winslow or Tyrus Jones. Being within the Duke Program one more year is a perfect opportunity to really build on the endorsement opportunities, from cereal to insurance as opposed to being limited to Shoes and a few other smaller deals.
ARGUMENTS TO GO[/B]
Start Earnings[/B] - Start making that NBA money in short life-span of NBA player.
Recognize dream of playing in NBA[/B] - Get to the NBA faster to recognize the NBA dream.
Risk of Injury[/B] - There is always the argument of a career ending injury. There is some risk, but in today's world most injuries can be repaired and the players can continue their career.
FURTHER ANALYSIS - [/B]It just appears to me that most of the one and dones struggle in their first couple of years in the NBA and many do not reach their full potential. Even guys picked within the first three picks seem to struggle at first and many never seem to develop to their full potential. Jabari Parker seemed to be starting to make an impact this year, but he really could of used more refining, and as big and strong as Jabari Parker appeared in college, his body may have been overcome by the rigors of the physical NBA play. The money is tempting, but the NBA salary should not be the only factor considered when making these decisions. The NBA will take any of these guys next year as well. Neither decision would be wrong. My expectation is that Okafor, Winslow and Jones are all going to the NBA this year, but I personal hold out hope that these guys may be different than today's norm and stay for another year. However, I would not be terribly surprised given what I have seen from these guys that they would decide to stay together for one more year.
ARGUMENTS TO STAY[/B]
Enjoy College[/B] - Once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy college. The NBA is a job and will be there in another year.
Enjoy Playing With Your Friends[/B] - The NBA is business and they probably will not have a lot of choice of where they may live, who is their coach and who they play with over the next few years. They have a great group at Duke and these kids really seem to enjoy playing together. What they have is not normal and they could stay and take advantage of that opportunity for another year.
Win Another National Championship[/B] - There are not many who can say they won two National Championships.
Develop Game[/B] - One more year at Duke and playing under coach K will help these guys develop a better game for the NBA. They will be more polished and versatile when they get there which could affect the roles that they are allowed to play. In turn, that could really impact the strength of their careers and the amount of their future negotiated salaries.
Build Body[/B] - Although guys like Winslow and Okafor seem strong in the college game, they are still just 18 - 19 years old and their bodies could use some further toughening up for an NBA career. They played 40 games this year and have taken a physical beating. In the NBA they may have to play more than double that many games against much stronger and bigger men.
College Degree[/B] - At the end of the second year, these kids will be more than halfway along in getting their college degree. It would be very obtainable in the future at that point.
Increase Endorsement Value[/B] - Endorsement earnings for a number of NBA players far exceed their player's salary. Image and Name recognition play the biggest roles in getting endorsements and a run for a second National Championship and the exposure that it would bring for the next year could do wonders in that respect. Even after winning the National Championship most people across the country still have no real recognition of Okafor, Winslow or Tyrus Jones. Being within the Duke Program one more year is a perfect opportunity to really build on the endorsement opportunities, from cereal to insurance as opposed to being limited to Shoes and a few other smaller deals.
ARGUMENTS TO GO[/B]
Start Earnings[/B] - Start making that NBA money in short life-span of NBA player.
Recognize dream of playing in NBA[/B] - Get to the NBA faster to recognize the NBA dream.
Risk of Injury[/B] - There is always the argument of a career ending injury. There is some risk, but in today's world most injuries can be repaired and the players can continue their career.
FURTHER ANALYSIS - [/B]It just appears to me that most of the one and dones struggle in their first couple of years in the NBA and many do not reach their full potential. Even guys picked within the first three picks seem to struggle at first and many never seem to develop to their full potential. Jabari Parker seemed to be starting to make an impact this year, but he really could of used more refining, and as big and strong as Jabari Parker appeared in college, his body may have been overcome by the rigors of the physical NBA play. The money is tempting, but the NBA salary should not be the only factor considered when making these decisions. The NBA will take any of these guys next year as well. Neither decision would be wrong. My expectation is that Okafor, Winslow and Jones are all going to the NBA this year, but I personal hold out hope that these guys may be different than today's norm and stay for another year. However, I would not be terribly surprised given what I have seen from these guys that they would decide to stay together for one more year.
