NBA Draft 2014
College basketball may have ended a little over 2.5 months ago and the NBA season concluded not even 2 weeks ago. And even though we’re right in the thick of baseball season and NFL training camps are about to start, basketball is still on everyone’s brain and that’s because last night was the NBA draft.
To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of watching the Draft, whether it be NBA, MLB, or NFL. They’re not enjoyable to watch for me. (Although, if I’m being honest, once I found out that Johnny Football didn’t go #1 like was projected, I had to tune in to the NFL Draft, and that was probably one of the best decisions I made. Watching his reaction when he finally got drafted at #22….priceless). However, this year I did have a little more interest in the Draft because Langston Hall and Daniel Coursey have been working out with NBA teams over the past few months, and of course, being a Mercer fan and being on the table crew, well it made me a little more invested in this year’s draft. I had the Draftcast up on my computer last night and watched the Draft when I finally got home. Langston and Daniel didn’t get drafted, which does make me a little sad, but there is still the NBA Summer League and sources are reporting that Langston will be playing with Heat and Daniel will be playing with the Celtics.
But there were some really key moments last night in the Draft.
For instance, Jabari Parker went #2, while that’s not surprising to anyone, my personal stance is that I don’t think he’s ready for the NBA. I say this because I’ve watched Duke basketball for as long as I can remember and watching them this year, especially in the Tournament, Parker skills aren’t NBA ready yet. He lacks consistency and still has some maturing, both on and off the court to do. I was far from impressed watching Duke in March. Yes, they played a senior laden team that has a strong sense of family in Mercer, but Parker was completely shut down by the Bears.
There are also some key players that weren’t drafted, which did surprise me. Patric Young from Florida didn’t get drafted. That took me by surprise because I thought he provided great minutes for the Gators and was a force to be reckoned with just because of how strong he is. At the same time, I could see where his strength could deter teams from drafting him, but I think he’ll prove he’s ready for the NBA in the Summer League because I definitely think he would make a great role player for some team. And there are numerous others who didn’t get drafted, who’ll be playing in the summer league, but Patric Young is the one who stands out the most to me because being in SEC (and ACC) country, those are the players that we hear most about.
But the most poignant moment last night in the Draft, wasn’t all the pomp and circumstance nor was it players’ reactions to hearing their name called. The most important and significant moment last night came between the 15th and 16th picks when Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, came on stage and announced that the NBA had a ceremonial pick and would be drafting Isaiah Austin. In case you didn’t know, Isaiah Austin played at Baylor and has recently been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome which ended his playing career.
Words can’t even begin to express my thoughts on this. When Adam Silver came on stage and announced that the NBA would be drafting Isaiah Austin, I ugly cried, I’ll admit that right now. Not only because it showed how much of a class act that Silver is but because it also signified the end of Austin’s basketball playing career, and that near about broke my heart. Austin is/was a tremendous basketball player and was an asset to the Baylor team. I hope he gets to continue to work with basketball in some shape or form, whether it be an analyst for ESPN or becoming a coach because he’s such an inspiration.
What did y’all think of the Draft last night?
Until next time,
Katie
