Zeke and the NBA Draft

[Zipmeister]

Reality sucks.

[akronzips71]

We don't get no respect.

One team took a guy who averaged 3 points a game. Could not even play for the worst team in the MAC.

Sucks.

[K92]

Reality sucks.

Sure does.

[FromdaBurgh]

Hey family.....on behalf of Zeke and myself thank u guys for all of ur love and support. His journey is far from over...he already has 4 teams

who want him on their summer league team. He is still NBA bound.

[GP1]

One door closes, another opens.

EDIT: Articles. This link presents two links to very good articles about how the NBA Draft restricts the income of young players.

Zeke should go to the highest level European league he can. They pay well in Europe. If he has opportunity in the NBA, it will reveal itself. Not getting drafted could be the best thing for his future income.

Remember friends, it's professional basketball. If Zeke is going be a professional player, he my as well make as much money as possible regardless of the league.

[legendofzippy]

Hey family.....on behalf of Zeke and myself thank u guys for all of ur love and support. His journey is far from over...he already has 4 teams

who want him on their summer league team. He is still NBA bound.

I guess it was disappointing for all of us last night, but still looking forward to following his career anyway.

[Dr Z]

WOW. So much for the pundits. Anthony Bennett for the #1 pick.

First off, mock drafts equal somebody that has no idea what they are talking about throwing poo at a wall and seeing if something sticks. The only thing more ridiculous than "mock" drafts are the people that read them. Next up, the people that read and write draft "grades" just as ridiculous.

Now for some ZN history. I'm about to give TP credit. The first thing I thought of when Anthony Bennett went #1 was...holy crud, Terry Pluto actually had some insight!!!

Had to look it up to make sure.

11. Over and over, I hear the Cavs like Anthony Bennett. I hear he could be their "Dion Waiters draft-night surprise." He played one year at UNLV at 6-8, 240 pounds. There are reports that he weighs 260 while recovering from shoulder surgery. He is a bit short for a power forward, but there are several NBA teams who are intrigued.

Congratulations Terry. (I wonder what that makes his batting average?)

[skip-zip]

I guess it was disappointing for all of us last night, but still looking forward to following his career anyway.

I was still holding out hope, regardless of what I thought about his chances. It would have been a great piece of publicity for the U of A if his name/school had been called in this type of nationally televised forum.

I wish him luck, and hope he works hard and becomes one of the fortunate ones who somehow finds his way to the NBA by some other route.

[Big Zip]

GP1 has a valid point although I think he might have it backwards. I understand it is all about the benjamins as the kids say but there is a difference playing in the no. 1 league in the world versus the minor leagues.

Not being drafted can be a blessing in disguise for Zeke because he can go to the best fit for him versus who drafted them. If the NBA doesn't work out, Europe isn't going anywhere and he can go there after he run (long or short) in the NBA.

[GP1]

GP1 has a valid point although I think he might have it backwards. I understand it is all about the benjamins as the kids say but there is a difference playing in the no. 1 league in the world versus the minor leagues.

Not being drafted can be a blessing in disguise for Zeke because he can go to the best fit for him versus who drafted them. If the NBA doesn't work out, Europe isn't going anywhere and he can go there after he run (long or short) in the NBA.

One of my favorite sayings is, "A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush." There is no doubt Zeke should try for the NBA, but if he can make more in Europe rather than the NBA D League, Europe is the way to go.

Teams hold tryouts and have scouts everywhere. They can also watch film. If he rusts away in the NBA D league for a couple of years, the window could close quickly in Europe.

Here is what I think and I hope it is not taken as a slight. An entire professional league took a look at a lot of players over the past few months. These teams have professional scouts who know a heck of a lot more about what the NBA needs than we do...most fans couldn't diagram a play. Zeke was looked at, in person and on film, probably by almost every team. An entire league took a pass. Not just a couple of teams, but an entire league. It says something.

Now, I've posted on this board long enough to know the response to the post above. Someone is dying to go high school debate club and point out a player that makes it as a free agent or an even worse argument the will name a player who was a draft flop. That's fine, but only 20% of NBA players were not drafted. That's only 3 per team. This tells me that for the most part, 80% of the time, the scouts get it right. Should Zeke fight for the NBA?...Of course, but he needs to broaden his thinking about his professional future and understand how small the opportunity is for a non-drafted player is.

I agree Big Zip, not being drafted was a blessing in disguise. A greater number of opportunities are opened up for the big guy and knowing what his chances are at every level allows him to make a better choice. Zeke would be a very good European player....he stands a 20% shot at the NBA.

[Dave in Green]

Disappointing, but not a total surprise. Some mock drafters have good connections with NBA teams, and they tend to get it more right than those who don't. But there was agreement among virtually all that this was going to be the most unpredictable draft in the last decade. Thinking back on past NBA drafts, things used to be a lot different. Consider this Wikipedia entry:

In the early years of the draft, teams would select players until they ran out of prospects. The 1960 draft went 21 rounds. By 1974, it had stabilized to 10 rounds, which held up until 1985, when the draft was shortened to seven rounds. By agreement with the National Basketball Players Association, the drafts from 1989 onward have been limited to two rounds, which gives undrafted players the chance to try out for any team.

Looking at it optimistically, Zeke would probably have been an early 3rd round choice prior to 1989, with no say in which team he went to. The NBPA was smart to negotiate a 2-round draft, which gives players beyond the 60 selected an opportunity to try to find the best fit. Zeke is one of five quality players, including St. Mary's PG Matthew Dellavedova, Temple SG Khalif Wyatt, NC State SF C.J. Leslie and Illinois State PF Jackie Carmichael named to this Lost Lettermen list:

College Basketball’s 2013 All-Undrafted Team

C: Zeke Marshall (Akron)

As a top 50 recruit in the Class of 2009, Marshall could have played almost anywhere in the country. He chose Akron and few people got to see him play during his four seasons with the Zips. But those who paid attention last year during Akron’s 19-game winning streak saw a player who was an absolute monster on the defensive end (13.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 3.7 BPG). If he can develop his offensive game and add bulk, someone in the NBA will find a spot for this 7-footer.

And Bleacher Report lists Zeke as #1 on this list:

Undrafted NBA Free Agents 2013: Overlooked Players Who Got a Raw Deal

Zeke Marshall, C, Akron

It's hard to find quality big men, especially those who can play good defense, so it's a bit surprising that Zeke Marshall went undrafted last night.

The seven-footer averaged 13 points per game last season, along with seven rebounds and 3.7 blocks. By comparison, Alex Len averaged just 2.1 blocks per game.

He has an impressive 7'5" wingspan, and while he will never be a major offensive threat, Marshall projects as a high-energy defender off the bench who can impact games with his length and blocking ability.

Marshall will end up being a solid rotation player for a good team. The Lakers, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports, have showed interested in the undrafted free agent:

If Marshall does end up with the Lakers, he could supplant Robert Sacre as the backup center.

With his defensive aptitude and ability to block and alter shots, Marshall has a valuable NBA skill and should carve out a nice career in the league.

In addition to the Lakers, Amico also reports on twitter that Zeke has been contacted by the 76ers, Magic, Blazers and Spurs. If Zeke picks the right organization with the right circumstances and shows well in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he still has a fair shot at the NBA. A lot of those Summer League games are streamed online, so we'll have a chance to see just how well Zeke adapts. After that it may be clearer whether playing in Europe or with the D League (for one year, anyway) makes the most sense for both Zeke and the NBA team that's most interested in him.

[GP1]

Disappointing, but not a total surprise. Some mock drafters have good connections with NBA teams, and they tend to get it more right than those who don't.

All the polls are in Dave, it doesn't matter what the talking heads say at this point. The League has spoken. An entire league passed on draft day.

[ZachTheZip]

All the polls are in Dave, it doesn't matter what the talking heads say at this point. The League has spoken. An entire league passed on draft day.

You sure do put a lot of faith in these teams' ability to evaluate talent.

[GP1]

You sure do put a lot of faith in these teams' ability to evaluate talent.

I put a lot more faith in their ability than my ability, your ability, the ability of those posting on this board and those "draft gurus" who seem to get everything wrong while sitting in their homes posting in their underwear.

An entire league is incapable of scouting players? Come on, you can't really believe that.

[ZachTheZip]

An entire league is incapable of scouting players? Come on, you can't really believe that.

The entire league? No.

75% of the league? absolutely.

[akronzips71]

The entire league? No.

75% of the league? absolutely.

The thing that bothers me is that so many of the second round picks were called a "project".

Most of the big guys weighted WAY less than Zeke.

I think that Zeke is less of a "project" than at least 10-12 of the second round picks. He could play in an NBA game today. Not saying he would go 13/7/3.7 but he could play score and block.

Way less of a project than many.

BUT, someone is going to sign him. Then it is up to him.

[GoZips]

In all fairness to Zeke and several other quality players that did not get drafted there is a mechanism in the NBA that allows

teams to "select" European players that will never play in the NBA. This is done for several valid reasons. Some teams do not

need more players, or they are at their salary cap, etc. Better to take a European player than give opponents more ammo.

Good second rounders get thrown under the bus, sort of. As now they can negotiate with a team likely to give the player a

free agent contract.

It is not all bad for Zeke.

[ZachTheZip]

there is a mechanism in the NBA that allows teams to "select" European players that will never play in the NBA. This is done for several valid reasons. Some teams do not need more players, or they are at their salary cap, etc. Better to take a European player than give opponents more ammo.

That doesn't make any sense. If the Euro is somebody who will never play in the NBA, then let some other team waste their pick on him. If you're afraid that some other team will draft a guy who won't ever play for them, so you spend your own draft pick on him to keep your opponent from aquiring a stiff, you should be fired.

Good teams aquire talent even if they don't need it or have room for it. Bad teams waste draft picks on "strategy" BS and then wonder why they can't win without talent.

[legendofzippy]

The entire league? No.

75% of the league? absolutely.

This reminds me of the Brian Scalabrine challenge a little while back. All these guys lined up to take on Scalabrine and he destroyed all of them. Google the video if you've never seen it, pretty funny.

It was just a good reminder that even the guys in the NBA that you probably think suck are infinitely more talented and athletic than any of us were on our best day. As much as we think we know, truly evaluating talent at that level is beyond all of us.

But it's still fun, that's why we're here.

[UAZip0510]

No big shock here - Zeke getting drafted would have been a pleasant surprise but I never thought it'd happen for three reasons:

1) Zeke is not NBA-ready. He can develop and become NBA-ready in time, but not 2013-2014. He'll need to play in the D-League and work his way up, which, again, he can do.

2) Teams prefer European players for many 2nd Round picks. Not because they don't want the pick/player - that's not accurate - but more because they can stash them overseas and let them develop without paying their contracts. Once they are deemed ready, the team purchases their contract. If they are deemed a bust, they let them go.

Hopefully Zeke lands with the Spurs. Great system, great coaches, get the absolute most out of their talent.

[ZachTheZip]

The only reason for Zeke to go to the D-League is if he is intent on killing his professional basketball career before it ever begins.

[Dave in Green]

All the polls are in Dave, it doesn't matter what the talking heads say at this point. The League has spoken. An entire league passed on draft day.

You missed the point. The point was that some talking heads had it right about who was going to be drafted and who wasn't (including Zeke) because they had better league connections. They knew better than others how NBA teams were going to speak before they spoke. Of course it matters whether or not what people say matches up with what happens. You learn who to trust more and who to trust less for future reference. It's like sales people. Most of them promise more than they deliver. A few deliver what they promise and can be trusted slightly more.

[UAZip0510]

The only reason for Zeke to go to the D-League is if he is intent on killing his professional basketball career before it ever begins.

Jeremy Lin, Danny Green, JJ Barea, Matt Barnes, CJ Watson, Brandon Bass, Avery Bradley, Aaron Brooks, Shannon Brown, Marcin Gortat, Ramon Sessions, and Chris Anderson all spent time in the D-League prior to being added to NBA rosters. Not sure why Zeke going D-League would kill his career...

[skip-zip]

These teams have professional scouts who know a heck of a lot more about what the NBA needs than we do...most fans couldn't diagram a play. Zeke was looked at, in person and on film, probably by almost every team. An entire league took a pass. Not just a couple of teams, but an entire league. It says something.

Now, I've posted on this board long enough to know the response to the post above.

I know you didn't mean any disrespect, and neither have I in my critique over the last several months in evaluating his chances in the NBA.

He had a lot working against him, lets face it. He was a 7-footer playing in the MAC, which certainly puts a lot more pressure on you to stack up some noticeable numbers. Yet, he lacked an aggressive scoring move toward the basket against this lower level of competition. His 2 offensive rebounds per game had to stick out like a sore thumb also. If he had become a 20/10 guy by his Senior year, he probably had a chance. It didn't happen. And I commend his work on his physique, but there was rightfully a concern over whether he had an NBA body. Who knows if he can possibly still develop enough to get another chance. But, I do believe that NBA teams are more likely to take a "flyer" on a big man when he is 18 rather than 22 years old.

[Zipmeister]

In all fairness to Zeke and several other quality players that did not get drafted there is a mechanism in the NBA that allows

teams to "select" European players that will never play in the NBA. This is done for several valid reasons. Some teams do not

need more players, or they are at their salary cap, etc. Better to take a European player than give opponents more ammo.

Good second rounders get thrown under the bus, sort of. As now they can negotiate with a team likely to give the player a

free agent contract.

It is not all bad for Zeke.

I am shocked that nobody other than UAkronkid commented on this post which appears to be a lock for post of the month.