NBA Draft Notes

A couple quick hits on tonight's draft.

The Heat did not trade their 2nd pick, and selected (surprise!) K-State frosh Michael Beasley. For some reason, Miami seemed reluctant to take the most-NBA-ready-looking player in the draft, and thoughts are that they still may seek a trade. Their 2nd round pick was "the other Jayhawk" Darnell Jackson.

The Orlando Magic (you know, the other Florida team?) used their 22nd pick to select Hilltopper Courtney Lee. Lee is a solid guard (what the J.J. Reddick pick was supposed to bring Orlando) and could be a good option off the bench. A little curious that the Magic didn't go bigger.

Marreese Speights of the University of Florida (the lone Florida schooled player taken in the draft), went 16th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. While I thought Speights could have benefited from another year in school, enough fortune tellers told him he had a good chance to be drafted. And lo and behold, he was. As a Gator alum, I wish he would have stayed. But it's not quite the same feeling I had when Christian Drejer or Matt Walsh left. I actually wish Speights all the best.

Marreese Speights Gone for Good

This isn't a breaking news story. In fact, draft experts had already been counting Speights in mock drafts for months. Still, Speights has now positioned himself as yet another NCAA Basketball casualty in the never-ending drive for early dollar.

The good news for Speights is that he's being universally projected in the first round. I've seen him listed as high as the lottery, but also sinking towards the bottom of the first round. It would be a big surprise if he fell to the second round, but one never knows.

I don't like this decision for two reasons:

1. The once-green Gators were ready to make a serious tourney run this year, with Speights leading the way. It's a tough and unexpected (I think) blow to their hopes...but then, it's hard to feel sympathy for a school that just won two of the last three titles! (Yes, I like saying that). I wonder what Billy Donavan really thinks about this.

2. Marreese Speights, what are you doing? Look at the history of early mid-late first round picks! Odds are, you won't be playing serious minutes until at least 2010, possibly later. You may never even get off the pine, and your contract will be expendable. These aren't the great NFL riches that await you. Imagine if you had boosted your position with a great Gator run...sigh. These kids never learn.

Marreese Speights Should Stay in School

The first mistake in Marreese Speights' life was the spelling of his name. I'm sure it was intentional, but you have to wonder how Maurice turned into Marreese.

There had to be a plethora of other mistakes along the way, but I can assure you that the most recent is his decision to test the NBA Draft waters. This is a guy who has everything to gain by staying in school. The Gators should be bolted to the Top 25 next year, if not the top 10, and Speights is primed for national exposure.

As a general principle, a college player should never leave early unless he's a lottery pick. Marreese Speights is not even close to that right now.

The only good news is that he's going in without an agent, which means he can keep his eligibility (but he hurts his brittle draft stock at the same time). For the good of the Gators and yourself, stay in school and give Marreese a good name.