🏀 Avery Johnson updates Braxton Key's status

[alabama mike]

On a bit of a different note:

We know the NFL has established limits on how many kids can get draft grades while they are underclassmen. Do we know if the NBA has any kind of limit like that of the NFL? I doubt it, but am curious.

...wonder how many are "declaring" without an agent this season?

The NBA Players Association has contracted language that says a student must be 19 years old or 1 year removed from high school to declare for the draft. I am surprised that more kids do not go overseas and play the one year after high school. Personally, I do not think Key is ready for the NBA but it sure does not hurt looking as long as an agent is not hired. There is no way, IMO, that he will be picked in the two rounds of the draft.

 

[bama alum]

The NBA Players Association has contracted language that says a student must be 19 years old or 1 year removed from high school to declare for the draft. I am surprised that more kids do not go overseas and play the one year after high school. Personally, I do not think Key is ready for the NBA but it sure does not hurt looking as long as an agent is not hired. There is no way, IMO, that he will be picked in the two rounds of the draft.

The way Key worded his farewell could suggest he's thinking about going overseas.

 

[Rolltide24]

@Rolltide24 It's my view this is a lot like football players, specifically corners in this example. We see guys like Marlon getting drafted while people are saying he needs another year to develop. But, as we've seen, a lot of these CB drafts are about potential versus ability to contribute immediately.

With the NBA, I look at it the same way. They are looking at potential, not where they are right now in terms of development.

I agree to some extent, but it sure seems like rookies in the NFL are more prepared and able to compete more than these 19 year olds leaving for the NBA.

NFL draft had 5 CB's taken in the 1st and 2nd rounds last year. And 5 CB's who stayed in college 4 years. Ramsey, Apple, Hargreaves, Burns and Alexander all left school after 3 years. All had pretty solid years except Alexander. He did nothing. Including Alexander (who had basically no stats) these 5 averaged 52 tackles, 1.5 INTs and 8.1 PBUs.

 

[footballer]

Thanks for those numbers TerryP. My memory failed me again. Levi was not drafted but was invited to try out for Boston? It may not be a fair comparison of numbers, but I was wondering about the development of where each player, Levi and Braxton, relative to when each player left or leaves school. I would think Levi was farther along in his development as a senior and didn't get drafted compared to Braxton's development as a freshman.

 

[TerryP]

Thanks for those numbers TerryP. My memory failed me again. Levi was not drafted but was invited to try out for Boston?

I want to say he worked out for Boston after playing a few years. I'd have to google it to give you a link but the more I think about this the more confident I am becoming. Hell, I want to say it was the summer of '15 he worked out for the Celtics (don't hold me to that though...just guesstimating.)

It may not be a fair comparison of numbers, but I was wondering about the development of where each player, Levi and Braxton, relative to when each player left or leaves school. I would think Levi was farther along in his development as a senior and didn't get drafted compared to Braxton's development as a freshman.

The weird thing about Levi was some places had him as a second round pick. Others had him as undrafted.

I'd have to agree with him being more developed after four years of school. While we know Braxton is more talented there's not a great deal of difference in the base line when it comes to development, ya know. (Baseline, as in where they were leaving high school.)

The one thing of note here about Key is I recall a pretty solid friendship with T-Ferg. I know Braxton wanted to play with him. Is that part of what is weighing in on his decision?

 

[EasyTider]

Is he academically challenged?

 

[TerryP]

Is he academically challenged?

No. He was one of the five basketball players just awarded one of the Academic Achievement Awards for the 2016 -2017...actually awarded last night, announced Monday night.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Is he academically challenged?

Intradasting question.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Avery Johnson still isn't sure what Braxton Key is going to do.

The rising sophomore, who declared for the NBA draft without hiring an agent, has until May 24 to decide whether to remain in the NBA draft or return to Alabama.

While Key wasn't among the 67 players invited to the NBA scouting combine, the versatile 6-foot-8 forward worked out for the Boston Celtics on Monday and "did well in the workouts," according to Johnson during a Thursday interview on Tide 102.9 FM.

"Hopefully we'll figure out what's going to happen with Braxton Key," Johnson said during the interview. "We know he's declared for the draft, but we'll figure out if he's coming back and we'll get an answer from him really soon."

An SEC All-Freshman Team selection last season, Key led Alabama in scoring last year (12 points per game), was second on the team in rebounding (5.7 per game) and also averaged 2.5 assists per game.

Point guard Dazon Ingram dropped a potential hint about Key earlier this week, posting a picture of Key, Johnson and Ingram on Instagram with the caption, "It's about to be a movie. #BuckleUp #NoNoise."

Key responded to the picture, "No comment."

Avery Johnson updates the status of Braxton Key

 

[#80]

I expect to see Key back this season.

 

[Max]

I expect to see Key back this season.