Yeah that’s fair. It’s not like they can just push back the beginning of the next season so art a certain point I guess it doesn’t make sense to delay things that will impact that season .
Just got an alert that the NBA seems to be exploring pushing back the draft from June 25th to no sooner than Aug 1st. That will make things even more challenging on scholarship distribution.
Regardless of the dates, I can’t think of one instance where a player has gone through the process of “announcing” like Livers did that has returned to college, rhetoric about keeping the “door open” notwithstanding.
2 Likes
There have been numerous kids that have gone through the process and come back. Not sure what you mean by “announcing” or how that changes things at all. Right now, the deck is certainly stacked against Livers getting a guarantee with no combine or ability to move up draft boards. Without the guarantee he said he is coming back. Plus, I don’t see the need for Jace to walk on if they don’t think Livers isn’t coming back.
3 Likes
What did Livers really “announce” though? This is what I found from the press release:
“Following the cancellation of the season, my family and our coaching staff have had several discussions on my future as a basketball player,” Livers said. “After much reflection and prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the 2020 NBA Draft and start the full evaluation process. The University of Michigan has done so much for me and helped me get to a position where I might be able to reach my goal of playing professional basketball. While this is only the start of the evaluation, I have appreciated your encouragement and will continue to need it as this process moves on.”
Nothing here seems like he’s reflecting on his three years and thanking the fans for their support or anything like that. Just a guy who seems like he’s going through the process.
Payton Pritchard?
3 Likes
Maybe I am misunderstanding but this has happened dozens of times each year.
Tre Jones, Ashton Hagans, Udoka Azubuike, Mamadi Diakite, Payton Pritchard, etc
6 Likes
Really? I feel like it has happened multiple times each of the past few years.
3 Likes
I guess the key word is the way they announced? Because just last year there were a number of players that “explored” and returned two of them were Winston and Tillman from MSU. Maryland also had a couple in Cowan and Smith.
And there are plenty more.
Mo Wagner?
1 Like
Part of what is confusing about Livers’ “announcement” was that the athletic department initially published the wrong version of the announcement (the one where he had an agent) and then walked that back. Hard to know what to make of the fact that the other version existed or whether it means anything about the probabilities here.
If that polished “erroneous” announcement never happened, then I’m not sure what Isaiah did announce is any different from guys like Moe that got feedback and then came back to school for one more year.
I have no idea what Livers is going to do, but if you choose to take him at his word, he’s been clear that a guaranteed contract keeps him in.
Charles Matthews two years ago:
3 Likes
Winston did not even declare for the draft last year.
1 Like
According to Sports Illustrated he did
Can you explain how Livers “announcing how he did” as you put it, is different from the other examples you have been given of players announcing and returning. The announcement was public so I don’t think it is violating any of your “cat” connections to explain this.
1 Like
I’m not talking about just going through the “process”, whatever that means; it’s obvious that there are a bunch of folks that make inquiries. You though do not have to announce that you are entering the draft in order to ask for an evaluation. Announcing that you are putting your name into the draft, takes the discussion to an entirely different level, and days a ton about where the mind is of the player doing so. It’s more than just “let me know what you think of me.” Cause again you don’t have to announce a damn thing to anybody if all you want to know is where you sit.
Announcing means, “I’m ready to go. Take me seriously. Agent do what you have to do to make this happen. Even if it means you providing me benefits to position me favorably.”
And the player that receives improper benefits, is immediately ineligible.
Agents don’t get paid if the player doesn’t get drafted. That alone changes the dynamic.
If you have an instance where a player went through the effort of making an announcement, with similar detail as Livers, and did it with assistance of the university, and then returned, share it. And even if you can come up with one, that is by far the exception to what the normal practice is.
When Iggy, Poole and Mathews did it last year, I knew they were ghost. Said it from the very beginning even amidst the wishful thinking fans that they could return.
If you want the nba to take you seriously, you can’t have them wondering if you have both feet in.
I would be surprised if Livers comes back, though pleasantly. Would not be disappointed if he left because it has been clear to me for a while that the nba is where all the guys with options want to be. Playing college ball, and living with the nuisance of attending classes, is not the preferred life.
1 Like
I beg your pardon.
“ announced he will bypass the NBA draft process to come back to MSU for his senior season” April 19, 2019
Plenty have been named in this thread alone. This is a really weird take.
3 Likes