by GoldenWarrior11 » Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:01 am
Myles Powell scored 32 on Payton Prichard and 37 on Cassius Stanley this past season, with both guards drafted ahead of him. Markus Howard is one of the best shooters in the entire draft, best scorers in NCAA history, having multiple 40-point-plus games while at Marquette. Both are First Team All-Americans, combined to score over 5,000 points and both go undrafted. I’m not frustrated at the NBA GMs for clearly overlooking NBA talent in the 2nd Round, I’m disappointed in the process and the standards that are followed. The 2nd Round in the NBA Draft is often utilized by GMs as a way to save money and without using guaranteed roster spots. Whether it is a team outright selling their 2nd Round pick, packaging it in a trade so they don’t use it, or by drafting a European player that will take years to come over or, more likely, will never actually come to the States in the NBA, it is clear that there is just not a priority for teams in the 2nd Round. They also realize they can save money on UFAs without guaranteed money. While this is unfortunate for three and four-year players like Powell, like Howard, like many others before them, it does give these players a chance to be selective in UFA opportunities and the chance to reach free agency sooner. I will continue to root for both players, and all BE alumni, in the NBA and wish them long and successful careers.
Very disappointing end for Ty-Shon Alexander. I cannot help but see the parallels with a former MU player, Vander Blue. Both left after their Junior years, able to return to a talented and skilled top-15 program, gamble on themselves to be a 1st round/high 2nd round pick, and both end up being undrafted. One cannot help but wonder if they chose to stay in school, improve their draft stock, finish their education, and try again the following year. However, every individual must take their own path, and Alexander (like Blue) will make money a year earlier than most. Hope he, too, finds a nice landing spot.
Good luck to Brendan Bailey, Naji Marshall, Jordan Tucker and Omer Yurtseven on their next opportunities, and congratulations to Saddiq Bey and Paul Reed for their selections.