AJ Abrams Declares for NBA Draft

by That'sCrazy on Apr 22, 2008 8:36 PM CDT

Bumped from the FanPosts. Curious as it seems, this actually makes some sense. With only one year of eligibility left anyway, there's zero harm in AJ putting his name in, working out, and gathering feedback before returning for his senior season. --PB--

According to Fox Sports, AJ Abrams has decided to test the waters and enter his name for the upcoming NBA draft. Quite frankly, I consider this to be a complete shock. Should AJ be drafted, it would be quite a loss considering the possibility of losing DJ and Damion as well.

Should both AJ and DJ get drafted, our guard play next year may suffer. Mason returns, but with Balbay unavailable for part of the season and potential NCAA Clearinghouse issues in regard to J'Covan Brown, who will step in?

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No Way

No way he stays in the draft. He’s a junior and has a year to test the waters, seems a pretty smart move as he won’t have another chance to do this.

by 40AS on Apr 22, 2008 8:44 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

retarded

This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read in a while. GMs and scouts are going to laugh at this. Aj will NEVER get drafted. He MAY sneak his way onto a team on a 10-day contract at some point and it’ll be up to him to take advantage and knock down shots, but to think that a team would actually use a draft pick on a 5’10” guy whos had little experience handling the ball and cant play a lick of defense is absolutely ridiculous. You know exactly what you’re going to get with AJ – why draft him when you can just as easily snag him as a rookie free agent or off the street whenever you please.

Retarded.

So much for DJ coming back.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 22, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

AJ IS COMING BACK

There’s a difference between declaring and signing an agent. All he wants is to get opinions. He will return regardless of what they say. Since he didn’t sign an agent, he’s still eligible to return. Enough with the “retarded” comments. It’s completely harmless and sensible.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 22, 2008 9:37 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

btw

that last comment was made by the old sandiegosuperchargers. My new network wide username is Blitzburgh, which is what I wrte the Steelers blog on SBN under.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 22, 2008 9:35 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I know some others had to change userIDs

Let’s create a cross-reference list just until everyone figures out that Blitzburgh = sandiegosuperchargers . And Speedway = jsd in my case.

Now curiosity has grabbed me: Why sandiegosuperchargers is your are presumably a Steelers fan/blogger?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.

by Speedway on Apr 23, 2008 6:34 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Really? This hurts....

Blitzburgh,

as a loyal BtSC reader and Steeler fan (all Pittburgh sports actually (grew up there) and Sooner alum, I must say it pains me to find you over here. You cant be a Horn can you?

by WoodrowWilson on Apr 23, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

hehe

Parents taught at UT for 30+ years and my brother writes this site. I check in. Love the hoops team, not so much the football team.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 23, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Blogging Brothers...

That makes pretty good sense then…

by WoodrowWilson on Apr 23, 2008 10:09 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

never seen u comment on btsc

Unless its under a different name

by Blitzburgh on Apr 23, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

He's just curious

Wants to know what the scouts think about him. After being told he has essentially no chance to be drafted, he’ll return for his senior season.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 22, 2008 9:35 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Ummm...

OK, didn’t see that coming. I suppose it makes sense if he’s just trying to learn what the scounts think he needs to work on.

by SaintBevo on Apr 22, 2008 10:11 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Doesn't make sense

Blitzburgh is very generous in calling AJ 5-10. I’d say he’s closer to 5-8.

This doesn’t make any sense to me at all. Yeah, he might find out a little bit more about how NBA scouts view him. This would be the best case scenario before he removes his name and returns to Texas.

The worst case scenario would be not getting invited to workout for any NBA teams because a) no one thinks he’s serious or b) no one thinks he’s good enough / ready.

At this point, Connor has a better shot of getting drafted this year than AJ does.

I. Don’t. Understand.

--AW--

by awiggo on Apr 22, 2008 10:24 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

What's the downside, though?

Other than potential embarrassment if no one asks him to work out, there’s no downside.

And even if he’s shut out on work outs, it won’t affect his objective ability a year from now to make it or not make it in the NBA.

I don’t think he’s got an NBA future, period, but I don’t see how this hurts him. Even if it doesn’t wind up hurting him, as a small-sized, niche player, I don’t think he’s foolish to see what – if any – information he can gather this offseason.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Apr 22, 2008 10:38 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

No real downside

but embarrassment.

Also, I find it hard to believe that he doesn’t know exactly where he stands in the eyes of NBA execs. This type of move makes more sense for an unknown mid-major kid. Not for AJ. Texas is a nationally recognized program. GMs and Executives have seen AJ play countless times over the last two years. All he would have to do is ask Barnes to make a call or two to see where he stands. No matter how much he lights it up in a workout, it won’t matter. He still isn’t going to be on any draft boards.

Last, I agree that he does not have a future in the NBA. He will be back at Texas soon enough and hopefully be part of another extrememly successful season.

--AW--

by awiggo on Apr 22, 2008 10:45 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

where he stands...

See Daniel Gibson

...a University of the first class, to be located by a vote of the people of this State, and styled, "The University of Texas,"...

by Art.7-Sec.10 on Apr 23, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ok

So, then he must know that he is in good standing with at least one NBA team. He will go work out for them and they will give him opinions. Or Barnes pulled strings with one NBA team, so he could say that he does everything for his players. Or his buddy KD is getting him a look with the Sonics or something.

We have discussed this before, but I think AJ is going to play in the NBA after next year. His ball handling will improve. You don’t always have to play defense.

No harm in declaring. He definitely returns, and if they laugh at him that will encourage him to work even harder.

by jimmer on Apr 23, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

i snickered when i read this

but then i started to think about all the skill players that have played in the nba
you mean to tell me that aj abrahms can’t contribute ala steve kerr
earl boykins can get a job but not aj?
see
i don’t aj is the best
and maybe he wont get drafted … definitely not this year
but there’s a spot out there for him

by abcdmetrius on Apr 22, 2008 10:34 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I agree

Although I took it as a shock, I do believe AJ will return. If, however, something unforeseen happens, who steps in?

_ PG? _
Mason
James (hopefully)
Johnson
Atchley/Pittman

Does Mason become the primary ball handler until the unproven Balbay returns? If so, count me as a worried fan.

By the way, I’ve been a long time reader and thoroughly enjoy the commentary on this site.

by That'sCrazy on Apr 22, 2008 11:11 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

The NBA is so different, did anybody think that Gibson

would have as much success as he has? I know I didn’t and he didnt’t have nearly the Longhorn career that AJ has.

I think AJ, with his shooting, can carve out a nice niche in the league as a three point threat. He could be like a Steve Kerr. Can’t play defense or penetrate, but can be a huge threat on the wing.

While I do think he may come back, don’t be surprised if he declares. Look at PJ Tucker, he knew he wasn’t going to have an extended NBA career, so when a team offered him a guaranteed 450k if he went out, he took it and didn’t look back. IF a team tells AJ they will take him in the second and give him one nice paycheck it may be worth it.

by the1austin on Apr 22, 2008 11:19 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

steve kerr

Enough with the Steve Kerr comparisons.

Kerr was bigger, taller, a VERY good defender and a far better shooter. I think AJ can improve his shot enough to be in the same breath as him, but Kerr was very solid as a defender. 6’1 vs. 5’9 or 5’10 or whatever AJ is is a big difference.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 23, 2008 8:42 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Gibson

Gibson lucked into an ideal situation for him. As point guard all he has to do is get the ball up the floor and into the hands of James, who then makes the play. And with James on the floor, he gets his open jumpers off of double teams. Gibson is listed at 6’2” and can play defense against opposing point guards.

(Another factor for PJ was that he was flunking out of school.)

by Caradoc on Apr 23, 2008 9:55 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don't think it's a bad thing

AJ might be a little delusional as to his NBA potential, but he did score a lot of points on a top ten team so I don’t fault him for his confidence. He’ll figure out soon enough that he needs serious work in some areas. Maybe this will drive him to work a lot harder on his game this summer.

--always Texas--

by longtimelonghorn on Apr 22, 2008 11:32 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I'll keep my fingers crossed

that AJ does decide to come back. He’s a good college player, but like a lot of other guys, I don’t know if he’d do so well in the NBA. Love the guy, but he definitely needs to come back to Austin.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you come in first.

by Super Saiyan Patrick on Apr 22, 2008 11:44 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

If AJ does somehow leave

Sorry, but I’ll be celebrating on the inside. By default, we will be a much better defensive team. All the plays we ran to get him free off of screens are gone. This will help focus more of the offensive attention on the big guys like Johnson, Connor, and Pittman.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 22, 2008 11:48 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

That okay

I will be spitefully celebrating when the rockets pick him up.

by Wells on Apr 23, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Actually

I wouldn’t be pissed if we got him (probably wouldn’t be via draft though, more like summer league try out).

As long as he takes Luther Head’s minutes, I don’t mind. I hate Luther more than I hate Abrams. Plus FT shooting is a big weakness and AJ is a 90%+ FT shooter.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 24, 2008 2:02 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Meanwhile...

We still await for DJ’s decision. I believe the deadline is on Sunday 4/27.

We will find out in 5 days at the latest. The fact that he’s taking a lot of time to make a decision shows it’s a tough one.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 22, 2008 11:53 PM CDT reply reply 0 recs

This week's deadline doesn't mean much.

We likely won’t find out in 5 days about DJ, because I suspect he’s just going to do the same thing AJ did—declare without hiring an agent. That delays his actual decision for quite a while, and it appears he needs the extra time since by all reports he’s having a hard time deciding which way to go.

by JudenSmithFan on Apr 23, 2008 2:56 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I don't know

I think DJ could be going for all the marbles this weekend. If he’s really so undecided that he wants to wait until the June deadline to make a final decision, why put off declaring until a mere couple of days before the April deadline? I would think he would have already made that decision if that’s what he intended to do.

I feel like he’s either staying, or he’s about to hire an agent. I think it’s partly because he’s already been in agony for a month over this decision and also because it’s better for Barnes and the team to know sooner rather than later, and I think he respects that.

by bassale47 on Apr 23, 2008 12:27 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think this is a good decision.

I see no downside (assuming he returns). I’ve always felt EVERY junior should do this. Since the rules allow a player to declare and then come back, get a potential free evaluation from an NBA scout why not. Ian Mooney and JD Lewis should have done it last year. Yeah they aren’t going to be drafted and probably don’t even get invited to a camp, but maybe the scout invites them to work out against a real prospect and the scout sees something he likes or sees something that would improve the player for thier senior year.

by billb on Apr 23, 2008 7:15 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Blitzburgh/sandiegosuperchargers

my old name was just bill. apparently it is a pretty common name.

by billb on Apr 23, 2008 7:17 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Unfortunately Isaiah Thomas is out

There’s was always room for another undersized gunner on the knicks.

by learned hand on Apr 23, 2008 7:28 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Not a big deal.

I didn’t see this coming but its a smart move for AJ. He wants to see where he will be drafted next year and see what he has to work on. If he, actually, does leave I would be completely stunned.

by longhornboy on Apr 23, 2008 8:13 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Get off his back.

Everyone deserves the right to pursue their dream and if AJ is curious to see if he might be draftable this year, then he certainly has that right. Put yourself in his shoes before you draw conclusions.

Especially if it has no consequential ineligibility issues with the NCAA if he does come back. What’s the problem?

"I asked Darrell Royal, the coach of the Texas Longhorns, why he didn’t recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren’t any good.
- Walt Garrison

by 512 on Apr 23, 2008 8:52 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

J'Covan

Can someone fill me in on his issues with the clearinghouse? Do you guys think he is going to get in?

by WoodrowWilson on Apr 23, 2008 9:28 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

AJ Should Read This:Rememver PJ Tucker.......

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=2902697

by JacHoleHorn on Apr 23, 2008 10:59 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Mazel Tov to PJ Tucker:

See the link below for an update on PJ. It looks like he played a key role, helping his team, Hapoel Holon, defeat perennial power, Macabi Tel Aviv.

I believe earlier in the year, his team had to clear the building due to a bomb threat.

"Tucker would take control of the encounter in the final 90 seconds and almost single handedly gave his team the victory. The American forward gave Hapoel a 96-94 gap with 90 seconds to play and his lay-up with a minute to go opened a 98-94 lead. Morris hit a three in the following possession, but two more points by Tucker with 25 seconds remaining kept the hosts in control (100-97) and clinched the win."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208422653361&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFul
l

by 768187 on Apr 23, 2008 12:54 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs