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Sunday, April 8, 2007

Self, Wright to hold 4 p.m. press conference

By Gary Bedore

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Self, Wright to hold press conference at 4 p.m.

Kansas University men's basketball coach Bill Self and sophomore Julian Wright will hold a 4 p.m. press conference today in Hadl Auditorium to address Wright's future.

It is believed at that time that Wright, who was KU's third-leading scorer and leading rebounder this season on its way to the Elite Eight, will declare himself eligible for June's NBA Draft.

Self issues further comment on Wright's draft status

Kansas University men's basketball coach Bill Self has been inundated with phone calls since the Journal-World's Sunday afternoon story on Julian Wright likely turning pro instead of returning for his junior year. Self issued this statement while on a West coast recruiting trip Sunday night:

"Due to the volume of calls I've received, and me being on the road, I want to say Julian's intent is to make a formal announcement Monday afternoon concerning the future status of his career," Self said. "That announcement will occur Monday afternoon."

Wright likely to declare for NBA Draft

It looks as if Kansas University basketball sophomore Julian Wright has had a sudden change of heart regarding the NBA Draft.

KU coach Bill Self on Sunday told the Journal-World that Wright, who has repeatedly said he'd be back for his junior season, "will strongly consider his options regarding the draft. We expect he'll have a decision at the first of the week. At that time we'll have a formal announcement."

Sources close to the situation told the Journal-World that as of Sunday, Wright had made up his mind to leave KU.

Sources say Self learned early in the week that Wright had completely changed his stance on the NBA and told the coach he'd likely be leaving instead of returning to complete his junior year and graduate in three years.

Sources say the two agreed to meet again upon Self's return from a recruiting trip Monday.

It's believed some individuals close to Wright indicated to him that with his being projected as a lottery pick, he would not be able to help himself by staying at KU, thus his sudden change of heart to leave.

Self would only say that he would meet with Wright upon returning from his recruiting trip and an announcement would be made early in the week, likely Monday.

Self said there was no change in the status of KU's other players considering the NBA. Brandon Rush is considering his options, seeing which players decide to enter the draft and where he'd be selected. No other players have hinted at any plans of leaving.

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Comments

  1. notoriousfox (anonymous) says…

    I wish him all the best, but that sucks.

  2. Jclarkson (anonymous) says…

    say it aint so!

  3. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    Julian has just demonstrated the necessary qualifications to become a successful D1 head coach after his basketball career ends--a change of mind on an absolutely definite statement. :-)

    Frankly, the more guys we have go pro the better. Nothing spurs recruiting more than having a bunch of guys in the L.

    But as much as I think Julian is an extraordinary talent destined for some greatness, even I can't believe he's a lottery pick in this year's draft unless all the great players but him are staying another year. He just didn't play like a lottery pick alot of the season. Heck, if Julian is a lottery pick, we may lose Darnell Jackson. He'll probably go in the low first round. :-) Amazing how the pros evaluate talent. Just amazing.

  4. klineisanazi (anonymous) says…

    If he will be a lottery pick, good for him. I hope he will not hire an agent immediately and just put his name in to test the waters. Losing Wright and Rush would be tough, but this was always a possibility.

  5. DSommersby (anonymous) says…

    The staff needs to explore one of those Lloyd's of London insurance policies for Julian to be covered to come back for this coming year. Could be the best win/win solution if Julian really wants to come back one more season.

    He could have the best of both world's by insuring himself against injury and still getting to come back and enjoy being a 19 or 20 year old while improving his play and finishing his last year of studies.

    Wishing you the best Julian. Would love to see you one more season!

    :)

  6. sdoyel (anonymous) says…

    Ju was projected by nbadraft.net to go #4 at one point this season. Kind of hard to improve on that status... I'd love to see him for one more year, but I respect his choice and look forward to seeing him in an NBA uniform.

  7. ttoulouse (anonymous) says…

    There's no way Julian's ready for the NBA. Way too inconsistent, way too small and way too careless with the ball. He showed up fairly well for some big games this year, but was non-existent in the regionals. Look at how much he looked like a freshman against UCLA, of which there were maybe 3 NBA guys on their team and everybody was stealing the ball from him.

    This would be a very bad move, mainly because he would end up being a project and potential bust on the NBA level. One more year could make him immortal, not just from a KU standpoint, but if he were to consistently average 20 & 10, he'd be a #1 pick next year, and be worth it!

  8. notabandwagonfan (anonymous) says…

    I love his game, but at times he is too inconsistant. One night he is great, one night hes not. Its been said all season long that Julian was/is gonna be a lottery pick if he came out, so I dont know how much news this really is to him. This is old news to me, but for the sake of the overall player, I hope Julian realizes that he could seriously benefit from staying in school another year. WOW! This is amazing.

  9. milehighhawk (anonymous) says…

    I'm "friends" with Ju Ju on MySpace and sent him the following message this afternoon:

    Man, say it ain't so. You've got all kinds of people in your ear right now saying to leave.

    Don't forget your promise to your mom!

    You will NEVER be able to go to college for another year: the NBA is ALWAYS there. Smart thing is to take out an insurance policy and polish up your game over the summer.

    One more year at KU means one year where the entire nation knows your name. One more year means a Final Four with your buddies. One more year means you are a legend in Lawrence.

    Don't give everything up to sit on a bench for a couple years--step it up, come back next year with a vengeance...and you'll have the world at your fingertips--plus a much fatter sneaker deal.

    You've got a good head on your shoulders, Julian - use it!

  10. emeryhawk (anonymous) says…

    I got shut down on this message board a week and a half ago for suggesting that Julian could end up changing his mind. My position then, and now, is that it's tough to pass up that money and a lot changes when you get a few weeks removed from an emotional loss.
    I don't know what's right for him. Because he's being drafted so much on potential, he could hurt himself if he stuck around and didn't improve. That said, I think the guy could be a #1 pick if he improves his shooting and decision making. I think he would benefit from another year at Kansas, and I'm not ready to stop watching him in a KU uniform. When he's on his game he's just so fun to watch. What a bummer!

  11. Sportshooligan713 (anonymous) says…

    Well I personally agree that his draft status probably won't get any better than the top 10 that he is pretty much garunteed this year... but im worried that he isn't quite ready for the NBA I think that staying for another year would help polish his game up so much more, he can develop a shot and hopefully work on his fast break dribble... but if he declares right now i think that there would be a chance that he would get to the NBA not preform up to standards and get stuck on a bench for the rest of his career...
    I hope he makes the right decision though and whatever happens he has been a great person to represent KU on and off the basketball court

  12. jkilgore (anonymous) says…

    Fans literally spend more time discussing recruits than they do watching them at their schools. How long have articles been written on C. Aldrich? Three or four years, right? What a waste of time.

    College basketball has truly seen its finest days. With the jump to the pros, how can fans be expected to give their time and attention to college bb? I am losing my ability to care much more, having cheered for KU teams for the past 40 years, bball just isn't the same.

    This is a situation with no real solution. I wish Julian the best and hope that he finds more success in the NBA, despite what those of us think about KU, his ability, or just how bad it sucks! Having said that, who cares, I'm just a one-night fan.
    Kilgatron

  13. kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says…

    Wish Ju would stay, but hey the NBA looks at potential not what you did this year. Being inconsistant won't hurt JU. In the NBA you don't have to be consistant. The season is 82 games long so you can fade in and out with all the talent on teams. And the playoffs are not a one and done. It is best out of 5 games and 7.

  14. JBurtin (anonymous) says…

    From what I've heard Julian is one hell of a nice guy. I wish him the best in whatever he does and I am very proud to have him as a Jayhawk. However, going high in the NBA draft doesn't mean much if they toss you out on your ear after three years for not being NBA ready. You'll make good money but who wants to be the guy that wasn't good enough to make it.

    He didn't even look ready to play at a high level in the college game, let alone ready for the NBA.

    Mark my words, if he goes now he will be a huge NBA bust. One more year with Bill Self busting his butt and he has the potential to be a legend.

  15. HolzwarthKU (anonymous) says…

    True, he may not improve where he would fall in the 2007 vs. 2008 draft, but the guy has some major issues to fix, especially his dribbling/shooting skills. He hasn't transformed into the small forward that the NBA is looking for. Julian needs to come back for ONE more season and become a superstar.

  16. truefan (anonymous) says…

    I agree, I wish him the best, but I don't think he is ready. It's hard to say though, there isn't much defense in the NBA so who knows how well he'll do at that level. The lack of defense alone could give him the numbers that he needs in order to stick around in the league for a while. I hope he doesn't go, but if he does it's anyone's guess how he will do.

  17. filmhawk (anonymous) says…

    if julian can get to a lottery pick position - he should go. sure, anyone who watched three games this season sees all kinds of room for improvement, but we also saw that sweet jumper off the dribble he'd cash in every so often and the instinct for the ball that you can't teach. there's plenty of teams in the association that would love to help fine tune his game. i'll be sad to see him go, and not consumate the potential we all saw in this group of guys, but if he can cash the check, do well in the nba, and help recruit "the next julian wright" to kansas, god bless and good luck.

    by the way, i think we'll be okay next year with rush and arthur on the front line - and don't forget about the one guy that really wanted that ucla game - darnell.

  18. hometownhawk (anonymous) says…

    Obviously Ju is a great prospect, but the sad thing is that by all accounts, what he really wants is to stay at KU, but people "close" to him have convinced him it's too big of a risk to stay. If he loves being here and wants to stay, some scum bag trying to get rich off him should stay out of his head.

  19. JBurtin (anonymous) says…

    I'm sure Ju Ju looks great in practice and he occasionally has flashes of brilliance on the court. However, the kinds of issues he has (namely oncourt decision making) can only be fixed by having lots of real game playing time. Project players don't get lots of playing time in the NBA.

    He's the type of player that can sell some tickets and that is the bottom line for NBA franchises, but losing a few games in a row due to him throwing the ball away in an attempt to be flashy can (and will) earn him a spot on the bench in a big hurry.

    I actually think KU would be fine without him next year as what our team really needs right now is a consistent back to the basket scorer and we are getting a good prospect for that in Cole Aldrich. I'm not expressing the opinion that Julian is not ready just to keep him for selfish reasons. For anyone who has watched him all year long and knows him from more than just sportscenter highlights it is blatently obvious that his draft status is being grossly overestimated.

    He simply isn't ready and really isn't even terribly close to being ready.

    If he follows the cheap buck he will almost certainly ruin his chance at a successful NBA career.

    I'm not trying to be mean or nasty to him, I've loved having him at KU. I just think that those "close to him" might be telling him what they think he would want to hear instead of giving and honest critique.

  20. BigTamale (anonymous) says…

    Man, I was tasting that championship...

    Lets say Rush decides to go pro and Wright doesn't change his mind, our line up may look something like this:

    PG Russ Robinson
    PG/SG: Sheron Collins
    SG Mario Chalmers
    PF: Darrell Arthur
    C Sasha Kaun

    Rotating In:
    Case/Reed/Morningstar---Shooting Guards
    Jackson
    Aldrich

    Looks like we are very thin at the Guard Spot, so we may have a "Bigger" Lineup:

    PG: Russ Robinson
    SG: Mario Chalmers
    SF/SG: Rodrick Stewart
    PF: Darrell Arthur
    C: Sasha Kaun

    Guard Rotation:
    Collins
    Reed/Morningstar/Case

    Bigs:
    Jackson
    Aldrich

    What do you Guys think?

  21. crooner (anonymous) says…

    Let's not gridlock the suicide hotlines, and think rationally for a moment.

    What if, out of the interest of his draft stock, Julian decided that he would declare but not sign with an agent? He would get an honest opinion from scouts and NBA GMs, and it might help us when he comes back more focused. International players do it all the time, and it really helps them transition to the NBA game.

    Let's see how this all unfolds, and be happy for Wright regardless.

  22. jdeed763 (anonymous) says…

    Julian's not ready for the NBA. While his athleticsm and creativity are far above average, he's not strong enough to be a NBA low post scorer, and he doesn't have the outside shot to play the perimeter in the League. He needs another year in college...at least.

  23. notabandwagonfan (anonymous) says…

    apparently nobody learned a damn thing from anyone on that Florida team. I wish we had players who cared about the other players so much that they realized the nba could wait. If I ever had one good thing about Florida to say, or about Joakim Noah, it would be that he, nor did any other gator, let the $ go to their head. In this case, Julians stock certainly couldn't get any higher. However, with the depth of this year's class, and julian's inability to consistantly play at a high level, I can only hope he uses his better judgement, and sleep on this decision tonight. I will wish him well and hope he is succesfull in whatever his decision may be, but selfishly I hope he realizes that the NBA can wait and to take full advantage of school and everything it has to offer to him, as well as everything he has to offer to Kansas. He should be a man of his word, because in all reality, thats all a man has. If you say you are going to do something, DO IT!

  24. mumpy1 (anonymous) says…

    Julian, don't do it! One more year at KU would insure you a better pick in the NBA. You need to be more consistent and one more year will help you achieve that. Think of your boys at KU! Wouldn't a Final Four win next year be better than anything? We love you and so want you to stay. Think about it before you sign with an agent! From one of the biggest KU fans!!!

  25. apeoples410 (anonymous) says…

    If you need to test the waters, then so be it. Please do not hire an agent!!!

  26. jaybate (anonymous) says…

    Chalmers doesn't seem to be getting much NBA love in all of this. Afflalo and Shipp seem to have crashed his stock value. Mario could be the sleeper among these guys.

  27. KEITHMILES05 (anonymous) says…

    horrible advice being given to him whoever it is who is "close" to him. Just bad, bad, advice.

  28. klineisanazi (anonymous) says…

    KU fans need to suck it up. This is what happens when our favorite program recruits at a high level. Some players will leave after one or two years. Hopefully, this will happen many times in the future, as it indicates recruiting success by the coaching staff.
    Furthermore, the goal of winning a national championship is secondary to being a lottery pick for the NBA for many, if not most recruits. Playing in college is a means to an end.
    Finally, even though we can all give our opinion over whether Julian is "ready" for the NBA, or whether he will be helped by another year, it doesn't matter what we think. Coach Self can just help him get as much information as possible to make a good decsion.
    If Julian then leaves, Self then goes back out on the recruiting trail and points at Wright, and says" "See what you can do for yourself by playing a couple of years at KU?" With playing time opening up, it should help him land another good recruit, and it will all start over again.
    Moral of the story: Enjoy every season with the team you have and be proud of what they accomplish. "Just wait til next year" is a very risky proposition in college basketball now days.

  29. hawkitup (anonymous) says…

    Come on, guys...sure I'll admit that Wright isn't ready and would benefit from another year of college ball but I really don't think he's going to be an NBA bust if he enters now. I say maybe the first couple of years he won't do anything but he'll develop up to the level of the game. Does anybody remember when KG entered the draft? That was one skinny dude, plus if I'm not mistaken he rode the pine pony the majority of his rookie year (averaged what 6 or 7 ppg). JuJu will be fine...but I really wish he'd reconsider. Another year would do him good, plus I really don't think it would hurt his draft stock next year to wait.

  30. kawryan (anonymous) says…

    "Kansas sophomore Julian Wright, who vowed all season to return for his junior year, and promised his mother that he wouldn't leave college early without a degree, is now considering entering the NBA draft." - hoopsvibe.com

    He's not going to go back on a promise to his mama.... He'll be back and make a s*%& load more money next year and even more the next.

    The guy has the potential to be the sweetest thing since Wilt to come out of Kansas.

  31. Sparko (anonymous) says…

    I wish Julian the best. I think he should stay to work on his poise and shot; hope someone isn't over-selling his stock.
    I think he is a marquee talent, but he is a project for a year or two. He will do great things in the NBA or anything he tries so long as he is given some patience. I have loved every minute of his stay at Kansas.

  32. jujubean (anonymous) says…

    If he's a Top 10 pick, he should go. Regardless of what all of us may think about his level of readiness. I just wish he hadn't been so definite in his comments about returning. He can't claim that he didn't realize he would go so high. Mock drafts have had him in the Top 10 all year. But this is why you never take a kid's comments as being 100% accurate. Now I'll root for anyone that could be a Top 20 pick to go in an effort to diminish Brandon's position. We don't need both of them going and Brandon is actually tougher to replace.

  33. chaggs (anonymous) says…

    If you do go Julian. Thanks for 2 incredible years. Remember your roots. Once a Jayhawk...always a Jayhawk.

  34. kevbo (anonymous) says…

    Jujubean...I think Wright is much tougher to replace than Rush.

  35. cap10d (anonymous) says…

    While Drew could of improved another year in college I dont think that 6.6 million hes making this year is hurting him much.I hope Ju dont leave,but if him and Brandon leave I would almost bet coach Self already has recruits to replace them with that opening up 2 scholarships.Even though we have no scholarships he has continued to recruit.

  36. wyansas (anonymous) says…

    sh*t!!!

  37. MGJayhawk (anonymous) says…

    If Ju Ju goes to the league, he will end up like Marcus Fizer or Christian Leatner. Yah, they look great on paper, but they just don't fit the mold. Julian has all the athletic ability in the world, but he needs to work on his NBA ready fundamentals first. Whatever decision he makes, I'll still root for him and thank him for everything he did.

  38. burntpuma (anonymous) says…

    what a hooker. that d-bag. stay on more frickin year

  39. vwskywalk (anonymous) says…

    Hopefully he won't hire an agent and see what happens. I won't blame him for that. If he does hire an agent he's a frickin moron. Same goes for Rush.

  40. Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says…

    If He were to be top 5 pick, It would be hard to pass up this money. This is what the current NBA contract stands at. Although, signing bonuses are free game.

    2005-06 nba rookie salaries

    1st year salary is guaranteed
    2nd year salary is guaranteed
    3rd year salary is a team option
    4th year team option shows percentage increase over 3rd year salary
    Qualifying offer is percentage increase over 4th year

    Pick 1st Year Salary 2nd Year Salary 3rd Year Salary 4th Year Increase Qualifying Offer
    1 3,617.1 3,888.3 4,159.6 26.1% 30.0%
    2 3,236.3 3,479.0 3,721.7 26.2% 30.5%
    3 2,906.2 3,124.2 3,342.2 26.4% 31.2%
    4 2,620.2 2,816.8 3,013.3 26.5% 31.9%
    5 2,372.8 2,550.7 2,728.7 26.7% 32.6%
    6 2,155.1 2,316.8 2,478.4 26.8% 33.4%
    7 1,967.4 2,114.9 2,262.5 27.0% 34.1%
    8 1,802.4 1,937.5 2,072.7 27.2% 34.8%
    9 1,656.8 1,781.0 1,905.3 27.4% 35.5%
    10 1,573.9 1,691.9 1,810.0 27.5% 36.2%

  41. guymon44rocks (anonymous) says…

    you know what julia if you declare draft the 1-5 years you will struggle. i know some players like hinrichid good because he stay all for years. its is your choises my advices is do what your heart said to do don't listens to anybody except your heart see.
    see you next year

  42. ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says…

    I too have heard Ju is a very nice, likable, and smart young man. This is a complex decision, and one that has deep personal motives and ethics (the "100% sure" comment..) now thrown into the mix along with the allure/promise of big$. We can give advice, and I also do NOT think he is ready yet--too inconsistent. He is less NBA-ready than Gooden was, and ku fan consensus was Gooden wasnt quite ready back then. BUT in the end, it is a decision for Julian, his family, and it is HIS life.
    Thanks for some excitement, Ju--good luck with whatever you choose, and get as much unbiased info and advice as you can before you decide.

  43. rockchalkAZ (anonymous) says…

    Maybe we'll see you in about 4 years consistently playing in the NBA, Ju. But until then, have fun being a practice player. Thanks for a couple good years, sure would be nice if you would help get that banner back for the 1st time in 20 years.

  44. lee3022 (anonymous) says…

    I am thankful that Julian chose to come to KU. Even though I cannot recall any player leaving before the end of his 3rd year in KU's history I think Julian must do what he believes is best for him. I think he will listen to Coach Self and Coach will advise him fairly for his best interests. If he chooses to stay he will no doubt be much more ready for an NBA career. If he chooses to go now he will no doubt still become an All-Star in time and will have a great career.

    If a player believes he will achieve a maximum contract in the NBA after his rookie contract and continue to extend that level then an extra year is not the 1-4 million he gets as a 1st year rookie but the 25 million that a maximum contract player is paid after 10 years. In addition another year at peak performance likely will earn nearly as much in endorsements. So who here thinks a year in college is worth 40-50 million dollars? Didn't think so. This it the difficulty in determining the choice. The risk is that a player declaring for the NBA too soon does not reach his potential because he came out too early and thus is out of the league in a few years (way too many of these).

  45. Strikewso (anonymous) says…

    Is he really a lottery pick? He's great but I'm just not seeing it, at least not yet.

  46. APDJayhawk (anonymous) says…

    Bandwagon and Jaybate...shut up and go back to massaging each other.

  47. mom_of_three (anonymous) says…

    I would hate to see Julian go, as much as I hated to see Drew Gooden and Paul Pierce leave. Hopefully, he will test the waters before he hires an agent, so he can come back if he changes his mind.
    No hard feelings, though, as I will always be a fan.
    One more year, one more year, one more year, one more year, one more year.....

  48. moofyku (anonymous) says…

    Has Julian consider how deep the draft is this year? As I see it, there is no way he will squeek into the top 6 barring any monster workouts this spring. Look at who's available for the draft next year. Other than maybe Afflalo, how can he not help his draft stock with a season where he improves his shot in marquee games?

    Hopefully, Ju is a monster success in the NBA, if he's not, then atleast we'll have another posterchild for the 'he should've stayed and maybe players in coming years look to put themselves in a much more competitive situation rather than making a pre-mature NBA contract. There is something to be said about coming in to play in the NBA because you are ready. Does anyone remember Deshawn Stephenson? I sure do.....

  49. BABBOY (anonymous) says…

    If he is going to be a lottery pick, then he should go.

    Remember when he missed that dunk last December and fell on the floor for several minutes? What if he had broken his leg when he fell on the floor?

    Seriously, if he has a chance to sign for lottery pick numbers, he is a fool to stay here and risk injury or lowering his worth as a prospect (it cannot get much higher if he is a lottery pick). No, I do not think he is ready, but I do not seeing him improving that much until he gets to the NBA and some stength conditioning coach makes him get bigger physically.

  50. dek9219 (anonymous) says…

    As much as I hate NBA basketball, I said from the time I saw Julian play that he could make me a fan. Good luck Ju and I'm glad you wore KU colors at least for a short time. We will always take you back if you change your mind so just don't hire an agent, but it was a blast watching you for 2 short years.

  51. fabio (anonymous) says…

    Way too small ttoulouse?
    He's a pretty big guy.

  52. kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says…

    Everyone always talks about injuries ruining an NBA career, but they seldom happen. They are usually minor like Vaughn's wrist injury. I don't think that injury hurt Vaughn's stock in the draft. Obviously he never made it as a starter in the NBA and was given the chance. The scouts knew this and that is why he was drafted low.

    Even if Julian goes pro and gets a 3 year deal he could still have a career ending injury and wouldn't be able to live off what that first three years contract gave him. Then he'd have to come back to KU and use that money to finish his college degree so he could make money in other ways.

    I think it comes down to do you really want to play in college in a tight team setting or are you wanting to play in the NBA and make more decisions about what you do and your curfew etc. Worrying about an injury shouldn't be one of the last factors to come into play.

  53. swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says…

    with the talent already coming out this year in the draft, he won't go lottery unless he really impresses some scouts in workouts.

  54. jhawkz88 (anonymous) says…

    Good Luck Julian!

    I wish you the best! You will be missed.

  55. KU (anonymous) says…

    Anybody aware of any high-impact, high school seniors that haven't picked a college that KU could pick up, a la Rush two years ago?

  56. kujayhawk (anonymous) says…

    How many of you would turn down that kind of cash? Good luck JW regardless what you decide to do.

  57. emeryhawk (anonymous) says…

    The high profile guys who are still uncommitted are unlikely to choose KU. The two that are still around are Lucas and Patterson. Lucas is looking at Florida and Kentucky, and Patterson looks like he wants to play in the ACC or Big East. Our big recruiting year will be in '08. We're losing a ton of players that year and most top recruits now it. We're in the race for a ton of top-20 '08 recruits.

  58. KU (anonymous) says…

    kickazz......Are you kidding when you say that Wright couldn't live off the money he makes off a guaranteed contract if he has a career-ending injury? He'd have to live pretty large to blow all the money he'd make! If he goes as a Lottery Pick........after taxes and his agent's cut he's net what........surely at least $5,000,000 after 3 years guaranteed.

    If you had a nut like that, you could live on it for quite a while if you limited yourself to a half-million dollar house and 2 sports cars instead of 5.

  59. KU (anonymous) says…

    Thanks, emery. Wouldn't it have been nice to know this when we were pitching James Anderson, who we lost to Oklahoma State? If he knew then what he knows now, he would have chosen KU and I think he would have made us all forget about Julian Wright.....and maybe Rush, too.

  60. vmwskywalk (anonymous) says…

    KU....if you think $5,000,000 will last Julian you are sadly mistaken. You haven't accounted for taxes and expenses. Why do so many lottery winners go bust within just a couple of years after winning the lottery? I like Julian and think he is a good guy, however he doesn't have the skills nor the resources to manage that kind of money and make it last. A college education would be a start. More reason to finish. I'm afraid if he doesn't make it in the NBA his future is bleak.

  61. momusicman (anonymous) says…

    Two Words: Bench Warmer

  62. rtjayhawk (anonymous) says…

    I do wish him the best in whichever decision he makes, but I personally wish he'd stay for another year just to work on his ball handling and body control.

  63. KU (anonymous) says…

    VMW.......I was figuring he'd probably get around $10,000,000 over 3 years before taxes and his agent's cut. Is that out of line with a top 5 pick? He'd net no more than half of that after taxes and paying his agent.

    Kickazz put this in the context of "what if he has a career-ending injury?"

    My point was that you could live comfortably for quite a while with a $5,000,000 nut, especially if you KNEW you had just sustained a career-ending injury. In that case you'd be less likely to blow it all on the highlife.

    If you started off at 25 years old with that kind of bank and were sharp like Wright, you'd be in pretty good shape for life. He would be able to make a good living after the League, even if his playing career was shortened to 3 yrs.

  64. fabio (anonymous) says…

    Julian is upset at Coach Self because he didnt get more time at point gaurd this last year.

  65. 86finalfour (anonymous) says…

    With the Big 12 looking weaker with the departure of Gillespie and Huggins, I wonder if this had an influence on some of these high profile players. I could understand why Rush and Wright can't get too excited for competing in next year's conference. There's really no challenge and their non-conference schedule looks weak again too.

  66. jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says…

    Why bother with an agent???? If you're a 1st-rounder, your salary is already established for the first two years. If he's going to declare, he should do so without contacting an agent. That way he can still back out at the last minute.

  67. Mangino_Maniac (anonymous) says…

    I'm starting to tire of college athletics... Julian was one I figured to put it all in proper perspective and come back next year - you will never get your college years back Julian.

    What a dissappointment if he leaves.

  68. Vinny_Vin (anonymous) says…

    Julian Emil-Jamaal Wright. This is God. I received your prayer about whether or not you should go to the NBA. My answer - don't do it. My son, you're simply not ready yet. Surely you've read in my inspired scriptures that "money is the root of all evil". If not there, surely you heard it in the Ojay's song, "For the Love of Money". Or maybe the song "Mo Money, Mo Problems"...and look how Big Poppa turned out! Son, my point is don't let money be sole reason behind your decision. Instead, take advantage of the blessing you have been given to attend college and get an education, as well as experience college life at such a fine institution as the University of Kansas. That million dollar lifestyle, filled with of all of the world's material things, groupies, and a host of other temptations, isn't going anywhere. If anything, with another year of education and life's experiences behind you, you'll be even more ready to handle things off the court in the NBA. Not to mention that with hard work this summer, your outside jumper could become sweeter than the apple Eve's disobedient butt tempted Adam with, and trust me son, that's sweet, I know because I made it!!! Take this off-season to work on your physique/strength, decision-making and outside jumper, and the reward will be more than you could ever imagine in the end - perhaps even a championship next year.

    Sincerely,
    The Main Man Upstairs

    P.S. Sorry I had to use this other guy's user name. We were having some email issues up here.

  69. ku_bringback_danny (anonymous) says…

    He needs another year. he was out of control sometimes this year. He might be high in the draft but I think he still needs one more year to expaned his game and put some pounds on. I just don't want to hear about a another Kansas player having a ok not playing much NBA career. He has the talent but needs more molding.

  70. blogthis (anonymous) says…

    His assist-to-turnover ratio is .90 to 1.
    91 turnovers/82 assist

    The guy can be a momentum killer at times.

    I wish him well, but 6' 8" guys who can dribble are a dime-a-dozen in the NBA.

    For a player that is touted as a great passer, he sure turns it over a lot!

  71. yovoy (anonymous) says…

    if you'd had a chance to "drop-out" into a million-dollar job after 2 yrs at the u, wouldn't you have? i would have.

  72. ku_law (anonymous) says…

    Not at a television, is he staying or going?

  73. drum1984 (anonymous) says…

    It's official. He's gone.

  74. ku_bringback_danny (anonymous) says…

    see you next year in Salina big mistake!!!!

  75. caddie733 (anonymous) says…

    Whoever thinks staying one more year could turn Julian into a #1 pick is crazy...he could stay a lifetime and not become a #1 pick. He will, most likely, go in the lottery (due to his upside potential), so he should leave.

    I would have to assume that greatness at KU was never Julian's lifelong goal (having grown up in Chicago). I'm going to take a wild guess that his dream was to be in the NBA, which he now has a chance to do, so he should go for it. People saying it is a bad decision aren't concerned about him, they are concerned about themselves and what they will do if KU is not as "great" as it is supposed to be.

  76. jross1972 (Joe Ross) says…

    Caddie...

    Once again you are a voice for reason.