I think everyone agrees Bouknight was a future NBA player. Everyone agrees that in the current dopey “potential” system they use, if you are a lottery pick you go. Nobody here is disputing that. But what some of us think is in a more rational system, Bouknight would have stayed at least another season, developed his game and his body, then gone pro. That isn’t the system we have, so some guys will get drafted, make lots of money, and never really get much burn at the NBA level.
They either won’t develop up to their potential or next year’s lottery pick will be better, or a Kevin Ollie type will come along and take their spot. That is the risk the player takes and the risk the team takes when you draft on potential rather than actual performance.
Now, lest people make the claim that I am anti-Bouknight, let me say I hope he has a great career. Just not against the Celtics
But I thought he was too weak and not yet skilled enough to be an effective NBA guy after last year. His current situation doesn’t come as a shock, really. Maybe a g-league year does what a 3rd year at UConn would have. But for the record knowing he was going to be a lottery pick, staying was NOT a reasonable option.