Hamilton to declare, will not hire agent | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Hamilton to declare, will not hire agent

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In this scenario, I think its a tough situation to not consider playing pro ball in europe making good $$ or coming back for another year of college.
 
UconnPT2007 said:
Some of the responses in this thread are bewildering.

Yes, this is 100% the right move for him to make. He'll get feedback and will be able to compare himself to his peers in the combine to see where his stock is at.

He has 0% chance of going in the first round this year, but a very high probability of going in the 2nd round. NBA teams would love to draft a 20yo prospect with high upside and stash him in the D-league. The question is, does he want to sacrifice another year developing his game as the #1 player on an NCAA tourney caliber team to do that? (Note: This is where Ollie's pro-style offense is a HUGE upside for the program. Why would a player in his position come back to system that doesn't develop players/translate to the professional ranks a la Syracuse. Those players are better suited going to the D-league and playing in pro-style offense/defense)

Returning for his junior season at Uconn will undoubtedly increase his chances of becoming a first round pick in 2017. BUT, there are no guarantees. What is guaranteed is a 6 figure salary to play pro ball overseas waiting for him should he leave today.

Here is the most important and relevant info: Daniel Hamilton turns 21 in August. He essentially has a 10 year window (give or take) as a professional player to earn a living. Does he sacrifice a year of that, while risking injury, to come back to Uconn to improve his stock for a shot at the guaranteed 3-4 year contract that comes with being a 1st round pick? If he is told that he doesn't have a realistic shot at being a 2017 1st rounder, then he should go pro immediately. If he does have 2017 1st round potential (personally I think he does, mid to late), or if he wants to maximize his chances of making it to the NBA, or hell, if he just wants to further develop his game before jumping to any pro league, then he will probably return.

I think he does return in the end. Another year in school as the unquestioned leader and alpha dog, adding 10-15lbs to his frame, and working on his jump shot will certainly do wonders for his game. Do we have a shot at a title without him? Nope. Will I hold it against him? Nope. Hope he becomes filthy rich one way or another. He was the first big recruit to commit to Ollie/Uconn when the program was at its lowest and most uncertain - before that 2014 title run. Left California to come to cold Storrs and compete in a middling conference outside the P5. He's a Husky for life, a made man in mafia terms.
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I agree with most of your post, except for the bolded part. If he wasn't the alpha dog this past year, he's never going to be. It's not his personality.

The alpha dog will be (or at least should be) Jalen Adams. That said, Hamilton is still better served coming back, refining his game, and trying to work his way into the first round.

This program needs to get back to putting its best players in the draft lottery, or at least the first round with a high probability of sticking around for a second contract. The last one of those we've had is Drummond, and that was 4 years ago.
 
It's actually an incredibly easy decision, he's nowhere near ready for the NBA and has to come back. Always good to work out for the experts and get the feedback on what you need to improve upon, this should help DHam for next season at UConn.
 
Showballot said:
In this scenario, I think its a tough situation to not consider playing pro ball in europe making good $$ or coming back for another year of college.
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No, that's a very easy decision. He will be an NBA player, just not right now. Playing in college puts him on a much bigger stage than anywhere overseas.
 
James said:
There is no downside youre right , my point is he's had plenty of exposure and this isn't about getting new evaluations (for instance makai Mason was unknown until last weekend, played in zero camps and was not in the circuit , rarely played in front of league personnel @ Yale. HE needs some evaluations) , but more about taking the next step in his career from what I've heard FWIW. We'll see how it pans out though
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You get in front of the right set of eyes on the right day, you can change people's minds, and if he's in the top 60 or so prospects, he gets invited to the combine, and I don't see how that can't be good. Even if he performs poorly in workouts, he'll have all of next year to change people's minds, but if he changes their minds already, he can get drafted or a promise, etc.
 
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auror said:
You get in front of the right set of eyes on the right day, you can change people's minds, and if he's in the top 60 or so prospects, he gets invited to the combine, and I don't see how that can't be good. Even if he performs poorly in workouts, he'll have all of next year to change people's minds, but if he changes their minds already, he can get drafted or a promise, etc.
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How many prospects 30-60 actually make it?
 
He would be a fool for not putting his name in to get feedback, and KO would be doing him a disservice if he did not force him to.

There is no extenuating circumstances that I am aware of which would force him to chase a paycheck, so I trust whatever decision he and KO make after they get feedback will be the right one.
 
It is a tough call. Why? The rookie salary caps have really changed the math. It used to be really lucrative to stay in school to become a top pick and get a huge contract. That doesn't exist anymore as even the top pick gets < $5 million per year and pick # 15 gets $1.6 million per year.

Thus, the real question is where is the best place to develop your game for the NBA: college, NBA bench, D-league, or overseas? In my opinion, the best place is at UConn as Hamilton needs more strength, improved shooting, and better ball handling.

Look at Lamb. Similar build to Hamilton, Lamb is a much better shooter, but not as good of a distributor. He has struggled to carve out a role in the NBA. Without a consistent outside shot, Hamilton would struggle to make an NBA rotation.

I hope he returns, but I understand if he doesn't.
 
Jerry1714 said:
He would be a fool for not putting his name in to get feedback, and KO would be doing him a disservice if he did not force him to.

There is no extenuating circumstances that I am aware of which would force him to chase a paycheck, so I trust whatever decision he and KO make after they get feedback will be the right one.
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Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?
 
If some team takes a shine to him he's gone, but does he like going to class and being a college student? He can play and make money next year without books. I feel like his best chance to improve his game is by staying but I guess we'll know by May 25th. Surprised if he goes.
 
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James said:
Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?
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Yes, he should, AB, Purvis, Jalen all should throw their name in, there is no downside. UK has every player on the roster do it including walk ons.
 
It is his right and it is wise to check it out.

And it will be a huge mistake if he leaves. He won't be a first rounder. I believe there are ratings where he is not a second rounder.

Go, learn how you need to improve and play another year.
 
Jerry1714 said:
Yes, he should, AB, Purvis, Jalen all should throw their name in, there is no downside. UK has every player on the roster do it including walk ons.
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I do agree with this , especially AB and Adams.
 
James said:
I do agree with this , especially AB and Adams.
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Is there any downside to the entire team declaring? As I understand it, declaring allows you to: be granted more time with your college HC, talk with mentors about how to improve your game, get an accurate indication of how you measure up to the other talent in the pool. I seriously don't see any downsides. Worst case we lose a guy we expected to come back next year, but declaring certainly has its benefits.
 
@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

AB & Adams should theoretically throw their hat in the ring , unless they already have learned what their stock is from Ollie & his vast network of front office people...
 
James said:
@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.
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Works by invite only...has nothing to do with agents. With the amount of guys declaring reaching new heights there is no way that the underclassmen outsiders even get a real legitimate look

UK can have their whole team declare and that's all good and grand but that really boils down to Calipari using that as a marketing/recruiting ploy.
 
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James said:
Shouldn't KO be forcing the other guy listed in mock drafts to do the same then?
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Well, he shouldn't be forcing them. But he absolutely should advise them that the correct move is to declare, workout for the NBA teams, get a sense of how they can improve to raise their draft status, then come back for another year at UConn and do that. Not a single person on our roster is ready to declare for the draft and stay in.
 
James said:
@blue93 no not really. Just only a select few I'm guessing would get invited to combines. I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.

AB & Adams should theoretically throw their hat in the ring , unless they already have learned what their stock is from Ollie & his vast network of front office people...
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Seems like a pretty easy way to take advantage of the system imo. Even if Ollie and co. told AB and JA that they wouldn't be drafted this year, declaring anyway with the intention of coming back would be a positive for everybody.
 
I know I'm not a credible source, and this isn't exactly breaking news. But someone close to Ollie told me today he's not leaving, just testing the waters. Of course when he comes back I'll take all the credit :D
 
Silk31 said:
Works by invite only...has nothing to do with agents. With the amount of guys declaring reaching new heights there is no way that the underclassmen outsiders even get a real legitimate look

UK can have their whole team declare and that's all good and grand but that really boils down to Calipari using that as a marketing/recruiting ploy.
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Yeah, I agree with this. I don't really buy the theory that there's no downside to throwing your name out when you're not ready. You don't want NBA teams getting hung up on problems with your game that you can correct with more experience, or worse, viewing your declaration as a joke. If you're a guy like Adams for example, there's zero question that you can improve your game and earning potential with at least another 1-2 years of college ball. I don't see any upside whatsoever to declaring under those circumstances. If you're Brimah, you're looking to come back and beast next year. You want the NBA watching THAT film, not film from a so so year where you got hurt and missed 6 weeks.
 
If Daniels couldn't make it into the 1st round, why would anyone think Hamilton will? I don't think he gets picked in the 2nd round either.
 
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I'll just echo what everybody else is saying; there's no reason why D-Ham, Adams, Brimah, and even Purvis shouldn't test the waters. I doubt all of them get selected for the combine, but the ones that do would benefit greatly from getting in workouts with NBA coaches and getting feedback from their scouts on what to work on.

Even if none of them get invited, I'd like to see all four of them in camps this offseason. I'd like them to learn as much as possible so not only can they help us go far in the tournament, but also so they can each help mold the large freshman class we have coming in before all four potentially leave next offseason.
 
intlzncster said:
Okafor comes to mind. Jeff Adrien. Shabazz. There's been a few throughout the years. But yes, the forum (all forums actually) always think the sky is the limit for their prospects. What's the fun otherwise?
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Just to be sure we are on the sane page, are you saying those guys were major contributors in their first year in the program? I would say, for all his warts, Hamilton was a major contributor last year and this thread is about him and, potentially, having to replace him.

If you want to say Larrier, Jackson and some of the other incoming guys could be major contributors in their second or third year in the program then, yeah, we agree.

Larrier is a little different as he won't be a freshman. Still, he wasn't a superstar, one and done, kind of kid out of high school and his freshman year at VCU wasn't something that screams he will be a stud in his next full playing season. Maybe after a year, sure, but no reasonable person would expect great things next year from him. Of course it could happen. Anything is possible. But is it probable? No. That is all I am saying. There is a big difference between what I hope will happen and what I expect will happen. I don't think we are all that far apart here. Thanks for the rational response.
 
No worried either way. We he was good he was good. When he wasn't we were better with him not on the floor.
 
SubbaBub said:
No worried either way. We he was good he was good. When he wasn't we were better with him not on the floor.
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Yes, he had his bad times and bad games but I think he could have a break out year next year. We really need him back, in my opinion.
 
selles said:
Yeah, I agree with this. I don't really buy the theory that there's no downside to throwing your name out when you're not ready. You don't want NBA teams getting hung up on problems with your game that you can correct with more experience, or worse, viewing your declaration as a joke. If you're a guy like Adams for example, there's zero question that you can improve your game and earning potential with at least another 1-2 years of college ball. I don't see any upside whatsoever to declaring under those circumstances. If you're Brimah, you're looking to come back and beast next year. You want the NBA watching THAT film, not film from a so so year where you got hurt and missed 6 weeks.
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NBA decision makers change their minds all the time, getting hung up on problems in your game isn't a thing unless you don't improve them during the following year. Shabazz was never on the NBA radar, until he played awesome senior year and then he was (plus Lebron helped). The point being, even if they deem you unworthy after declaring and you return to school, they can be convinced otherwise with strong play and fixing issues the following season. To put it another way, you can't test the waters yourself off the board if you're not on the board to begin with.

James said:
I don't even get how these workouts will be set up when there is no agent involved.
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I would assume straight with the player, but potentially with help from our coaching staff. With no contract or marketing issues at stake, I'm not sure why an agent would have to be involved.
 
krinklecut said:
No, that's a very easy decision. He will be an NBA player, just not right now. Playing in college puts him on a much bigger stage than anywhere overseas.
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Ok guy. Live in Storrs CT, play in the AAC, and have to take classes or live in Europe and make good $ and continue to improve. I'm not saying which is best - I'm simply saying its a tougher decision than your implying.
 
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