But with today's announcement that North Carolina forward Ed Davis will enter the draft as well, we now hear -- for the first time this offseason, as far as I can remember -- just how the labor strife directly contributed to his decision:
“This was a tough decision for him, because he loves Carolina, loves his teammates,’’ [Davis' father] Terry Davis, a former NBA player, said in a phone interview. “But with a possible lockout the next year, that could set him back another year. And he wanted to fulfill his dream.”
Davis projects as a first-round selection in this year's draft, and that means one thing above all for players in his position: guaranteed contract money.
Now, he'd probably rank as a better prospect were he to stay in Chapel Hill for another year, but again, what if there is no draft at all next year? It wouldn't matter if he became a bona fide lottery pick if no team could actually pick him there. Davis is taking the money and running.
Now, he'd probably rank as a better prospect were he to stay in Chapel Hill for another year, but again, what if there is no draft at all next year? It wouldn't matter if he became a bona fide lottery pick if no team could actually pick him there. Davis is taking the money and running.
“Again, it was a hard decision for Ed,’’ Terry Davis said. “ But it’s been a childhood dream to play in the NBA, and he’s happy that he’s made the next step, and is going to the next level.”
Davis is an NBA-ready defender right now, so if this is ultimate dream as his father said, it looks like the most financially prudent choice for him and his family.
It would've been a joy to watch a fully healthy Davis roaming the paint for another year in Carolina. Heck, that might have been his plan in the first place.
But once the sad reality of the situation hit home -- that there might not actually be an NBA season in 2011-12 -- it seems pretty clear that he more so belongs in a nice beach house paid for by his rookie contract than in the Dean Dome for his senior season two years from now. That's just the way it is.
It would've been a joy to watch a fully healthy Davis roaming the paint for another year in Carolina. Heck, that might have been his plan in the first place.
But once the sad reality of the situation hit home -- that there might not actually be an NBA season in 2011-12 -- it seems pretty clear that he more so belongs in a nice beach house paid for by his rookie contract than in the Dean Dome for his senior season two years from now. That's just the way it is.
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