Burrell & the NBA

[xu9697]

Stan has a real chance to become the next "Lionel Chalmers" as far as the NBA draft goes. He is on very few, if any, radars for being a draft pick. Chalmers was in that same boat a few years ago, and ended up being pick #1 in round 2 (if memory serves me correct). Of course, he has not done much in the NBA, but he obviously made some things happen for him with his great performance in the tournament.

Stan's willingness and ability to play D, his ability to score and shoot and his showing of some PG skills really makes him a viable NBA prospect. IMO, his situation is similar to Delonte West= West now looks like a solid PG in the NBA, but playing with Jameer Nelson he showed few PG skills. Stanley's possible abilities at the PG position have been hidden with a guy like Lavender. Since he went from nothing-to-stud on defense in 3 years, I have no doubts he can become a solid back-up PG in the NBA with his work ethic.

Go Stan, go X!

[Biff Tannen]

Chalmers was the 4th pick in the 2nd round, 33rd overall. He played a sparing role for the Clippers that season then was traded to Minnesota the following offseason and was cut. He was on the Phoenix Suns summer league team in 2006 but did not make the team. He hasn't sniffed the NBA since but has had a somewhat sucessful career in Serie B in Italy (The 2nd highest league there) and moved into Serie A (the highest league in Italy) and has had marginal success. (What can I say, I'm an NBA nut, I love the league way more than NCAA!)

My guess is that Burrell will follow the path of Romain Sato, get drafted but never get on an active roster. His problem will be with his height. I don't think many teams will be looking for him to be a back-up point, for the back up PGs they look more for a solid handle than solid d. His height is 6'3" so he will probably measure in at 6'2". If he were 6'4 to 6'5" I'd say he'd make it as a backup 2 (most 2s are 6'5" to 6'7"). But we'll have to wait and see.

[Mr. Neutral]

I hate to say this on the eve of our first game, but Burrell has NO shot at the NBA. He's not the scoring guard LC was or the midsize, athletic "freak" that Sato was, and neither of those guys is in the NBA, or is likely to be in the future.

Stan's got NBA PG size without having the required ballhandling or shooting skills. And try to name one NBA player whose role is 6'2" lockdown defender. (Please don't bring up Bruce Bowen; he's 6'7" and is shooting almost 43% from the arc this season.)

Stan's been very valuable for X this year, and I hope he has a great tournament, but I suspect this is pretty much the end of the line for him, basketballwise, unless he finds a job in Europe.

[Wisexuowl]

He will not be playing his last games, nor will he be drafted. But, he'll get a long look in some NBA team's summer league, and at a pre-season camp.

Then he will hoof it off to Europe and make lotsa lotsa money over the next few years....and then I see in my crystal ball a coaching career!

[Mr. Neutral]

I hope you're right, Wise. Stan deserves to keep playing the game he loves AND make some money doing it. And if he can take that hard-nosed, aggressive attitude into the coaching ranks, all the better.