Julian Wright to go to NBA

[BMiller52]

Kansas Forward Wright Jumping to the NBA


By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
Published April 9, 2007, 6:58 PM CDT


LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Julian Wright, the versatile but inconsistent power forward who helped Kansas win two straight Big 12 titles, is skipping his last two years to enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-8 Chicago player said at a news conference Monday that money wasn't the deciding issue.




"Money has never been my motivation," he said. "It's not my family's (motivation). Mostly, just playing and feeling like I'm able to advance my game to the next level. It's not about the money. I'm just happy and grateful to have the opportunity."

Often inconsistent but at times spectacular with his long wing span, Wright averaged 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in helping the Jayhawks win their second straight Big 12 tournament title. In the regular season, he averaged 12 points and 8.1 rebounds.

His best scoring game was a 33-point night at Missouri. But, showing his bad side one night at home, he went up for a spectacular, uncontested dunk but lost control of the ball and his body and landed in an embarrassed heap beneath the basket. Coach Bill Self was so disgusted, he pulled him out of the game.

"Julian is a versatile, fabulous athlete who can do a lot of things very, very well," said Self, who joined his star player at the news conference.

"He'd be the first to agree that there are some things he needs to get better at. But I don't know how many 19-year-olds or 20-year-olds don't have to get better at something. He'll work hard to do that.

"But you can't teach a lot of things that Julian does very, very well. And you can't coach a lot of things he does very, very well. And I think that was intriguing for a lot of folks."

Wright, who lacks a 3-point shot, said he expects to go somewhere between No. 10 and No. 16 in the first round.

"I feel like I'm in a position now where I can develop," he said. "I'm not saying I'm going to be the next LeBron James or an impact player right away. I know it's a long work in process."

By declaring for the draft, Wright becomes eligible to participate in the NBA Pre-Draft camp and try out for NBA teams. If he does not hire an agent, Wright can withdraw from the June 28 draft and return to school provided he does so by June 18.

He becomes the first Jayhawk to declare for this year's draft, although 6-foot-6 sophomore guard Brandon Rush is widely thought to be leaning toward turning pro. Kansas had no seniors last season and would otherwise return the entire lineup that reached the round of eight in the NCAA tournament.

"I know it's going to be a lot of ups and downs, especially in the first year, or the second, or maybe the third," Wright said. "I'm ready for that. I'm not ready for actual playing right now. Obviously, I have a lot of work to do."

Self, admitting Wright's loss will weaken his team, said he could not fault the decision.

"Being very candid, if I was Julian and I was in this situation, I'm not sure I wouldn't make this same decision," he said.

Self also said he did not expect a decision from Rush, his leading scorer, for 10 days to two weeks.

"Not a happy day, not a sad day," Self said. "Just a day, I think if you coach at a place like Kansas you're going to have to deal with from time to time."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...ll=sns-ap-sports-headlines&ctrack=2&cset=true

 

[Vlade4GM]

Great news, if the good bigs are taken, he'd be an awesome pick. Nicolas Batum says he's almost definitely entering into the draft. Don't know exactly if he'd fit us, but I can definitely see the Joe Johnson comparisons.

 

[nbrans]

I'm not a big fan of Julian Wright -- athletic threes who can't shoot and can't take the ball to the rim don't exactly have a great track record in the NBA outside of Boris Diaw, and Diaw would not be that great outside of Phoenix. He's another guy who you'd have to hope developed some sort of advanced skill set a la Luol Deng, but you're starting with someone who's pretty raw.

But really, this is great for the Kings -- it's another guy who could push down a good big to wherever the Kings will be selecting.

 

[BMiller52]

If we wanted to be a run and gun team he could probably play at the 4.

 

[Bricklayer]

Still say there is Gerald Wallace potential in this one, and this after he kept repeating he was coming back guaranteed. Agree it helps us by adding depth to the draft boards. Will also continue to say that I pray to whatever deity there is that Geoff is in attack mode aroudn draft day, because I'm greedy, and out of this draft would absolutely love to score a second lottery pick, even late lottery where some gusy with serious potential hang out.

 

[Löwenherz]

I don't think you're being greedy enough. I want two big men and a point guard out of the first round of this draft.

But that's Scrooge McDuck greedy.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm not a big fan of Julian Wright -- athletic threes who can't shoot and can't take the ball to the rim don't exactly have a great track record in the NBA outside of Boris Diaw, and Diaw would not be that great outside of Phoenix. He's another guy who you'd have to hope developed some sort of advanced skill set a la Luol Deng, but you're starting with someone who's pretty raw.

But really, this is great for the Kings -- it's another guy who could push down a good big to wherever the Kings will be selecting.

Wright has got very good handles, strength, and athletic ability, I haven't watched him that much but that would seem to me like the tools to take the ball to the hoop.

 

[nbrans]

Wright has got very good handles, strength, and athletic ability, I haven't watched him that much but that would seem to me like the tools to take the ball to the hoop.

He can dribble, and I think Chad Ford even said he could be a point forward or something like that, but he doesn't have great moves going to the basket. But I agree with Bricklayer that there's something a bit Gerald Wallace-esque about him, hadn't thought of that comparison, so maybe there's something along those lines there. But he's still so raw, and I think I'd rather have one of the lottery bigs than a guy who you'd have to cross your fingers that he develops some more skills.

 

[16to93]

Being a huge Kansas fan, I have watched Wright a lot.

Of course, his athletic ability is truly amazing. His huge wingspan helps out too. He has extremely quick hands and a jump shot to only about the free-throw lane. Wright is a very inconsistent player, on some games (like against Florida early in the year) he dominates, and on others (to many to name) he just disappears.

On the down side, he's only 6'8". He is not quick enough to guard about 90% of 3's in the NBA. And to weak and to small to guard the same amount of bigs.

I personally do not think that he will ever be a great player. I see him as being an energy and spark plug 6th man off the bench. Kinda reminds me of Stromile Swift.

I think it would be smartest for Julian to stay another year and develop his game more, but probably because he is a projected lottery pick he wants to take the money now so he doesn't hurt his stock and get a smaller paycheck if he goes into the draft next year (and no, I am not just saying this cause' I'm a KU fan )

Good luck in the NBA Julian!

 

[LPKingsFan]

Good. Now maybe a team ahead of us (Bucks) can take him instead of a big.

 

[Venom]

I like this kid, but I don't think he pushes any of the prominent bigs (Hibbert, Horford, B. Wright) down to us. He won't grade out that high. I suppose if you're in love with some of the lesser lights like Noah and Hawes then you can be excited about this. I think Julian Wright, Corey Brewer, and Brandon Rush are the real wildcards of this draft. They are all, to borrow a baseball term, five-tool players, excepting Julian's shooting. Passing on them for one of the lesser rated bigs, which I guarantee at least 3-4 teams do, will probably come back to haunt.