NBA "Experts"

[Brooklyn Zoo]

If you're like me you've spent the last week pouring over the mock drafts and this afternoon reading all the post-draft coonjecture, and all I can think of is what a load of BS.

The same experts that had the Pistons beating the Celtics and then the Lakers winning in 5 games made mock drafts that were NOTHING like the actual draft, and now here I am going to read thier opinion or grade of the draft, when they probably have the same information from the same sites as me, and have probaly read / watched / researched less than I have.

One thing I've really enjoyed this year is that some of teh "good guys" in sports websites and blogging (Givony from draft express, eg) are actually stepping in themseleve as sources instead of the jag-off local beat writers stealing thier scouting reports and passing them off as thier own. Most of the local writers wouldn't have been able to match the name to the face of 80% of the draft picks.

Anyway, a bit of a rant but I've read like a dozen articles today from people that are obviously repeating things third-hand and it rekindled a deep seeded rage for holier-than-thou sports writers.

[TheSheriff]

I agree with you that the main stream media really annoy me. That is why i enjoying reading different prospectives like David Berri:
http://dberri.wordpress.com/

[TheSheriff]

^^^ I should add that Berri predicted success for Thorton and Stuckey, so i am interested to see if he is right about who will be productive this year.

[captain_cheapseats]

In the defense of the "experts," I think the networks deserve most of the blame. Obviously a lot of the experts know a ton about the game, but are told what they have to say by the producers/editors that they answer to. Notice how they always think the must-win game is the one on their network? Or how they always give the benefit of the doubt to the bigger market teams? Or how they always seem to think the player with the compelling back-story (who just so happens to be the feature of the half-time show!) is more talented than the bad *ss? Or how the guys who grant lots of exclusive intervies suddenly become the best players in the league? It's just how it goes....if ESPN offered me the kind of $$ they give those guys, I'd be saturating the airwaves with whatever bull sh*t they told me too as well, and so would all of you. The sad fact is that you can spoon feed whatever crap you want to the average fan, so the big guys will be dishing out whatever helps their ratings the most.

[MoBSTa]

Ok look, I may just be a hillbilly, But I certainly would like to know more about the game.

What is the differance in a Recruiter and a Agent?

With recruiters around the AAU relm and Agents now day's lingering in between leagues, with role players that can make more money in Europe than here in the states there almost acting like a recruiter with a highschool player and AAU teams.

Also if a player does not choose to sign with certain agent's out of collage is he then frowned upon bye the league?

Honestly, tell me how much you believe a player's value is helped bye the agent he retains.
Also why would a players value, flunctuate because of the agent he decides to retain.

Last year, the media made a big deal out of a rookie that signed with a former teamates father as an agent. Now I understand if your the player that he was, it would be hard for a team not to choose to draft him.

However if you happen to be a player that could be good enough to go in the late first round or second round is there any reason why a perticular agent could push the value even higher in the draft?

Why would a agent send or push a player to a certain team for 1 or 2 seasons for less money?

What I want to know is if a player want's to continue his career in the NBA, is it better for him to turn his back on the recruiter that stuck bye his side through High School and Collage or simply retain a Agent that is highly reguarded bye the League and the front office of many teams.


Truly, what is the background in this situation? I have even heard of players even being threaten to go with certain agents.

To be honest, I never was a fan of pimp's nor even going to an agentcy to get employee's for my business. Because they are the same thing, ither way you look at it. Someone is getting screwed.
Except one is legal and the other is not.