OT: John Calipari's comments regarding Wall. Conspiracy?

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:48 pm

Or is it tampering? Collusion?

Does John Calipari simply need to shut up? I think so... Because I find it interesting that these comments come from a collegiate head coach who is a former Nets head coach. I don't think it's a coincidence that New Jersey's currently the league's worst team, and here you've Calipari advising Derrick Rose...my mistake...John Wall to enter the NBA draft. Hmmm...

Let Wall think and decide for himself. Don't try to influence him. You aren't his parents or potential agent. I understand, you don't hold him back, but you don't push him either. Calipari practically has him out the door.

Calipari said several interesting things, including a very frank comment on freshman star John Wall. Calipari said he hopes Wall isn't around for more than one year.

"If he came to me and said he was the No. 1 pick in the draft, and he wanted to come back, we'd probably be wrestling on the floor," Calipari said.

Calipari said that he doesn't advise most of his players to go early to the NBA, but Wall is an exception because he could go so high.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/

CeltsfanSinceBirth · Post #2 » by **CeltsfanSinceBirth** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 6:44 pm

Nah, I don't believe it's tampering/collusion. The Nets fired Calipari, so I fail to see why he'd have any sort of allegiance to them. Besides, I've seen other coaches encourage players to leave early if they're going to be drafted high. I think Pitino did the same with Jamal Mashburn IIRC.

theman · Post #3 » by **theman** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:20 pm

And you are worried why? Because you think the Celtics could draft him in 2011 if he stays another year.

Calipari has destroyed a lot of programs but he is being very honest here. Any player who can be the #1 overall pick would be foolish to pass that up.

hairybyrd · Post #4 » by **hairybyrd** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:21 pm

If it wasn't for the age-rule Wall would've never gone to college in the first place and would already be in the NBA so "no" on the conspiracy.

Andrew McCeltic · Post #5 » by **Andrew McCeltic** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:34 pm

It's a conspiracy of common sense- lots of coaches make comments like this about elite college players. Plus, if I remember right, Calipari didn't have much of a honeymoon in New Jersey - I don't think he has any special interest in the Nets' fortunes.

SonicYouth34 · Post #6 » by **SonicYouth34** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:37 pm

Why would Wall pass up guaranteed $10+ million? That's just common sense.

TheOGJabroni · Post #7 » by **TheOGJabroni** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 7:58 pm

This is like saying Sam Presti is forcing Danny Ainge to trade Brian Scalabrine. Oh no! Not that!

FWIW, I'm almost positive he said the same thing to either Rose or Evans.

Ortho Stice · Post #8 » by **Ortho Stice** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:14 pm

So because Calipari was a Nets coach several years ago, and since the Nets currently have a 25% chance of winning the number one overall pick, and since Calipari wants the extremely talented Wall to enter the draft, which he undoubtedly will, that means he's tampering? That's the most convoluted claim I've heard. Calipari is just telling Wall something he already knows, which is to enter the draft as soon as he's eligible, so he can make that cash money.

campybatman · Post #9 » by **campybatman** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:17 pm

I'm not adverse to Wall declaring early. That isn't my point. My point is for Wall to make that decision for himself without too many outside influences. Because I'm not a fan of your own collegiate head coach or another collegiate head coach being the one person that tips the scale for you either way.

I know, you ask a question, the person answers it. I just don't follow his comments.

theman · Post #10 » by **theman** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:53 pm

Players always say one of the people they consulted with before entering the draft was there coach. Now if he were suggesting Samardo Samuals or Scotty Hopson should turn pro, that would be tampering.

GuyClinch · Post #11 » by **GuyClinch** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:05 pm

So he shouldn't ask his big time college coach with NBA experience if he should play in the NBA? Seriously?

Post #12 » by **canman1971** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:09 pm

Who cares!!! Major college sports (basketball and football) are so corrupt and there are so many things wrong with them it is silly to even give one ounce of thought to this.

campybatman · Post #13 » by **campybatman** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:37 pm

Well, it's official... No matter, New Jersey won't be selecting him because I doubt that they will win the lottery. The Nets might be better off winning some of these games to avoid being the worst team.

After filling his stat line again on Saturday (16 points, seven assists, three steals), Kentucky freshman John Wall said he had "no choice" but to enter this year's NBA Draft.

That echoed UK Coach John Calipari insisting to radio host Dan Patrick earlier in the week that Wall would turn pro after this season.

"I joke about coming back, and like you say, he tells me, no," Wall said after UK's 101-70 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

When a reporter noted that players must obey their coach, Wall smiled and said, "Yeah. I really have no choice."

Calipari told Patrick he'd wrestle with Wall rather than let the freshman return for a second UK season.

"Coach might," a smiling Wall said. "He might pull my eye out. You never know."

When he signed with Kentucky, Wall said a factor was Calipari's record of making point guards Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans pros after one season. When a reporter reminded Wall of that comment, he said, "Yeah, you're right."

http://www.kentucky.com/kentuckysports/ ... 08941.html