Dammit.

Don't bring that up, it's bad Juju for Livingston and Smith for that matter:scared2:

 

If I choose to take him at his word, that's my decision. I'm not an idiot and I know nothing is set until the draft deadline.

My point merely is he says he's coming to Duke. I believe him.

 

ok. I believe he will take the $6 million and run with it IMO.

 

I don't see the money being a huge factor for someone wanting to go to college. The money will ALWAYS be there.

Surgery is so advanced now that knees don't end your career. Baron Davis messed his knee up as bad as you can, but it didn't hurt his explosiveness.

I know that money now can and will be a factor for some, but for others who are from well-off families, the spectre of injury just isn't real anymore. I don't know Livingston's family situation, but take Deng for example.

The money will be there for Deng whenever he comes out, so why rush it?

 

What's the rush? Earlier you're in the league the quicker you can get the rookie contract out the way. That way they have the potential to sign 2 HUGE big dollar contracts instead of one.

 

well then in that case money is the deciding factor. I'm just saying some people don't put money first.

$5 million on the first contract is plenty, everything else after that is gravy. I know what you are saying, but a blanket statement like that sells some people short.

 

It's not always about the money, no sarcasm intended.

 

Thats true. But you can't say that money factor had TOTALLY changed the college game as far as keeping players and recruiting.

 

That's true, if no one was payed to play basketball, they'd stay in college and get an education.

 

Of course it has. I don't see what Livingston has to gain by repeatedly denying interest in the NBA and stating his intentions to go to Duke. Clearly he knows he would be a Top-5 pick. Is it a case of making the NBA want him more because he won't go? That makes no sense.