After mock drafts had him going as high as 11th, Kosta Koufos fell to the 23rd pick in tonight's draft.
My first thought, which an ESPN talking head sort of alluded to, is that Jerry Sloan might eat Kosta for lunch if the big Greek doesn't step up the toughness in a hurry.
Koufos was the 9th freshman taken in the first 23 picks and the 6th center taken overall.
Many thought Koufos wouldn't fall past the Cavs at #19 but they opted for J.J. Hickson from NC State.
Loathe him or not, what do you think about his future in Salt Lake?
Think he can hang with Sloan if he just stands out on the perimeter launching jumpers?
Comments
good for kosta. i'm sure he fulfilled a lifelong dream. it will probably be a tough transition.
danny ferry is begging lebron to leave with their lackluster drafting. jj hickson when d. arthur was on the board? hickson wasnt even all-conference.
Agree D Arthur is a much better talent...i guess teams were scared of his rumored kidney issue?...if healthy, I think he's gonna be a nice pro...
Worst. Draft. Ever.
Both of the Lopez slugs over Hibbert?
And with Okur and Collins (and Fesenko) how many minutes can Koufos expect in Utah?
At least he's getting paid...
Would have loved to see him next to BJ Mullens.
http://dottingthei.com/index.p...
I have always hated the Utah Jazz, rooting for KK is going to be tough.
That pic of Koufos is begging for a lolcaption. I was thinking: "Imaginary Crucifixion".
Nice. Or "Imaginary Toughness".
Congrats to Koufos! I am still against the whole 1 and done in college. Especially, when you have retards like OJ Mayo who obviously took money at USC and he gets drafted, even though USC will face the consequences. This crap is the reason why I don't watch the NBA like I used to.
Koufos has not proved to be tough when the stakes are high.... sure he had a big game in the NIT finals and good games through the tourney.... that competitipon was poor and the finals against UMASS??? Not exactly worldbeaters.... Koufos will be exposed as a player with no heart and soul.... unfortunately his early exit presents an experience problem for the Buckeyes next year and the 1 and done rule is proving to be a curse instead of a blessing for OSU..... Matta is being used as a training year for the NBA-- this is exactly what many thought would happen.
[...] Kosta Koufos is off to the Jazz to hang loose with some Mormons. Now, just to suffix, most Mormons I know think of Salt Lake City as a bastion of sin1, and — unrelated to the former point — I think of the NBA as almost a legitimate competitive sport as professional wrestling. But with that said, I don’t harbor any ill will for Koufos. I still maintain he should’ve come back to give BJ Mullens the opportunity to play with him that Koufos wanted to have with Greg Oden. I think he would’ve helped his stock accordingly. But given his family’s history, I don’t begrudge him. Him blindsiding Matta with the decision to quit school mid-quarter to pursue NBA camps is a kick in the jimmy (as well as the APR), but I fault the NCAA for leaving open that possibility. Godspeed, Kosta. Enjoy your millions. [...]
How much guarenteed money do you make at the bottom of the first round? Really it was a poor decision by Kosta. He left early, got drafted later then expected, and will end up in the NBA Development league just like Cook from last year. I think we should make our Basketball players take a class on long term investmenting because 1 more year of college would give Kosta enough guarenteed money to last a lifetime on his first contract. He is gonna be out of the league in 5 years I bet
Anyone notice Joey Dorsey will be playing alongside Greg Oden next yearr? I wonder how the first conversation is going to go between David and Goliath.
James,
He's guaranteed abour $950,000 in his first year, and he makes a hair over $1,000,000 in his second year - presuming he sticks around.
Don't forget about the much ballyhooed Pro-Active contract, though. That could fetch another 500 large.
Hes gonna be playing in Europe by 2012
I still don't like the Jazz, but Koufos made have ended up in a great fit. He won't be relied upon to rebound, Carlos Boozer will do that. Okur and Kiralenko have a similar European style that Kosta can learn from and Jerry Sloan is a hell of a coach. KK also won't be asked to do much his first season and playing with Deron Williams is going to Koufos some open 18 footers.
I still would have liked him to stay one more year, could have been a top 10 pick, but I wish him well and can't wait for him to go up against Oden next year.
If I was Kosta I would take a Greek contract for 2.0 million euros per year. That would be like 3.2 million. Maybe he will play like crap then get cut go to greece and make the euros then after dominating that game come back to a nice max contract with the clippers.
Joey Dorsey was traded to Houston so the whole "Oden is not good" can't ge replayed during Portlands first practice.
I am really hoping David Stern can force the NBAPL to accept a two-year requirement for rookies. If a kid has to be two years out of school that at least provides some predictability to colleges and they should be about half way through their degree (maybe more would finish?).
Imagine two years of Oden, Conley and Cook. Imagine how much Koufos would have benefitted from playing with Oden in practice every day.
That lineup would have been sick. Plus the Gators would have been gone anyway with a two year rule. Thought it would have been sweet to get another crack at them.
Have you watched this: http://www.tubesfan.com/watch/kosta-koufos-08-09-mini-highlight-reel ? I think he is pretty good. I'm sure he'll get his place in the sun! He has everything for it.