The Smart Decision

I salute and respect Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State. He went against the trend of one-and-dones and is returning to the Cowboys, much to the delight of Stillwater.

Some people ripped him for passing up on the millions of guaranteed dollars, which is ironic since so many complain about the one-and-dones. I didn't rip him, but I certainly would have advised him to go pro since he was projected as a top three pick, if not number one.

College basketball fans should applaud Marcus Smart.

But, it was Smart's decision to make. College basketball fans should applaud and support him, because he's making the game they love better.

I was watching the ESPN 30 for 30 film Survive and Advance the other day. One thing that stood out to me early on in the film was the quality of college basketball in the 1980's, when everyone stayed in school. Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Akeem Olajuwon all stayed in school for at least three years. Today, guys like that are almost all gone after a year.

I was jealous watching that. College basketball was much better in the 1980's because players kept returning to school instead of jumping too early to the NBA. We'll never get back to that, but it is refreshing to see a player like Smart stay in school, stay committed to the coach and program who gave him a free education, and to continue to improve at the college level before he's absolutely ready to be a pro.

Is it the right decision? Is it wrong? I don't know. Time will tell. All I know is it was Smart's choice, and I think he knows what he can handle. Even if he takes a step back as a sophomore (which I doubt, barring injury), he has two years after that to get back where he wants to be. Plus, I'm sure he'll have some insurance policy (like college football players often get) if disaster strikes and he suffers a horrible injury.

As loaded as the 2014 class is, I really think Smart could still be a top three pick next year. That's assuming, of course, he comes out next year. Maybe he stays in Stillwater even longer, and I think that would be awesome for college basketball.

My opinion really means nothing, but for what it's worth, I think most college players should stay the full four years like they did in the '80's, and only leave if they are projected as lottery picks (like Smart is). However, the decisions are theirs, not mine. Opinions like that mostly come off as selfish. As fans, sure, we want our teams to be good, so we want kids to stay in school.

If a kid thinks going pro early is the best for him, then good luck to him. I understand striking while the iron is hot. I just hope kids who leave early are listening to the right people. A lot of times, they aren't.

As far as Smart goes, I'll  definitely never blast a kid for staying in school. Smart will get his money one day, and I think he'll make a lot of it in the NBA when he is ready.

Oklahoma State is not my favorite team, but Smart is one of my favorite players. I love his heart, his fire, and how he selflessly helps his team win. Friends told me about how great he was in high school, and I was excited to see what he brought to the college level. He did not disappoint. When he's not playing one of my favorite teams, I pull for him to do well. I will especially do that next year, as he will be the one of the faces of college hoops. He'll raise the game's profile, and people will want to tune in to watch him every week.

Brittney Griner in the NBA? Nice thought, but no

Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban loves to stir things up, and he sure did that this week when he said he would consider giving Baylor women's star Brittney Griner a chance to make the Mavs.

Cuban is a smart guy, always looking to market his team and his league and open it up to new fans. I think this is mostly a marketing stunt, and he is just dipping his toes in the "Griner in the NBA" waters to see how it is received before he really moves forward with this. I don't think he or any other NBA person thinks Griner could make it in the NBA.

Could Griner make an NBA team? I say no way.
But, if an NBA team wants to let her try, go for it.

I certainly can't see her playing in that league. Does that make me a sexist? To some, maybe. I prefer to think of myself as a realist.

First, let's clarify how we answer "can she play?"

Could Brittney Griner make a small contribution? Maybe. Could she go around a screen, catch the ball with a little space and make a layup? Of course she could. There are several players in the WNBA who could do that: go into an NBA game, execute one play (drawn up for her) and make a wide open shot.

That's not what I'm talking about, though, when I ask "can she play?"

I'm not talking about executing one play and getting a basket. I'm talking about the next play, and the next one, and the next one. Could she defend? Could she take over a game? Could she get to a point where an NBA team says, "we could not have won this game without Brittney?" I say absolutely not.

I'm not knocking Griner's ability to play the game. I'm just calling for a little more respect for the guys who are in the NBA and for those in the D-League and college who are trying to make it. Griner is the most dominant women's player I've ever seen, but she would be in for a rude awakening if she took the floor against NBA players.

Think of the last player on the bench on any given NBA team. That guy was a star at his college, likely an all-conference player if not an All-American. He just can't crack an NBA lineup because there are more talented former college All-Americans ahead of him. That guy, though, is on the roster because his NBA team thinks he could be a contributor eventually and because he helps the team in practice. There are dozens more just like him in the D-League begging for a shot. Plus, there are hundreds more in college and overseas that are entering the 2013 NBA Draft. They all have more NBA potential than Griner.

Let's talk a little more logistics about Brittney Griner on an NBA roster: what would her position be? At 6'8", she is obviously a center in the women's game and a dominant one. She's not playing center in the NBA at 6'8". I think even playing power forward would be a stretch, because she's obviously thin compared to a 6'8" NBA player. She would have trouble fighting for space down low. The shot-blocking and rebounding that make her a great women's player would not even be a factor in the men's game.

So, does that mean you put her on the wing as a 3? Guys like LeBron James and Kevin Durant live out there. To be fair, I'll go a little farther down the NBA depth chart at the 3: guys like Gerald Wallace, Rudy Gay, and Kawhi Leonard live out there, too. Griner is not quick enough to guard those guys or create her own shot against them. Sorry. She just isn't.

UConn women's coach Geno Auriemma agrees with me. He called the idea of Griner in the NBA "absolutely ludicrous." It's not a knock on Griner, but if you want to put her up against the best athletes in the world, she simply isn't going to be half as great as she is playing against other women.

Now, back to my earlier point: Cuban is about marketing, and he's pretty open-minded. Would letting Griner take the floor for 10 minutes in a summer league game be a travesty? Probably not. She would sell tickets. People would watch out of curiosity. She'd probably have a tough time, and then say thanks for the opportunity and get ready to play in the WNBA. Let's be honest, that's where she will truly become a star and become the most marketable.

You'll notice Cuban chose his words carefully: "invite her to try out," not "sign her." He said "if she's the best player on the board," he would draft her. She will never be the best player on the board of a two-round NBA Draft.

If Griner doesn't mind being the center of a marketing ploy to sell summer league tickets and wants to see exactly how good NBA players are, go for it. After the tickets are sold and Griner sees exactly where she stands, she'll go to a league that needs her way more the NBA summer league: the WNBA.