I don't know what to say about Caleb Swanigan that's not already been said 10 times over, but it all bears repeating, that the events of Thursday night — when Swanigan was drafted in the first round by Portland — was much deserved.
On work alone, no one deserved this happy ending/new beginning more than that guy.
On work alone, I've not seen a player ever who deserved this more.
And it is refreshing nowadays when so many skate by on natural ability alone and are rewarded handsomely for it to see a player who has built himself from virtually scratch into an elite player get rewarded equally.
He did deserve this and had he not been rewarded for his work, I think that would have been sad. Had Swanigan had the season he just had after crafting himself into all that he's become, if he'd been drafted 49th with no solid footing underneath him to begin his NBA journey, I think that would have been unfortunate.
He deserved better and got it. Or, I should say, earned it.
This was the safe choice for Swanigan, to leave now. He had to go; he could have done no more by returning to college than he did as a sophomore at Purdue.
But he was assured of nothing.
There was a wide range of possibilities that could have unfolded for Swanigan Thursday night. Whatever the reasons may have been — defensive concerns, athleticism, whatever it may have been — there's always been a gulf between productivity and pro stock with Swanigan, and there were scenarios that could have unfolded that would have seen his productivity overlooked egregiously.
My guess is through the course of this process, substance shined through and NBA people came to realize that this special, special player's basketball DNA trumped any measurable concerns they might have had.
Good call.
Now that Swanigan's headed west, I'll say what so many others already have, even before his name was called: He might be a steal, utter theft.
I think a lot of people have taken up Swanigan's cause in the court of public opinion just because they're rooting for him so hard, because of his story.
But those of us who watched his every game have good reason to believe that he's more than just a feel-good commodity in the NBA.
Here's my long-held sense on Swanigan: He can be as good in a smaller role at a higher level than he was in a leading role at a lower level, if that makes sense. Star in your role, as the cliché goes. Swanigan can do that should the opportunity presents itself.
Rebounding is generally universal, and Swanigan does it better than anyone.
Ask Swanigan to set screens and he'll maul people.
Ask him to make jumpers off those screens, and be reminded that he just shot 45 percent from three at Purdue this season.
Question the big man's ability to fit into 24-second basketball, then take into account that while his feet might not be as quick as the average NBA adversary, his basketball mind sure as hell is.
Nit-pick about turnovers in college and understand that lower volume awaits in the NBA, and double-teams do not. And even if they did, the improvement he showed as a sophomore suggests a player who'd welcome them when surrounded by elite shooters at the pro level.
And, no one will try harder. As someone told me about Swanigan long ago, on Day 1 in the league, he will pick out the hardest worker on his new team's roster and out-do them.
Look, it's a long NBA season and the guy who plays hard 80-plus games per year will be productive by accident if nothing else. Ask Brian Cardinal how much scratch he made off giving 100 percent in meaningless games on random winter Wednesday nights.
By drafting him in the first round, Portland is now committed to Swanigan for the term of a standard rookie contract, three years. It's made an investment in him and will presumably give him every opportunity to succeed.
But the reality is, no matter where Swanigan went — whichever the team, whatever the round, whichever the slot — everything that sets him up for success is already inside of him.
On work alone, no one deserved this happy ending/new beginning more than that guy.
On work alone, I've not seen a player ever who deserved this more.
And it is refreshing nowadays when so many skate by on natural ability alone and are rewarded handsomely for it to see a player who has built himself from virtually scratch into an elite player get rewarded equally.
He did deserve this and had he not been rewarded for his work, I think that would have been sad. Had Swanigan had the season he just had after crafting himself into all that he's become, if he'd been drafted 49th with no solid footing underneath him to begin his NBA journey, I think that would have been unfortunate.
He deserved better and got it. Or, I should say, earned it.
This was the safe choice for Swanigan, to leave now. He had to go; he could have done no more by returning to college than he did as a sophomore at Purdue.
But he was assured of nothing.
There was a wide range of possibilities that could have unfolded for Swanigan Thursday night. Whatever the reasons may have been — defensive concerns, athleticism, whatever it may have been — there's always been a gulf between productivity and pro stock with Swanigan, and there were scenarios that could have unfolded that would have seen his productivity overlooked egregiously.
My guess is through the course of this process, substance shined through and NBA people came to realize that this special, special player's basketball DNA trumped any measurable concerns they might have had.
Good call.
Now that Swanigan's headed west, I'll say what so many others already have, even before his name was called: He might be a steal, utter theft.
I think a lot of people have taken up Swanigan's cause in the court of public opinion just because they're rooting for him so hard, because of his story.
But those of us who watched his every game have good reason to believe that he's more than just a feel-good commodity in the NBA.
Here's my long-held sense on Swanigan: He can be as good in a smaller role at a higher level than he was in a leading role at a lower level, if that makes sense. Star in your role, as the cliché goes. Swanigan can do that should the opportunity presents itself.
Rebounding is generally universal, and Swanigan does it better than anyone.
Ask Swanigan to set screens and he'll maul people.
Ask him to make jumpers off those screens, and be reminded that he just shot 45 percent from three at Purdue this season.
Question the big man's ability to fit into 24-second basketball, then take into account that while his feet might not be as quick as the average NBA adversary, his basketball mind sure as hell is.
Nit-pick about turnovers in college and understand that lower volume awaits in the NBA, and double-teams do not. And even if they did, the improvement he showed as a sophomore suggests a player who'd welcome them when surrounded by elite shooters at the pro level.
And, no one will try harder. As someone told me about Swanigan long ago, on Day 1 in the league, he will pick out the hardest worker on his new team's roster and out-do them.
Look, it's a long NBA season and the guy who plays hard 80-plus games per year will be productive by accident if nothing else. Ask Brian Cardinal how much scratch he made off giving 100 percent in meaningless games on random winter Wednesday nights.
By drafting him in the first round, Portland is now committed to Swanigan for the term of a standard rookie contract, three years. It's made an investment in him and will presumably give him every opportunity to succeed.
But the reality is, no matter where Swanigan went — whichever the team, whatever the round, whichever the slot — everything that sets him up for success is already inside of him.
