Caleb Swanigan
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These quotes don't bode well for a return to WL:
While his agility and strength numbers at the combine weren't great, he did alright in other areas. Among 17 bigs who participated, he tied for 4th in NBA 3-pt shooting and 3rd in mid-range off-the-dribble shooting. He also had the 4th largest wingspan, the 2nd widest hands and a top ten standing reach.
The NBA loves drafting on potential and the easiest areas to address when a kid becomes a pro are the exact areas that Biggie needs to address. He measured well in the areas that are unimprovable (wingspan/hands/etc) and it's much easier to improve a kid's strength and conditioning than it is to fix their shot, especially when that kid has already shown a willingness to put in the effort to improve his strength and conditioning.
One thing from the combine that might favor a return is his performance in actual scrimmages. In two games so far, he averaged about 20 min, 4.5 pts, 4 reb and 2 ast. He shot 43% on FGs and FTs, on a limited number of shots. For whatever +/- is worth in games like these, he was the only guy on his team that was in the negative in both scrimmages.
Guess it comes down to what teams tell him during his interviews. But given his eagerness to make the jump, I think he's gone if he hears even one "maybe" from one team.
"If an NBA team tells me they think I have an opportunity to come and help their organization in the next few years — even if it’s not right away but it’s going to be soon and they have a vision for me — then I think that’s where I’ll go."
"It’s what the NBA thinks. If they think you’re ready, you’ve got to take your chance because they might not think the same of me next year."
"If it’s a role player or if it’s being the 15th man or the sixth man, it doesn’t matter. I’m ready for any role."
He said he’s also prepared himself for the “worst-case scenario” — being told he would go undrafted.
"It’s what the NBA thinks. If they think you’re ready, you’ve got to take your chance because they might not think the same of me next year."
"If it’s a role player or if it’s being the 15th man or the sixth man, it doesn’t matter. I’m ready for any role."
He said he’s also prepared himself for the “worst-case scenario” — being told he would go undrafted.
While his agility and strength numbers at the combine weren't great, he did alright in other areas. Among 17 bigs who participated, he tied for 4th in NBA 3-pt shooting and 3rd in mid-range off-the-dribble shooting. He also had the 4th largest wingspan, the 2nd widest hands and a top ten standing reach.
The NBA loves drafting on potential and the easiest areas to address when a kid becomes a pro are the exact areas that Biggie needs to address. He measured well in the areas that are unimprovable (wingspan/hands/etc) and it's much easier to improve a kid's strength and conditioning than it is to fix their shot, especially when that kid has already shown a willingness to put in the effort to improve his strength and conditioning.
One thing from the combine that might favor a return is his performance in actual scrimmages. In two games so far, he averaged about 20 min, 4.5 pts, 4 reb and 2 ast. He shot 43% on FGs and FTs, on a limited number of shots. For whatever +/- is worth in games like these, he was the only guy on his team that was in the negative in both scrimmages.
Guess it comes down to what teams tell him during his interviews. But given his eagerness to make the jump, I think he's gone if he hears even one "maybe" from one team.
Very good analysis. There is no way he is ready, but it is pretty clear he REALLY wants to play professionally right now. It is very unusual to hear a kid say the things he has said. It's almost a given that if a player in his position isn't going to be drafted in the 1st round they come back to school. But his comments about being willing to be the 15th man? That smells of desperation.
My vote is that he is gone.
I think so too.
never know what next season brings - could greatly increase your stock or also potentially be out with injury/drop value.
He could stay in WL and be a 1st round pick next year, or play in the D-league and languish. Not many success stories from the D-league. Not much attention.
The tweet from Chad Ford basically echoes what he is probably hearing from the NBA, but he appears to be locked in on going, so I wish him the best. Hopefully he will get picked up by a team in the 2nd round or UFA that is a good fit.
The tweet from Chad Ford basically echoes what he is probably hearing from the NBA, but he appears to be locked in on going, so I wish him the best. Hopefully he will get picked up by a team in the 2nd round or UFA that is a good fit.
Man that 15th to 6th man role quote made me sick to my stomach. Talk about desperation. Well I wish him the best. Guess I will change my vote up top now lol. Either way I still think we will have a top 20 team next year. Biggie could have made us top 10 but w/e.
I hope this whole experience helps Purdue in the long run with recruiting but we will see.
I hope this whole experience helps Purdue in the long run with recruiting but we will see.
Not many make even a back up career from the situation being described. He is really young so maybe he can improve enough to make it. Hope he does and does not regret missing out on college ball later when he inevitably has a different perspective than the one he has at 18.
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Don't recall a one and done that had less impact on his college team. Wish him the best but don't see him in the league until he improves.
I dont read much into his quotes. I believe he has been trained by Rosie and is marketing himself. And effectively. All things being equal, would you rather draft somebody that has a great attitude and says he will do whatever the team asks of him, or one that comes off as a primadonna?
He is letting teams know 'if you want me I want you!' Smart marketing, that is all.
I'm on board with this too. His responses sound coached to me. That's fine. We'll know in less than 10 days either way.
If I had a chance to play basketball for money when I was 19, even overseas, i would have jumped on it!
You nailed it. He may go, but anyone who doesn't recognize that anything he says at this point is 100% marketing to NBA teams is naive.
In my opinion they just want fans to clamor for him to come back because it makes no sense for him to go.
I, for one, don't care what he does. The program will carry on with or without him. If he wants to risk trying to work his way to NBA money from their D league, or whatever it's called, then I wish him the best. If that is his preference then I think he wouldn't be coming back to Purdue for the right reasons anyway.
don't know about going overseas to play ball, you wouldn't know anyone, language could be a problem, no family anywhere close
And while the money is good, I don't think it's so good that you can play for 10 years and then be set for life. You're going to have to find a way to make some more after you're done.
Knowing european basketball I can assure you that a guy big and skilled as Caleb can find a pretty good contract with an european team any time he wants. Maybe not immediatley as rookie but I'm pretty sure that he would be one of the best big in Europe in few years with good money as a result. Barring problems with the adjustment of living in a different country, that is always possible, of course.
I'm not questioning your knowledge of the European basketball scene. You obviously know more than I do, but if Caleb ends up there in the next year that would go down as one of the most bizarre situations I can remember:
1. McDonalds All-American
2. B1G Freshman Team
3. Europe
Not a very typical path and one I hope we don't see.
Not that I hope it happens, but let's not act like playing ball in Italy or other Euro countries wouldn't be an amazing experience.
I'm not arguing the money or the experience because I don't know enough about either to make an argument.
What I am saying, is that I don't know of any college player that has gone that path. HS All-American, B1G Freshman Team and then leave for Europe before their sophomore season. If you know of others that have done that please list them.
Not at all unusual for players to go to Europe after they graduate, but not after their freshman year. That's all I was saying.
I totally agree with you, I've never seen anything like that. That's why I said, in a different thread, that the idea of him going pro this year doesn't make sense to me. He can find a contract in Europe or in the D-League whenever he wants and his draft situation can only improve (I mean, he is projected very late second round or undrafted, it's impossible to do worse than that). Going back to Purdue is clearly the best choice if his goal is the NBA.
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I can only recall of a similar situation with Davon Jefferson, out of USC, even though I don't think he was an All-American.
Let's just say that his career isn't exactly what a young talent can hope for...
Googled average salary in the European leagues and it came back with numbers in the 65,000 to 100,00 range so you can guess what a 1st year non-star might make in his first year there! Teams can pay the American Taxes on the salary as it is not against their contract rules but the articles seem to say that it does not happen more than it does if a player gets that language in his contract...while it is better than the NBA D-League salaries it also mentions you are out of site and playing against who knows what, depending on what team and league you are in! JMODO...if he is not getting a firm commitment from at least two NBA teams that they will draft him he will probably make a mistake if he chooses to go pro but it is his choice!
Ok, I can do that.
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
I'm happy to clamor, and you're damn right I want CS to return. I'm not going to act like I don't care.
Even if this is all a ploy to build artificial hype around CS, or bring him more attention, or get NBA people to start thinking about him for next year, in the end that's good for us (if he comes back) as it will bring that much more attention to and focus on Purdue.
WE LOVE YOU BIGGIE!!!
To each his own but I'm not acting like I don't care. I really don't. I'll be looking forward to Purdue basketball next season with or without him on the team.
IIRC, things didn't go very well for him in his season overseas. Might have scared some off.
http://espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3715746§ion=magazine
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/sports/basketball/24recruit.html?_r=0
This. One of my all-time favorite Boilers, Kenneth Lowe, played in Europe for several years.
Nobody has said playing in Europe is a bad thing, it's just VERY unusual for a Sophomore to be to go there. After you have completed college and the NBA isn't an option, that is the normal path to Europe. If Caleb goes there right now that would be highly unusual and that was the point that was made about Europe.
Growing up with an agent will definitely teach you these things.
In addition, keep in mind he's had hype around him being a "one and done" guy as well. If you go into college thinking oh I'm going to tear it up and then go to the NBA - it takes a lot for that mindset to change, especially when you're getting invited to the draft combine, when you get private workouts with NBA teams, etc. Keep in mind - he hasn't gotten feedback yet (or at least at the time of these quotes). Hearing reality can change things quickly. And quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the feedback included seeing him in college again (vs. D-League - NBA teams aren't stupid, they'd rather him play elite college basketball).
Personally, I think it'd be a big mistake for him to go. But if he's dead set on it and will be disappointed to return to college, then so be it. I hope to have him back hungry and ready to really make an impact.
I'm not sure how you got that interpretation from the comment that I responded to...
"Not that I hope it happens, but let's not act like playing ball in Italy or other Euro countries wouldn't be an amazing experience."
That was my exact response, too. I assume you were responding to someone else but hit "reply" to my post.
There is no way that someone can say that these two comments say the same thing:
"Not that I hope it happens, but let's not act like playing ball in Italy or other Euro countries wouldn't be an amazing experience."
and
"Nobody has said playing in Europe is a bad thing, it's just VERY unusual for a Sophomore to be to go there. After you have completed college and the NBA isn't an option, that is the normal path to Europe. If Caleb goes there right now that would be highly unusual and that was the point that was made about Europe."
You made it sound like I and others were bashing going to Europe. I simply pointed out that it was very unusual for a freshman to leave for Europe. I think there was one example given of someone doing it, so yeah it's unusual.
Don't really understand what your point is. You jumped in and "defended" going to Europe and I said it would be highly unusual for a freshman to do it. End of the story for me.
