Purdue players benefit from NBA process
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With 24 hours to go until the deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school, Purdue still doesn't know if two pieces of its talented frontcourt will return.
Caleb Swanigan will likely take his decision — or, more likely, the announcement thereof — right up to the 5 p.m. deadline. Vincent Edwards, who announced his return one day ahead of last season's deadline, seemed to genuinely still be weighing his options following Monday's workout with the Indiana Pacers.
If both return to join center Isaac Haas, who already announced he'd be back for a senior season under the basket, the Boilermakers look like one of the nation's top teams bar none. Without either forward, Purdue remains a talented squad with a veteran presence — but one with significant production to replace in a short amount of time.
The vigils Purdue fans are holding in their hearts this week wouldn't be possible without the decision two years ago to allow underclassmen to pursue the draft evaluation process and return to school.
The resulting waiting game isn't especially convenient for college basketball coaches or fans. Yet it was the right decision, as proven b the recent history of Purdue players going through the process.
A.J. Hammons didn't have that luxury. Many expected the 7-foot center to leave Purdue after his freshman season. Hammons submitted his name to the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee every offseason. Each time, he ultimately decided to return to the Boilermakers, developing into the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
While the end result probably reflected the best choice for Hammons, the process lacked clarity. Players couldn't work out directly for teams. Feedback from NBA scouts and general managers had to be filtered through connections on the players' coaching staff.
If you played for a coach like Matt Painter, who has a reputation for honesty and a pragmatic approach, you probably received an accurate snapshot of opinions. Other players might not have been so fortunate.
Swanigan and Edwards were among the first to take advantage of the new process last season.
Last May, plenty of NBA people doubted Swanigan's future in the league. His physique and offensive game had not developed enough to overcome defensive shortcomings that may never completely disappear.
NBA teams told him so, in meetings, workouts and at the draft combine. Swanigan listened. By applying that constructive criticism in the offseason he became the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
He also likely convinced teams no one will work harder to overcome those defensive deficiencies.
There are real reasons for Swanigan to consider coming back to Purdue. With a repeat of his sophomore dominance he can take a place alongside Rick Mount, Glenn Robinson and other luminaries in the program's pantheon. Only two players — Jim Jackson and Mateen Cleaves — have repeated as Big Ten Player of the Year.
No one can take away Swanigan's fantastic season, but he can still establish a greater legacy.
However, he should probably stay in the draft. The sooner one signs his first contract, the sooner he sign his second. Few people have the opportunity to change their family trajectory from homelessness to fame and fortune in one generation. No one can guarantee the same opportunity exists one year from now.
Edwards, on the other hand, faces a riskier choice. NBA scouts I've spoken to clearly value his versatility and are intrigued by his combination of size and shooting potential. He won't be a first-round pick, and could go undrafted altogether.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, however. Indiana point guard Yogi Ferrell went undrafted but signed a multi-year contract by the end of his rookie season.
Ferrell, however, was a senior. Edwards has a chance to earn his degree and potentially step into a greater leadership role before beginning a potentially long pro career in the states or overseas. I think he should return to West Lafayette.
Yet it doesn't really matter what I think. Painter, on multiple occasions regarding various players, has said the same.
The only opinions that matter belong to NBA front office personnel and scouts.
Fortunately, Swanigan, Edwards and Haas now hear those opinions straight from the source.
Reach Journal & Courier Purdue basketball reporter Nathan Baird at 765-420-5234. Follow on Twitter: @nbairdjc.