Casspi to skip NBA draft
He is not skipping the draft... he just wouldn't play in the NBA for a season. That is very common with many international players. He is only 20 years old and another year in a strong league may help his NBA future.
His name will remain in the draft though.
Nah, he'll stay in the draft, mid-late first rounder, stay overseas a year or so then come over. Similar situation as Rudy Fernandez, or possibly Serge Ibaka. Still say that a couple teams are gonna end up drafting some plyers in the first round just to keep them over seas so they don't have to pay a rookie contract but get to keep the players rights incase he ever does develop.
The bigget problem with Fran was that he was supposed to be the most NBA ready player in the draft. I was started out thinking the same until further info from Mitch Kupchak, after watching Fran in person, statd otherwise. I believe he was 4 years away, was Kupchak exact estimate. Once drafted he realized he needed to go back or be a bust and thats what he did. I still expect good things from him, but to think the Lakers may have taken him over Bynum.
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Omri Casspi is expected to play for a European team next year even if he is picked in the first round of the NBA draft, according to sources close to the player. Although the 20-year-old impressed scouts at training camps in the U.S., franchise officials believe another year of seasoning in Europe would benefit him.