PF/C Kosta Koufos (CSKA Moscow)

[osugrad21]

I still feel that going to the camp would have been a bad move for KK.....and giving the scouts another look at his unique skill set in a workout is better than going and not performing well at the camp.

Profound.

Any athlete that is afraid to compete is an instant red flag. If anything, running at the camp would have given an opportunity to show skills that are not seen on the tape. There are intangibles that cannot be seen in a workout.

 

[MUBuck]

I still feel that going to the camp would have been a bad move for KK.....and giving the scouts another look at his unique skill set in a workout is better than going and not performing well at the camp.

KK could have done a lot for himself if he would have gone and just played hard. Everyone knows those camps are guard showcases, and everyone knows that KK can score. If he would have just given effort on D and on the boards, he would have answered some questions about his play.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

The issue is would it have helped him? KK and the people around him are experienced....they realized going there and not playing well could have been a real possiblity when most "draft experts" contend he will be a first round pick regardless of what scouts have seen in 30 plus games. Why go there? This is about protecting his draft stock and not about showing he has heart or is not afraid of competition.....this is about $.

 

[LitlBuck]

....they realized going there and not playing well could have been a real possiblity

I guess I don't understand how an individual workout can enhance his draft stock. I think the scouts already know how he performed against competition last season so if he went to a camp and played against competition perhaps he could have refuted some of the observations from last season when he was playing against other players. I mean the are not dumb. They have seen him play against live competition so what does an individual workout get him.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

My point is that with all of his struggles he is still considered a top 20 pick...why go there and risk that position?

 

[osugrad21]

The issue is would it have helped him? KK and the people around him are experienced....they realized going there and not playing well could have been a real possiblity when most "draft experts" contend he will be a first round pick regardless of what scouts have seen in 30 plus games. Why go there? This is about protecting his draft stock and not about showing he has heart or is not afraid of competition.....this is about $.

Right and right now he is a first round pick based on potential

If he shows out in the runs, he enhances that $$. He had more of a chance to help himself than hurt it.

The 30+ games have already entrenched him where he is...why not shoot for more? Talent is a given...the great players have more than talent and that is seen in action not workouts.

Why not go there? If its only about money, then he should go to Greece or any club in Europe and be happy.

Sorry, but I would hope KK is about more than that.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I agree with hoping he more interested in competing than draft position but he has already provided an answer.....

 

[osugrad21]

I agree with hoping he more interested in competing than draft position but he has already provided an answer.....

...and you are really defending that decision?

Using your logic, why would any player projected high ever show up at a combine?

The fact is, GMs in every sport want guys that will compete when the stakes are the highest. If you are afraid to lay it on the line at a combine/camp/scrimmage, what does that say about heart and competitive fire?

Sorry, not buying it one bit.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

bro....I am not defending his decision but I can understand the logic behind it....I simply stated that individual workouts would be to his advantage due to his struggles this year in some areas....

 

[LitlBuck]

understand the logic behind it....

I don't understand. Is he going to show them he can shoot from the outside. Don't know what else he could show them that they already do not know.

 

[osugrad21]

bro....I am not defending his decision but I can understand the logic behind it....I simply stated that individual workouts would be to his advantage due to his struggles this year in some areas....

Interesting move on Kosta's part......smart move in my opinion.....individual workouts are in his favor.

Guess I misunderstood...

..but you still did not answer my question about your logic. Why would any player projected favorably participate in a combine type showcase?

 

[Buckskin86]

Sunday Special: Clock is ticking for Koufos
NBA players make the real money after their rookie deals
Sunday, June 8, 2008
BY Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Initially, quite a bit of criticism was directed at Kosta Koufos when he decided to go the route most high-profile college basketball players go: Leave college after a year and declare for the NBA Draft. Much of that criticism is dying down.

Koufos' decision was made with a solid foundation of research, feedback and knowledge. For a 19-year-old, he made a wise decision.

He could have returned to Ohio State for another year and improved his draft stock, going from say a No. 15 pick to a No. 5 pick.

But that argument isn't rooted in dollars and cents. NBA rookie contracts aren't the kind of deals that set up players for generations. Of course, any of them will fill up a luxury SUV at the pump, but it takes more research to realize that Koufos made the right decision from a financial standpoint.

Last year, No. 7 pick Corey Brewer received the typical four-year rookie contract from Minnesota with the final two years at the team's option. Brewer made $2.5 million last season. No. 14 pick Al Thornton got the same four-year deal and made $1.7 million with the Clippers. That's a lot of money for you and me.

In the NBA, though, that's not significant. What is significant is to get the clock started on that rookie contract as soon as possible, because after those two team options are done, players can make the kind of money that sets them up for life.

Figure Koufos can be out of his rookie contract when he's 23. The average NBA salary is about $5.5 million. Assuming Koufos is an average player, and that's kind for a 7-footer with his athleticism, applying a 5 percent raise in the average salary over the next four seasons, Koufos stands to make upwards of $6.5 million a season in his second contract. Remember the difference between last year's No. 7 pick and No. 14 pick? It was about $800,000. The difference between that rookie contract and the average NBA salary is almost $4 million. Staying in school another year delays that rookie contract clock from starting and puts his body at another year's risk. It also requires his career to be a year longer on the back end during prime earning years.

That's why 19-year-olds with Koufos' skills and upside leave college after a year. Moving beyond that four-year rookie deal makes a real difference.

Koufos can expect to sign a contract that will guarantee him about $3 million to $3.5 million, not including the two team options in years three and four. If those options are picked up, he's looking at another $6 million or $7 million. Then the real big-dollar earning kicks in in Year 5 at about $6 million or more per season, assuming Koufos is an average or better NBA player.

CantonRep.com | The Canton Repository | Canton, Stark County & Northeast Ohio News, Community Events & Classifieds

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Kellogg: Koufos' future is bright in the NBA
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
BY Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

HARTVILLE Not only has Clark Kellogg stood in Kosta Koufos' shoes, he might even fill them out. Kellogg has been where Koufos is heading, and the former Ohio State basketball star likes the GlenOak High School graduate's future.

Like Kellogg, Koufos has high hopes of being a first-round NBA draft pick later this month. Kellogg was taken eighth overall by Indiana in 1982. Some day, Koufos may stand where Kellogg did Monday, but the 7-foot-1 center doesn't have time to play golf right now.

While Koufos was preparing for an individual workout in New Jersey, Kellogg, a CBS college basketball analyst, attended the Logan Family Foundation's annual golf outing and fundraiser. The event, held at Congress Lake Club, raised more than $75,000.

Before driving the golf ball, Kellogg teed off on Koufos' draft status.
Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

Dispatch

June 8, 2008
Koufos gone when Cavs pick?
Cavs beat writer Bob Finnan of The (Lake County) News-Herald wrote in his NBA notes column today that the current thinking is Kosta Koufos ?won?t be on the board? when the Cavs make the 19th pick of the NBA draft.
The 7-footer from Canton, who left Ohio State after one season, had a ?very impressive? workout against former UCLA center Kevin Love in Seattle last week, Finnan added. He also worked out in Toronto after skipping the pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., and has more workouts scheduled with 10 other teams drafting among the top 17.

 

[Buckskin86]

KOUFOS STANDING TALL

Four days before the NBA Draft, Kosta Koufos' stock looks to be solid. The former GlenOak High School and Ohio State University star could be a lottery pick Thursday night. Two mock drafts that came out last week have Koufos being the 14th, and final, lottery selection.

Of course, being drafted in the top 14 doesn't really mean a hill of beans. It's not like the 14th pick makes a lot more money than the 15th pick. The difference in rookie salary for the two spots is less than $100,000.

ESPN.com's Chad Ford, who covers the NBA, has Koufos going 14th to Golden State, making Koufos the second center selected.

"The Warriors are at a crossroads," Ford wrote. "The team has a plethora of free agents this summer, including ... Baron Davis, who wants a big extension. Will they sign everyone, or is it time to think about rebuilding?

"By all accounts, Koufos has been excellent in workouts and could have become a top-five pick had he waited until 2009. Golden State has taken several big men in recent drafts, but it will probably be drafting for talent, not need. Koufos' combination of size and offensive skill should be a nice complement to (Andris) Biedrin's defense and rebounding."

We wrote a few weeks back that Koufos' draft window was between Nos. 8 and 20. Lo and behold, No. 14 is right in the middle.

Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen also has Koufos going 14th to Golden State. Hoopshype.com has Koufos going 16th to Philadelphia. The Cavs pick 19th.

NO TIME TO RELAX

Koufos will continue traveling to NBA cities for workouts the next few days. He was scheduled to hit Sacramento, Charlotte and Golden State. Sacramento has the 12th pick, and Charlotte has the ninth pick.

TALKING MONEY

Ford made an interesting observation that had Koufos stayed at Ohio State for another year, he could have become a top-five pick. Looking at the money, it made more sense for Koufos to come out early.

NBA rookie contracts are pretty standard. Koufos could expect to make about $1.7 million as the 14th pick. The fifth pick this year can expect about $3.1 million.

Remember, the issue with coming out after one season of college basketball has more to do with starting that four-year rookie contract clock. Koufos gets out of his rookie deal in four years instead of five had he stayed in college. If he is an average NBA player after four seasons, he's looking at about $6 million in his fifth season. That's huge money.

The difference between being No. 5 this year and No. 14 this year is less than $1.5 million.

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