The Kids Are the Future

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It’s a timeless saying we have all heard before…mainly talking about how kids will eventually be the leaders of the world, find the cures for major diseases, or possibly become the new Justin Bieber (God help us all).  Right now it’s about kids becoming big names in the NBA thanks to the NCAA one-and-done rule.

As most of you probably already know, a record breaking 16 college freshmen, along with two youngins from overseas, were selected in the first round of the NBA draft this past Thursday. Only two seniors were selected as the last two picks.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I miss the time when college players would stick around until their junior or senior year developing strong bonds with their teammates and making deep runs into the NCAA tourney trying to win a few championships before considering the NBA.  Times do change, though, and I can’t blame these kids for wanting to start making millions at 18 or 19 doing what they love.

Why risk injury playing a second or third year in college when they can start buying new houses, cars, get shoe deals (or hell – create your own shoe brand.  I’m looking at you, Lonzo), and learn from some of the greatest to ever play the game before they retire?  It would be a dream come true to be a teenager practicing with Kobe, KD, or Tim Duncan before they hang up their shoes.  These legends have seen and done it all.

Please excuse me, though, while I bitch for a second about how the national player of the year, Kansas senior Frank Mason, fell to the fourth pick of the second round.  Sure, he is on the shorter side, especially when it comes to the NBA, but the guy is a natural leader and dominant scorer averaging almost 21 points per game and shooting 47% from 3.  I’m no Kansas fan, but I know talent when I see it and can’t wait for him to embarrass opposing teams like 5’9” Isaiah Thomas is doing with the Celtics, who by the way, fell to the #60 pick in 2011.

The draft isn’t the only exciting thing that has happened for the NBA in the past week.  Jimmy Buckets is ending his run in Chi-Town and headed to Minnesota to help create a newer, younger Big 3 with KAT and Andrew Wiggins giving hope for a playoff caliber team.

“Lob City” is also calling it quits as CP3 and Blake Griffin opt out of their contracts to become free agents making the LA Clippers collapse faster than Lamar Odom at a brothel.  No matter who was put around the two, and the hype that they built up, they couldn’t ever make the NBA finals.  I have a feeling that unless they are put on a Golden State or Cleveland-esque type team soon, they won’t get a chance at a ring.

We are still a few short months away from the start of the preseason and many changes are yet to come.  Will these new kids prove they are worth the early draft pick and millions of dollars, or will any of them become a bust like Greg Oden?  It’s hard to say, but we can all agree that next year’s finals will most likely again feature Steph and company facing King James while Lavar Ball will irritate us with more ridiculous comments and continue to make his son more hated than Nickleback.

Wes Calhoun covers the NBA and NCAA basketball for The SoBros Network. He drinks beer and bourbon while cursing at the TV watching games which will most likely lead to a heart attack. Go Cats! Follow on Twitter: @WesCalhoun1229

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