Koufos One and Done D-League
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Back in the old days of foretelling, one only needed a sports almanac from the future. But if you’re a white OSU seven-footer with limited game who harbors a desire to go to the Association after just one year, all you really need is a Utah Jazz transaction wire:
“Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has assigned rookie center Kosta Koufos to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League) and recalled second-year center Kyrylo Fesenko.”
Who didn’t see that one coming, other than the 21 teams that passed on him in last year’s draft (Charlotte skipped him twice, the second time in favor of a French bust instead).
In his 48 games in Utah, he’s averaged 4.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 2.1 applications of Proactive. Compared to B. J. Mullens, OSU’s most recent one and done, Koufos had a much more NBA-ready game. He possessed good footwork and a very solid mid-range jumper, along with decent dancing skills. Mullens has more athleticism, which was on display every time he rushed to the defensive end of the floor following the inevitable mishandling of an otherwise solid entry pass.
One silver lining: Next year the Buckeyes are not in jeopardy of losing another big man after one year. They would have had to recruit one in the first place for that to happen. Good news is that this year’s Ohio Mr. Basketball is heading to Columbus. The bad news is that it’s in 2010; the second year of Thad Matta’s tenure in Kentucky.
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Thad is staying at tOSU. the smartest pick for UK is to go for Sean Miller from Xavier. he already recruits form the area and has a solid track record for making the tournament and having success in the tournament. he can sell the program and is a hell of a coach.
Why is Kentucky a better job than Ohio State? If Florida is a better job for Donavan who played at UK why the hell would Thad leave? Who wants to go to UK where the fans are crazed idiots that want your head before your first recruiting class is even sophomores? Thad is a millionaire here and the fanbase is happy if he wins 20 and makes the tourney, at UK you’re fired for that.
I think you are being way too hard on Koufos. His game is a lot like Okurs and Okur didn’t do anything his first few years in the league. If you know the Jazz you also know that Sloan does not play any of his rookies. Even DWill didn’t get good minutes until the end of his rookie year. I think you will be surprised that he turns out to be a better than average player in the league probably better than Oden.
I liked Koufos game, very skilled coming out of high school. I guess the point I’m driving home is that Mullens has nowhere near the NBA ready game at this point (obviously). And will be a big time project for any team looking to actually develop their 13th guy. Typically Coaches are fired by the time that guy sees the floor. So good luck to him.
And Kentucky is a better job than OSU. Plain and simple. It’s obviously still a major destination, if it weren’t, would Calipari even take that phone call? Do you think OSU could reel in a proven elite coach like Calipari if we had an opening?