Meeks to the NBA

A reprint of my July 2 SlapShots column in the Woodford Sun

Jodie Meeks will head to the land of bratwursts and beer.

The Milwaukee Bucks drafted the former University of Kentucky guard with the 41st pick. He was the 11th pick in the second round.

Last season, Meeks led the SEC with 24.2 points per game. He was fifth in the nation in scoring and earned second-team All American honors. After his breakout junior season, Meeks decided to forgo his senior year at UK and enter the NBA draft.

Was it the right decision?

Only time will tell. We have no way of looking into the future. No way to know if Meeks will develop into an NBA level player. The Bucks think highly of him and believe his scoring ability will translate to the NBA game.

“He was a guy we had on our board for the last few days, and up until (Wednesday) night, and we said, ‘No way this kid makes it to the second round,’” Bucks GM John Hammond said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We just felt he’s one of the top-notch shooters in this draft.”

Of course Hammond was already proved wrong on one theory. Meeks did last into the second round.

I tend to think Meeks isn’t quite ready for the NBA. I think he needs some more time to develop his obvious talent. He made huge strides last season. I think one more season would have probably made him a first round pick – especially under the tutelage of John Calipari.

Several readers agree.

“Meeks will have a lot of learning left to do, which he could have done under Calipari,” Versailles resident Paul Krueger said. “I guess he'll be paid for learning now – is that all that different from the SEC, though?”

Woodford County High School senior Carson Reynolds said that he thinks Meeks has a future in the NBA, but that it may take a couple of developmental years before he makes it to the big dance.

“As far as Meeks being successful I’m sorry to say but it won't be for a couple of years. He is either going overseas or to the D- league, he said. “But hey, look at the bright side, at least he got drafted because many thought he was stupid for leaving because he wouldn't get drafted.”

Nate Cowan, a sports writer in St. Petersburg, Fla., counters.

“As far as being happy to just be drafted, that's not a victory for him at all. Only first rounders get guaranteed contracts so he should have stayed in school.”

But this is really all speculation. We won’t know what Meeks will gain by entering the NBA early until next fall. We do know this – as a second round pick, Meeks has no guarantees. As Cowan pointed out, first round picks get guaranteed money. Second round picks get nothing but an opportunity.

And we do know what Meeks gave up. A senior season playing under a coach known for developing NBA players. A legitimate shot at an NCAA national championship. Another year to develop his game. Continuing his education.

Yes, I’m one of those old fashioned folks who actually believe that even talented athletes should take advantage of the opportunity to get a college education.

But Meeks made his decision and now it’s up to him to make the most of his opportunity. Fortunately for him, Milwaukee will likely provide a good fit. The team boasts a long line of successful second round picks. Last year the Bucks took Luc Richard Mbah a Moute from UCLA with the 37th pick. He played all 82 games as a rookie.

I wonder how Meeks will do facing NBA caliber players on defense night after night. Ball handling and driving the net isn’t Meeks’ forte. But he can shoot the lights out – provided he can get open – and sometimes when he’s not.

In that sense, Cowan thinks Meeks landed on the right team.

“The Bucks aren't a great team and Meeks has trouble creating his own shot. Picking up a pass first point guard like Brandon Jennings helps him in that department and he gets to play behind Michael Redd so he won't be facing the other teams' top perimeter defender,” he said. “The NBA isn't the SEC. The guys guarding him will be bigger and better than that game. He's a catch and shoot guy right now but really athletic. D. Jones and Jennings don't even play the same position as Meeks so they aren't in his way. Redd is coming back from ACL surgery so Meeks can make the squad.”

Cowan also thinks playing on a small market team will benefit the former Cat.

“Milwaukee is a good place for Meeks to land. He played under more scrutiny at UK then he'll see at a place like Milwaukee so the lights of the show won't get to him.”

The verdict remains out in my mind. I’m not sure how Meeks will fare at the next level. But if nothing else, he’s earned an opportunity. I hope he makes the most of it.

Quick Shots

How about the U.S. beating Spain in the FIFA Confederations Cup? After a lackluster start to the tournament, the American’s finally found some passion and shocked the Spaniards with a 2-0 win. Spain was ranked first in the world.

For the first time in three weeks, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch didn’t whine about coming in second in the Nationwide race. That’s because he finally won one. Busch turned the tables on Joey Logano, who led 108 of the 200 laps, passing the youngster with 36 laps remaining.

But Logano’s week got a lot better on Sunday. The rookie won his first Sprint Cup race, taking the checkered flag in a rain shortened Lenox Industrial Tools 301 in New Hampshire.

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Quote of the Week

“The 48 did the same thing. I think they had a pit-road penalty or got caught on pit road or something like that, and drove right up through the field. It looked like the rest of us were racing mini-stocks and he was in a super late model. It looked stupid. We need to make our cars like that where we make everybody look stupid instead of us being the ones that look stupid.” –Kyle Busch talking his recent struggles and the race at Pocono.

Puck to the Head

This week’s puck flies at the head Manny Ramirez – again. The Los Angeles Dodgers slugger is serving a 50 game suspension from Major League Baseball after testing positive for a banned substance. Except he’s not really serving the suspension. Ramirez has spent the last several weeks touring around the west playing in minor league games. What kind of punishment is that? The guy cheats, yet gets to keep playing baseball. And to make matters worse, fans have crammed the ballparks to watch the cheater. They all get pucks to the head too! That’s part of what’s wrong with this society – no real consequences for actions.