Source: Cunningham to 'test' draft

[HAAK72]

Source: Cunningham to 'test' draft
By Andy Katz | ESPN.com
Updated: March 26, 2012, 4:38 PM ET

Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham will "test" the NBA draft process, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN.com.

Cunningham intends to bypass the NCAA's April 10 deadline and see if he can get enough feedback to be a first-round pick and declare by the NBA's deadline of April 29, the source said.

The 6-foot-4 junior won't hire an agent, the source said, and doesn't have to announce by the NCAA deadline since he is considering the NBA deadline.

Oregon State coaches are seeking the counsel of the NBA to get a read on whether the Beavers' leading scorer (17.9 ppg) can crack the first round or be a second-round pick.

The loophole in the NCAA's new deadline is that players can still declare for the draft by April 29. However, players can no longer go back to school once they have officially declared their professional intentions. Players also are no longer able to work out for teams and then return to school.

--> http://espn.go.com/nba/draft2012/sto...rs-source-says

[JFizzleRaider]

Meh. Im not too concerned. There is no way cunningham becomes a first round pick in this draft.

[Nate Dogg]

Doesn't he get the coaching from Payton the last few weeks that Cunningham is better off finishing his senior season? Come on Payton coach! Even if Cunningham entered the draft he would be in the high 20's anyway.

[HAAK72]

"He ain't ready yet!" ~G.P.

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I'd be real surprised if he entered the draft. Right now he's a 2nd round pick.

[HAAK72]

...no freakin' way; this has to still be a semi test

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Bad move by him IMO. One more year and he could have played himself into the lottery. He wont be a first round pick this year.
Draft express has him going 24th in the second round to Toronto.

[HAAK72]

...do the Beavers get him back if he goes un-drafted?!

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Any update on Cunningham?
Hoops World has him as a mid second round pick. I hope he decides to come back to the Beavs if he figures out he wont be a first rounder. He has until June 18th to decide.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/2012-nba-d...red-cunningham

[tlongII]

I think he hired an agent so he can't come back.

[HAAK72]

I think he hired an agent so he can't come back.

...noooo, say it ain't so!

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I just did a google search and all the top articles say he "will not hire an agent".

[BoBoBREWSKI]

This guy (recent article) thinks Cunningham should go back to the Beavs.
http://roundballdirect.com/2012/05/16/to-stay-or-go/

[BoBoBREWSKI]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bask...ege-basketball

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Still not projected to go in rounds 1 or 2.

http://nbadraft.net/2012mock_draft

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Draft Express has J.Cunningham (Beavers) going early in the 2nd. NBA Draft.net now has him going in the middle of the second.

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

http://nbadraft.net/2012mock_draft

[BoBoBREWSKI]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/beavers/2...all_jared.html

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Agreed that if he came back to OSU he would probably be showcased and could sneak into the first round next year. This is a mistake.

[HAAK72]

Agreed that if he came back to OSU he would probably be showcased and could sneak into the first round next year. This is a mistake.

...gauranteed 1st rounder next year - possible PAC12 player of the year - Beavers make it a true Cinderella to the Sweet 16 - after draft workouts JC pushes his stock into the 2013 LOTTERY!!!

[BoBoBREWSKI]

http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/in...ndown_102.html

[HAAK72]

Wow, shocked that Dallas just drafted JC at #24! Congrats and go beavs!

[JFizzleRaider]

Looks like his decision paid off

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Ya, lookin' like he made the right decision. I hope he kicks ass in 78 games next season!

[HAAK72]

Mavs Introduce Draft Picks

''There's going to be opportunity here,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. ''I think that's pretty obvious.''

Cunningham, the first-round pick, led the Pac-12 in steals the past two seasons. As a junior at Oregon State last season, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 17.9 points (second in the conference) and had 91 steals.

''More and more now in the league, we're getting to guys that are playmakers. ... You've got to have guys that can make plays offensively and defensively,'' Carlisle said. ''We see him as a guy that's got some real dynamic athleticism. He's got a skill set that has a lot of upside, and we know he's a hard worker.''

He also plays a position where the Mavericks definitely have a need.

But Cunningham may not get to play in summer league games because of a hamstring issue. Carlisle said the goal is to make sure the guard is completely healthy and ready to go when veteran training camp opens in late September.

--> READ MORE

[HAAK72]

Mavs Introduce Draft Picks

--> READ MORE

...even more inspiring words for JC

Jared Cunningham: The shooting guard out of Oregon State, drafted No. 24 overall, plays at NBA speed with NBA athleticism. He became a pretty heady player in the confines of Craig Robinson's Princeton-ish offense. Can Cunningham play the point? He'll be Gary Payton's newest protégé this summer when he works out with the nine-time All-Star and fellow East Bay native.

--> READ MORE