Oklahoma freshman Trae Young has decided to forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility and enter the 2018 NBA draft, multiple sources tell Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports. Young confirmed his decision to ESPN, telling Adrian Wojnarowski that he and his family will soon start meeting with possible agents.
In addition to reporting Young’s move to the NBA, Wojnarowski also worked with the 19-year-old to craft a first-person account on ESPN.com explaining his decision.
“I’ve been preparing most of my life to join the NBA, and that time has come for me now,” Young said in that piece, via Wojnarowski. “After an unforgettable year at the University of Oklahoma, I will enter the June NBA draft and fully immerse myself in the pursuit of a pro basketball career.”
Young, a 6’2″ guard, led the nation with 27.4 PPG in 2017/18, en route to a first-team All-American season. He also ranked first in APG (8.7), and chipped in 3.9 RPG and 1.7 SPG. His Sooners had a very brief run in the NCAA tournament, having been bounced on Thursday, but Young is viewed as a probable lottery pick for this year’s draft.
In his most recent mock draft, Jonathan Givony of ESPN has Young coming off the board at No. 8 to the Bulls. Within that piece, Givony praises Young’s “ability to navigate pick-and-rolls, make shots off the dribble and find the open man with impressive creativity.”
6’2? Yeah, right.
Cavs bound, Lebron re-signing for the max to get titles with Trae. He would give them a dynamic George and JR can’t.
Can’t help but think that’s a mistake
No way the Bulls take him
Oklahoma lost 10 of it’s last 12, and Young shot 30% from 3 during that period. The early period when Young put up the MVP numbers, no coaches had film on him. Preseason mock drafts didn’t even have him in the first round. Someone said earlier, buyer beware. Sexton outplayed Young when Alabama beat Oklahoma and Dan Gilbert was in attendance.
Name the second best offensive player on Oklahoma…
Remember in the NBA he’ll be playing against a lot better point guards than he played against in college. His size and his 3 point pct. from mid season to season end to me is a red flag. I wonder what Dan Gilbert thought when Colin Sexton outplayed him.
He played well in the tournament tho, and of course his numbers will drop once he is game played for, especially on a lackluster Oklahoma Team. I also am unsure of his potential/ceiling in the NBA, but moving on will help him
Why wouldn’t the Bulls take him?
Dunn has a future, everyone can’t be a star and with Lavine (who needs the ball a lot himself) and Markkanen starting, we need plus defenders like Dunn.
So another guard doesn’t make a ton of sense, wings or a center are the priorities
Don’t disagree with the needs. But we’re talking about the 8th pick. You don’t necessarily get the best fit at that spot.
Would I rather they draft Porter, Bagley, Jackson, Doncic, or Ayton? Absolutely. I could even be sold on Bamba as a hell of a compliment next to Markhannen.
But I’m not seeing any mock drafts where one of those guys AND Young is available at 8. So it’s not really a huge decision in my eyes. If Young is there, then the odds are pretty good that he’s the best player available because those aforementioned players have already been taken.
Kevin Knox is a fit for the Bulls at 8. So is Miles Bridges, and Mikal Bridges.
Knox even LOOKS like a bull.
won’t be double and triple teamed in the NBA like he was at ou. will take time to develop but should be a lottery pick. wish him well.
If cavs Draft Trae, its like leBron and steph playing together.
Steph was injured his first few years in the league. It took him awhile to get going!