The reality about Farmar

by SactoBruin on May 24, 2006 9:30 AM PDT Comment 14 comments

OK, from the 10-12 mock NBA drafts I've seen, almost everyone projects Jordan Farmar to be taken in the first round. Assuming this to be true, and assuming that this is the same thing he is being told by NBA teams and scouts, I think we can safely assume that Jordan will not be back next year. On the other hand, I haven't seen a single projection of Afflalo being a first round choice and several don't have him being taken until the last 2nd round, if at all. Thus, I suspect that Aaron will be back.

Of course, this is very unfortunate for the program, as I feel that with Jordan back in Westwood, we had an excellent chance of returning to the Final Four. Without him, we may still be a Sweet 16 team, but I can't see us being a legitimate title contender.

Personally, I don't know why he would leave early just to be a late first round pick. If he returned for his junior year, he would most definitely be an improved player under the continued tutelage of Howland, possibly an All-American. He would also likely be a lottery pick with another season of experience. As far as I know, he doesn't have a family and/ or children that depend on him for financial support, so why not come back for another year? This would certainly not be tantamount to dumb-ass Leinart returning for a senior season after wining a national championship and the Heisman, and already virtually assured being selected with the #1 pick.

Alas, perhaps I am too caught up in my own selfish desires to see #12 raised in Pauley and I should defer to Jordan's dreams of playing in the NBA. And maybe there isn't such a big dropoff from Jordan to Darren Collison, but I sure did love watching Jordan run the floor this year. He is such a talent and could be something truly special for the Bruins this year. And maybe we will still have enough talent to seriously contend for the title this year. But damn, I would love to have another year of Jordan at the helm.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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I think ...

you have summed up pretty much how I feel Sacto.

I wish Jordan luck, but given how things stand right now ... I will be pleasently surprised to see a UCLA uniform right now.

I am starting to think about what we have in our hands with DC. DC will grow into being a great PG. He is certainly more explosive than Jordan and perhaps a better defender, but right now it will take a while for him to get to Jordan's level in terms of having over all court vision, having a consisten shot, and the ability to take over late in the game.

I am not going to have any hard feelings towards Jordan no matter what happens. He has played a huge part in restoring UCLA hoops. But you are right ... damn it would be nice to have him back just for one more season.

Oh well ... let's see how this all shakes out.

by Nestor on May 24, 2006 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You are a better man than I, Nestor

If Jordan does indeed leave, I will hold a lot of resentment towards him. If they had won the title this past season, I would not feel this way. But the Bruins got to the title game, one step away from banner #12, and they lost. If Jordan comes back next year, we will have a good shot at getting to the title game again. We don't lose a whole lot in terms of talent and we will be getting some quality freshmen. Without Farmar in the lineup, it will be difficult to get back to the same place next season.

If Jordan leaves, then I will feel like we were teased with this last run. He can help us get banner #12, but he's jumping to make that money after just two seasons with the program. At least play your junior year at UCLA. I don't understand the big rush to abandon the program when you were just one step away from winning it all.

Am I selfish? You bet your ass I am. Unfortunately, I think Jordan Farmar is the same way.

by Bruin Roar on May 24, 2006 10:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Understandable ...

I can sympathize with your frustrations Roar.

But I will reserve my resentments for athletes like Trevor Ariza who had no love for UCLA.

Let's see how this Jordan thing plays out. But he gave it all during his two years in Westwood. And taking the team to Finals last year was nothing short of a spectacular accomplishment and keep in mind it was Jordan who kept us in that game.

He also keyed that incredible comeback against the Zags. I wish this kid nothing but luck.

But again let's wait to reserve final judgement until it is all said and done..

by Nestor on May 24, 2006 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

resentment

I'm not sure I could harbor any resentment against Farmar, particularly in this day and age of "one-and-out" players (like Ariza). He did indeed lead us to the title game, and I certainly don't think he owes "us" anything after that. Perhaps he could talk to JJ Redick and ask him how it felt to take home all of the postseason accolades and to feel the love on Senior Day in his last home game. Now, I certainly don't expect Jordan to stick around for two more years. Obviously, I'm pretty confident that he won't even come back for another year. But I know how much my years at UCLA meant to me and maybe in his two years there Jordan experienced something special that he'd like just one more year of. But...I don't think that's going to happen. God bless him if he does come back though...

by SactoBruin on May 24, 2006 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Jordan leaves...

...I just don't have it in me to resent him. Along with Arron, his committment to the program signaled the beginning of Ben Howland basketball, and should he leave, he leaves the program a hell of a lot better off because he was here. We are looking at perennial contender status for the forseeable future, which would have been a ridiculous notion when he got here.

I think we have to zoom out and look big picture on this one. UCLA is establishing itself as a program that not only develops great players, but helps them get to the next level as well. This kind of committment to the individual as well as to the team is sure to pay dividends, perhaps starting with Kevin Love.

by scittles on May 24, 2006 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Resentment???

Bruin Roar don't call JF selfish. I can't see you turning down a better job (with higher salary) just to help your company win its beer league softball championship.

I want to win #12 more than anyone, but you aren't really a fan if you think JF owes it to you to come back. I can't see a way that you can't support both his and AA's decisions to test the water this year. They are facing unique circumstances and handling themselves well. Unlike the idiots who aren't that good ,yet have hired agents (Will Blaylock, I'm looking at you), these guys have conducted a through job search just like any UCLA grad would do.

Don't put your own selfish interests ahead of the future of these guys. It's their life, it's your entertainment.

by Nars on May 24, 2006 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nicely said*

by bluestreet on May 25, 2006 5:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed - Well put

JF is not being selfish. He has been a key to restoring the BB program. He has already done what he committed to doing by signing with UCLA (restoring the program). JF (and AA) now need to do what's best for themselves - hopefully that is coming back for another year.

by shaq on May 28, 2006 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leinart

I doubt Leinart doubts his decision to stay for his senior year. It went well for him:
He was injury free, played in the National Championship game, got straight A's (OK, straight A), was a Heisman finalist, screwed Paris Hilton (though he had to take a number) and is now a millionaire.

Boisebruin

by boisebruin on May 24, 2006 12:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Leinart

You miss the point with Leinart: After his junior year, he was already at the absolute pinnacle of what he could achieve in college (other than a repeat national championship, which he did not accomplish). He would pretty clearly have been taken as the #1 pick by the QB-desperate 49ers and his legacy was already well established. Now, I can certainly see why he wanted to return to $C, because a class in ballroom dancing is very appealing, especially when those skills would evntually lead him to a dream date with #1 skank Paris Hilton. Going back for another year when you're already at the top of your value and you've done everything you can do in college is not worth the risk of having a sub-par season or worse yet, injury. The bottom line is that he went from the #1 pick to, what...the #10 pick? That's what you call a bad return on your investment.

by SactoBruin on May 24, 2006 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap ...

The Ball Room Dancer dropped from No. 1 to No. 10 and lost millions of dollars. Although as a Niner fan I couldn't be happier for not having to root for that piece of shit.

As for Jordan ... he he comes back ... and leads UCLA to a wire to wire top-5 season, a Final-4, then he may position himself as a surefire top-10/15 pick in comparison to him being a borderline first round pick.

FWIW from what I hear if Jordan gets some kind of "gurantee" from a team that he will be picked in the first round - he is gone.

by Nestor on May 24, 2006 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd Like To Believe......

The Lakers are looking to add Jordan with the 27th pick. They, more or less, didn't have a point guard last year and why not grab a guy this year who'd be a lottery pick (perhaps) next year. Didn't they do that with Bynum last year?

by alcor805 on May 24, 2006 3:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep in mind...

For those of you wondering why Jordan plans to leave instead of staying - the point guard crop is rather thin this season, and there are no high school players being permitted to leap to the NBA from this year forward - so all of the 'lottery-pick' talent in high school this season (from what I gather, a significant amount) would end up entering the same time JF does, next season (as most high school players are looking to be the next KG/Kobe/LeBron and make the jump ASAP).

Even if he improves to the point where, if his talent level now matched his theoretical talent level at the end of next year he would be 5-10 spots higher in this season's draft... He still might go lower in next year's draft, simply because of the various needs of the teams, weakness of the point guards entering the draft, and the lack of high school players.

by Underbruin on May 26, 2006 5:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs