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It’s a little bit of rumor and innuendo at this point, but it is looking more and more like Nik Stauskas has played his last game in the City that Pizza Bob Built.
Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com is reporting that Stauskas will soon announce a plan to forego his final two college seasons and enter the NBA Draft.
However, there might still be a flicker of hope for Wolverine Nation. In a tweet from earlier this morning, Stauskas claims to still be wrestling with the decision.
“Just wanted to reiterate that any reports about my future intentions are FALSE! I have NOT made ANY decisions on my future yet!”
UM Needs to Replace Him
One thing we can be sure of is that Stauskas sure enjoys using the “Caps Lock” feature on his keyboard.
Assuming the reports are accurate, and in these cases they generally are, Michigan will now be looking to replace the Big Ten Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Trey Burke took the hardware and bolted after his sophomore campaign, and now Stauskas appears to be following suit.
With any player that jumps to the big boy league after a short college career, the debate will rage on as to whether said player is making the smart choice.
In the case of Stauskas, I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer.
Entering the draft now makes sense because he is coming off such a fantastic season. With Burke and fellow NBA’er Tim Hardaway out of the equation, Stauskas transformed himself into the team’s go-to offensive option and emotional leader of the group.
He shot the ball at a ridiculously high clip (44% 3s, 82% FT) and improved his playmaking skills dramatically. It’s almost impossible to remember the Stauskas from 2013 that contributed exclusively as a spot-up shooter. He’s come a long way in a short time.
Unfinished Business?
The other school of thought is that Stauskas still has unfinished business wearing the Block M. As a freshman, he lost in the title game to Louisville. This year, he was ousted on the doorstep of the Final Four by Kentucky.
For a player like Stauskas, winning a national championship could prove to be the sports moment he looks back upon most fondly years down the road. He might be passing up a golden opportunity for a lifelong memory in exchange for making that first million now instead of in 12 short months.
It’s hard to picture him turning into a Vince Carter/Dwyane Wade-type NBA superstar at the shooting guard position. There is no doubt he will bring value and find a foothold in the league, but maybe he’s a guy that needs to relish the luxury that college ball provides to be the best player on the floor at all times.
Gordon Hayward bolted from Butler after losing to Duke in a heartbreaking final and his team clawed back to the same spot next year. Does Hayward regret missing that run? Could he have pushed his squad over the top and brought an unprecedented national title to his beloved underdog program? He’ll never know.
Hayward has spent the last few years toiling away in Utah, watching his numbers steadily climb with almost no team accomplishments to speak of. Would one more year of Butler basketball have done anything to short circuit his pro career? Of course not. But it’s difficult for a 20 or 21-year-old hooper to turn down a likely spot in the draft lottery no matter which awful NBA franchise is calling their name.
Could Have Domino Effect
The Stauskas domino will be a critical one for John Beilein in the coming days, or even hours. If he stays, maybe Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary do the same. Same principle applies if he chooses to walk the NBA plank.
There is no doubt that Nik Stauskas can play in the league. There’s almost no doubt that if he opts to do so, he will be a first round selection.
But sometimes, even in this nonstop, mile-a-minute world, it’s okay to put something on hold and just enjoy the situation you’re currently in.
One year from now, Stauskas could be flashing a goofy smile for the CBS cameras and cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. He could be named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
Or he could be wrapping up a 17-65 season as an 11 PPG scorer off the bench for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nowadays, seemingly 90% of the players capable of making the leap do just that. Heck, even the majority of those deemed incapable make the same move.
But once in a while, we are surprised. A player decides the 82-game grind can wait and that nothing will ever equal the thrill of possibly winning a championship for his alma mater.
The final verdict will likely come soon.
