National Media Outlets Say “TJ Warren To The NBA” But TJ Says “Undecided”

13-14 Basketball Mark Gottfried38

Yesterday, a story that surprised almost no one who roots for the Wolfpack surfaced about ACC Player of the Year T.J. Warren:

North Carolina State’s T.J. Warren to Enter NBA Draft

North Carolina State sophomore T.J. Warren has decided to enter the June NBA draft, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Warren reached the decision with his family on Sunday and had been expected to inform the N.C. State coaching staff of his decision early this week, sources told Yahoo Sports.

Within minutes, T.J. Warren posted this on Twitter:

tj-undecidedShortly after that, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com chimed in, saying

NC State sophomore forward T.J. Warren is heading to the NBA, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Goodman, ever the thorough journalist, then added

Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried told Andy Katz of ESPN.com on Monday that Warren “has not decided yet” and will meet with his family Thursday to discuss the matter.

Curious.  Despite the player and his head coach contradicting them saying that a decision had been reached, Goodman and Adrian Wojnarowski feel comfortable enough with their un-named sources that the Wolfpack superstar has made up his mind and will be playing his basketball in the NBA next year.  Goodman covered his tracks, however, so either way he sounds like he was right all along.

Maybe the writers’ “sources” (whoever they may be) are right, or, maybe TJ Warren should be taken at his word.  He is, after all, the person who ultimately has to make the call on where to go next, and quite honestly, he deserves people to believe him when he says he’s undecided about what to do.  His teammates certainly seem to agree:

tyler-lewis-tjvandenberg-tj

And we agree with them.  T.J. Warren should do what’s best for him, and he should be left in peace to decide what that is.  Ultimately, T.J. may indeed be a lottery pick in the draft, and if so, leaving might be what’s best for him.  Or, he could be a lower mid-round pick who’d actually be playing somewhat limited minutes on a mid-tier team with established starters.   If so, another year in school might help him make the case for being a lottery pick, while it allows him to further hone skills like his outside jumper and defense — things critical to not only getting into the pro leagues, but staying there for a second contract once he’s in.

But that’s not for us to decide, not as Wolfpack fans who know we’d have a legitimate top 20 team next year with #24 on the roster, not for sportswriters looking for click-baiting scoops and not for potential agents looking for a payday to decide.  It’s T.J.’s call, period. And all of us should have the simple decency to let him think it through and make his own announcement, himself and in his own way.

13-14 Basketball Mark Gottfried

Home › Forums › National Media Outlets Say “TJ Warren To The NBA” But TJ Says “Undecided”

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  • 03/26/2014 at 3:12 PM #49624
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Alpha,

    Your comments about the $$Side are probably the real KEY. I dug up a few years ago the NCAA “audit report”….the one that the FOIA makes them disclose. You know those pesky little FIOA reports that listed Mikey’s salary in the Dukie’s disclosures.

    This was based on info that is probably 4 years old….so the numbers are even more staggering.

    The NCAA, AT THAT TIME, had “reserves” or CA$H of almost 750 Million or 3/4 Billion…..even by govt standards….that is obscene.

    About $100 Million was in “short term Money Markets”….which are paying about 1/4 %….I guess you never know WHEN you might have to write out a check for couple of Million…..maybe to those high paid investigators.

    There was about $300 – $350 Million is “short term” or Bonds

    Rest, another $300 – $350 Million is in “equities and securities”.

    SO, if you factor in the market, their portfolio is approaching $1 BILLION….not counting the fresh cash and their merchandise and tickets are going up at twice the rate of inflation….the only thing going up MORE is College Tuition (Thanks to the Student Loan programs).

    The ACC, BTW, reportedly (I was told a number in confidence) but a local Talking Head on one of the Media Sports shows blabbed it….Johnny and the Gang in Greensboro have over $50 Million. That would explain the ticket and merchandise tickets…..

    MONEY….MONEY…..MONEY…. I guess it comes down to POWER. The more you control…..the MORE you feel the POWER.

    as to the “MESS” at UNC….I dabble in the stock market, to say the least….and I would not place a farthing on the odds of UNC getting any visits from the boys at the “home office” in Indianapolis….much less vacating banners and titles.

    All this is doing, IMHO, is getting up false hopes…..I think there is a better chance of finding X (Flight 370, WA mudslide survivors, Big Foot, who REALLY shot JR, etc……) than the NCAA coming to Chapel Hill…..unless Bill Gutheridge’s old college roommate wants to play golf again.

    03/26/2014 at 5:54 PM #49628
    44rules
    Participant

    I think the original CJ Leslie comparison, if you go back and read it, was that TJ was NOT like CJ. TJ did an occasional force against a double or triple team, but it wasn’t frequent, constant and predictable like CJ.

    Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy. Mao Zedong

    03/26/2014 at 6:12 PM #49629
    compsciwolf
    Participant

    @Adventuroo, I think you need to redefine your definition of obscene. Almost 1 billion in cash reserves is almost paltry these days for an organization as large as the NCAA when you look at the corporate world. Apple alone has around 130 billion in the bank. Granted, Apple is king when it comes to cash reserver. Microsoft is believed to be a distant second at 77 billion or so. Google and Facebook are in the neighborhood. 1 billion just isn’t what it used to be.

    I realize this has no bearing on the topic at hand, but the mention of cash reserves made me thing of it and I thought I’d throw it out there just for comparison’s sake. Of course, for a non-profit organization that doesn’t pay it’s main money generators, it is a lot.

    03/26/2014 at 6:56 PM #49630
    Pack1998
    Participant

    TJ will play in the association. Hope he gets good advice – CJ did not.

    Hope the best for TJ! He is a Wolfpack great!

    03/26/2014 at 9:56 PM #49637
    mak4dpak
    Participant

    We have some great recruits coming next year, as well as returning players. And I for one hope Warren is a returner. Think another year will be good to increase his stock in the NBA. But his decision. Just hope he makes the right one. We know he is a star at NC State, but there are quite a few of those in the NBA. Hope we know soon.

    03/27/2014 at 1:50 AM #49640
    Tau837
    Participant

    And the CJ comparison, thats not even worth discussing.

    I’m the one who mentioned Leslie. Some of you need to work on reading comprehension.

    Had Leslie gone pro a year earlier, he likely would have been drafted higher. Instead, he came back and his pro stock dropped. I mentioned him in response to another poster saying potential never changes. It can and does.

    03/27/2014 at 9:16 AM #49672
    Wulfpack
    Participant

    Had Leslie gone pro a year earlier, he likely would have been drafted higher. Instead, he came back and his pro stock dropped.

    This is correct. Same with McAdoo. McAdoo was projected as a lottery after his first year. Probably won’t be drafted now unless he has a monster season next year. Honestly, Meeks is going to eat his lunch. That kid is potential lottery material in a few years if he gets into better shape.

    03/27/2014 at 1:31 PM #49689
    Texpack
    Participant

    This is correct. Same with McAdoo. McAdoo was projected as a lottery after his first year. Probably won’t be drafted now unless he has a monster season next year. Honestly, Meeks is going to eat his lunch. That kid is potential lottery material in a few years if he gets into better shape.

    That is the most insightful comment in this thread.

    03/27/2014 at 4:27 PM #49695
    WolfWiz11
    Participant

    So when’s this presser? My thought was TJ would make an announcement today, or does it just mean he is going home to Durham to have a sit-down with his folks tonight, with a potential presser tomorrow? Ennis is gone. Embiid is gone (but he says he’s undecided). Paige is returning. Selden is returning. What’s TJ doing?

    03/27/2014 at 8:47 PM #49721
    Adventuroo
    Participant

    Wonder if making ONLY the third string in the NABC voting will have an impact?

    NO inside info….just curious. The LONGER he waits, the more likely that he will be cracking the books next fall in Raleigh.

    04/07/2014 at 9:33 AM #50746
    NCSU_CEM_2002
    Participant

    Brutal that we still don’t know anything. Everyone still of the opinion that the longer he waits the more likely he stays? Lewis transfer hurting or helping his chances of staying or indifferent?

    04/07/2014 at 9:41 AM #50748
    VaWolf82
    Keymaster

    Announcement is supposed to be tomorrow.

    04/07/2014 at 9:54 AM #50752
    tractor57
    Participant

    Brutal? I think not. If it were me in that situation I would want to consider such a life altering decision very carefully. All I want is for TJ to make the right decision for HIM. If that is to stay another year I’m estatic, if it is time to go

    04/07/2014 at 1:22 PM #50767
    NCSU_CEM_2002
    Participant

    I agree he needs to take his time…I’m just saying it’s “brutal” on me personally having to wait and not know. I want TJ to do what is best for him, I just hope he ends up staying here. We are a pretty tough contender in the ACC next year with TJ on the team. Pretty average at best without him.

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