Alright, Thomas, It's Time to Come Back

When Thomas Gardner entered his name in the NBA Draft roughly a month ago, the highest I thought he would be picked would be at the middle of the second round, if he got drafted at all. He was a fringe player then, a guy who was going to have to have a good showing at pre-draft camps to have a shot, now, I think it is time for him to come back to Missouri. Gardner did not hire an agent, so he still has his college eligibility, and can return to Mizzou for his senior season. Right now, that would be best for Gardner and the Tigers. Gardner was the team's leading scorer last year and he will provide stability this upcoming year as the Tiger basketball program goes through a transition phase with a coaching change (Quin Snyder out, Mike Anderson of UAB in). Recently there have been a slew of underclassmen to declare for the draft, severely lessening Gardner's chances of getting picked.

There are 30 teams in the NBA, and only two rounds in the NBA Draft. That means 60 picks, and many second round selections do not even make their respective teams. Only if you are drafted in the first round are you guaranteed an NBA contract, second rounders could be shown the door before ever stepping through it. Plus, NBA teams are only allowed to carry 12 players on their active roster, that is 720 NBA players total, not very many.

Recently the likes of LaMarcus Aldridge, Tyrus Thomas, P.J. Tucker, Daniel Gibson, Adam Morrison (although he was expected to go pro), Marcus Williams, Rudy Gay and Shannon Brown have all declared for the draft. Some of these players have not hired agents (Tucker and Gibson off the top of my head, maybe Brown), but still, those eight players drastically lessen the chance that Gardner will be picked. Those players are superior, and have a lot more "buzz" to them then Gardner does. Plus, there is still time for players to declare, and LSU's Glen Davis and Florida's Joakim Noah are still weighing their options. Gardner will probably go to pre-draft camps, because he can before he pulls his name out, but I expect him to be back in Columbia next winter, if not, it is not good news for him or the Tigers basketball program.

Publish Date: April 25 in the Missourian. Second page of the sports section.