While I believe Detroit and Atlanta have very good shooting guards, I think that Oklahoma City and/or Washington could be looking at players like Jodie Meeks for some much needed offense next year.

This causes a dilemma. It is one thing to say something like, "if I am drafted in the second round, I will go back to college.", but it is another thing to realize that a team that drafts you in the second round may not be able to afford to lose you to next year's draft. In essence, then, a second round draft could have a "guaranteed" contract, abeit at a reduced amount from what first round or lottery picks would command. So the dilemma is: do I go now for less money, hone my skills in the NBA and get better and then command a salary increase. Or do I wait a year, hone my skills in the college game, become an All-American and become a lottery pick next year.

Since the NBA is a business, let's look at how perception influences how athletes are paid. Like politics, name recognition is everything. You get that recognition by dominating the opponents at your same position. On several championship teams there have been examples of excellent relatively unknown players who have been instrumental to assisting a team in reaching a chamionship title.  These players are way underpaid relative to the stars and unfortunately stay that way. The stars of the NBA continue to get paid large sums, with major endorsements and every year new "lottery" picks are brought into the league in the hopes of becoming new "stars". Nevertheless, a great deal of the rebounding, assists, defense and yes scoring are contributed by a group of unsung heros who really don't get paid well in comparison to "the stars". It would be interesting to examine the pay of players who score over 20 pt. a game or maybe average a double/double, but are not regularly considered "a star".

The college scene is, of course, not as financially as attractive. You do get a degree and a chance to develop your name recognition. Winning the national tournament is the goal of every team, because in college, teams can beat great individual effort. Injuries can occur. However, being successful head to head with the nation's finest increases your name recognition nationwide. The media cannot ignore you and the NBA scouts will want you. Now you are in the driver's seat , because you are a lottery pick. Based on your previous performance the pros are willing to invest in you.

I fully expect either Washington or Oklahoma City to try to convince Jodie to stay in the draft. They need him, but they don't want to give up a first round draft pick to get him. They want to "guarantee" him a second round pick and a "guaranteed" contract. I believe it will be a substantial amount of money, but I also believe that as businessmen, they see Jodie as one of the unnamed players that help you win a championship and will always pay him accordingly.

In the final analysis, all Jodie has to offer this year are the skills he currently has. Accepting a contract too soon could mean money, but also being lost in the crowd of NBA players who never get recognition, financially or otherwise. I hope Jodie comes back to Kentucky and enters next year's draft with star status.