The Notorious P.O.B. rookie Patrick O'Bryant is being sent down to the D-League to man the middle for the Bakersfield Jam.
The Bakersfield Jam retro jerseys are HOT!
It might seem like POB is a bust with this demotion, but let's not pin this one on him or call him a bust yet. He's a young prospect, not an NBA ready player. Everyone including him was pretty up front with that at the draft; hence the nickname Project O'Bryant. Nellie brought up the D-League option for POB earlier this season, so it's not that big of surprise that he's finally being sent down.
While POB shouldn't be criticized for the demotion, the Warriors front office should be heavily. How many lottery picks can you name that have been sent down to the D-League? NBA teams generally keep raw players that they've drafted in the 1st round on their roster, so that they can work with their own coaching staff and get exposed to the NBA life. If POB's being sent down, he must be rawer than sushi.
Here's just some of the excellent coaching you can only find in the D-League!
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a mistake taking him with the #9 overall pick especially with so many young players already on board this Warriors' roster. Does this squad really need another project especially when they're supposed to be ending this 12 year playoff drought before this decade is up? Simply put, this ain't a farm system. This is an NBA team that needs to win now. The Warriors passed up guys like Rodney Carney (he lit up the Dubs earlier this week for 25 points, 8 boards, and 2 steals), Quincy Douby (he lit up the Dubs for 21 points, 5 boards, 3 steals, and a block last night), Ronnie Brewer (a good backup swingman), Renaldo Balkman (the Warriors could use the D and hustle), Jordan Farmar (he would have been a solid backup for Baron Davis for the next few years), Mardy Collins (the Nuggets do give the Warriors trouble), and even OKC Hornets' young big men Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons (at least they're ready to contribute on this level) who could've strengthened this team THIS year. You have to wonder if the Warriors would have drafted differently if hoops guru Don Nelson was the head coach back in June.
Do you think the Warriors messed up taking Patrick O'Bryant with the #9 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft?
From the draft time madness:
- NBA Draft 2006: POB- Everything Warrior Fans ever wanted to know!
- NBA Draft 2006: YOUR GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TAKE...
- NBA Draft 2006: Patrick O'Bryant is our Newest Warrior
- NBA Draft 2006: Warrior Wrapup!
- Your Grade for the Warriors' 2006 Draft and Why
- NBA Draft 2006: Warriors Nations' Grade for the Warriors
- Warriors Get to Cooking
- NBA Draft 2006: Grading the Warriors
- 2006 Mock Drafts
- Live Blogging the 2006 NBA Draft
No-No-NOTORIOUS!