Fansided

5 most significant NBA Draft early entry decisions

By Chris Stone

Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24), guard Tyler Dorsey (5), forward Jordan Bell (1), and head coach Dana Altman speak at a press conference after the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the finals of the Midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Kansas 74-60. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24), guard Tyler Dorsey (5), forward Jordan Bell (1), and head coach Dana Altman speak at a press conference after the game against the Kansas Jayhawks in the finals of the Midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Oregon defeated Kansas 74-60. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Dillon Brooks, Jordan Bell and Tyler Dorsey, Oregon

Is this a cop out? Maybe, but it’s also a significant development that three of a program’s top players are headed into the NBA Draft early and likely only one of them at most will be taken in the first round. Dillon Brooks is the type of wing creator that NBA teams love, but he has questionable athleticism and may struggle to keep up defensively. Jordan Bell is a terrific collegiate defender, but at only 6-foot-9, he may not translate to the NBA. Tyler Dorsey, meanwhile, is a scoring magnate and could be attracted to offers in Europe given that he has a Greek passport and won’t count against roster restrictions there.

Brooks, Bell and Dorsey formed the core of Oregon’s run to the Final Four. The Ducks will also lose Chris Boucher and Dylan Ennis to graduation and Casey Benson to a graduate transfer. That’s six of the seven players who averaged more than 20 minutes per game for Oregon this season. So, what will the Ducks have back?

Next: Randomizing the NBA Draft lottery

Rising sophomore Payton Pritchard seems destined to take on a much larger role. He only averaged 7.4 points per game last season and shot 39.6 percent from the field, though. Five-star wing Troy Brown will also be a major player right away. Those are nice pieces, but with Brooks, Bell and Dorsey back, Oregon would have been a top five team. Now, who knows?