Report: Gophers guard Amir Coffey officially declares for the NBA Draft

This better not happen as to the Wolves. If they do, same old, same old approach with them finishing towards the bottom of the division.

Would anybody really be surprised if this is exactly what happens? The Wolves are arguably the worst franchise in NBA history, so it would be par for the course for them to do something like this.

As for Coffey making it in the NBA, I'll simply say this: Good luck!

More realistically, he's a European or Australian level player at this stage imo.
 

Unfortunately for Amir, his role is glutted with talent in the NBA. He doesn't have a unique skill set that can help him stick long term, if at all. Best case scenario is he becomes a defensive specialist who can score in transition. Worst Case scenario is he spends his career playing for the Beijing Tigers.
 

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Economically, it is best for a player to leave the second he knows he will make good dollars in Europe. Athletes have a limited time to make money and one more year in college means one more year he is not making money. If he cares, he can get his degree later.

Would an awesome senior year get him into the first round? Maybe but that is really, really a gamble. He can go make 150 000 in Europe next year and if he have a great year, end up in the NBA.
 

Sure, he could come back, lead the Gophers to the Sweet Sixteen and cement his status as a local legend, but he could also get hurt or stagnate and be in a worse position next year. Hard for me to agree with those who think he's making a mistake or that this must mean he hates Pitino. Maybe he doesn't like school. Maybe what he's heard from NBA teams is that if he returns to college and improves his three-point shot and off hand, he might improve his draft stock to the top of the second round with no guarantee of making an NBA roster. Maybe, after all the work he's put in, he doesn't see a realistic path to moving into the first round and wants to get on with his life. In a few months he's going to be 22 years old with the option of making six figures playing basketball someplace overseas or trying to prove himself in the G League. He'll have better options than the vast majority of his peers. Barring injury, he'll make enough money playing basketball over the next several years to provide himself with a very comfortable lifestyle, even if that means playing in Turkey, Greece, Australia, etc. I wish him luck.
 


Best of luck to him but the NBA is very unlikely for him. Developmental league or Europe somewhere is more likely. Perhaps it is a better choice for him to get paid versus another year of skills development in college. Not saying he won't develop more skills in other places though. His decision but unfortunate for the gophers.


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Economically, it is best for a player to leave the second he knows he will make good dollars in Europe. Athletes have a limited time to make money and one more year in college means one more year he is not making money. If he cares, he can get his degree later.

Would an awesome senior year get him into the first round? Maybe but that is really, really a gamble. He can go make 150 000 in Europe next year and if he have a great year, end up in the NBA.

I'm sure this was the overriding reason for leaving, staying in school for your senior year hoping to get drafted in the first round just doesn't happen to often, if he wanted a break or didn't like something about college life then it was a no brainer.
 

Just remember where this all comes from Richard Coffey!! From day one he thought Amir was the best player in college basketball! Then he sat and bitch one full season about nate mason on Twitter. Then he forced Richard to play Amir at PG because he now thought was Amir only way to get drafted. That was a train wreck. Now i am sure Richard is blaming Richard for his kid not being the number 1 pick. Amir is a great kid. Richard Coffey is a ...

I somewhat agree with this take. Coffey has said many questionable things about pg play and then all of a sudden Amir was the PG this year. There were rumblings that Amir would transfer to Memphis before last season.
 

Disappointing as a fan but if this decision is what makes Amir most happy, more power to him!


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Leaving his team in a lurch? Or leaving you, a jilted fan, in a lurch?

Seriously, how old are you?

It sucks as a fan, sure. But it also impacts his former teammates to go from a potential top 25 team to a bubble team, doesn't it? Again, I wish him no ill will, but leaving early to play in the G-League is not something many guys choose to do.
 

It sucks as a fan, sure, but it also impacts his former teammates to go from a potential top 25 team to a bubble team, doesn't it? Again, I wish him no ill will, but leaving early to play in the G-League is not something many guys choose to do.
Tony Carr did that PSU. They would have gone dancing had he stayed. Always wondered how a Saunders, Baker backcourt would've looked for Rutgers

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Tony Carr did that PSU. They would have gone dancing had he stayed. Always wondered how a Saunders, Baker backcourt would've looked for Rutgers

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I'm not sure if Roby from Nebraska is projected to get drafted and he stayed in. But it's more understandable when there's a coaching change and/or the team is not a viable NCAA contender both of which apply to Nebraska.
 

It sucks as a fan, sure. But it also impacts his former teammates to go from a potential top 25 team to a bubble team, doesn't it? Again, I wish him no ill will, but leaving early to play in the G-League is not something many guys choose to do.

It happens with a bunch of players every single year. They don't believe their stock will improve (which isn't a crazy notion). The age thing starts to catch up to players who are seniors.
 



It happens with a bunch of players every single year. They don't believe their stock will improve (which isn't a crazy notion). The age thing starts to catch up to players who are seniors.

I get that coming back won't always improve your prospects. But how many of them are potential all-conference players and the best player on a potential top 25 team? His chances to improve his stock would seem to have been much higher than average.

The age thing baffles me. Why is 22 "old"? How many NBA teams are going to keep players they draft past 30 in any event?
 

I really don't care that he entered. He came to the U at a time where we were coming off back to back seasons where we won less than 6 games in the Big Ten. He led us to 2 NCAA appearances. He was a kid that was a 5 star rated prospect before tearing his ACL and had interest for North Carolina and other blue bloods before the injury. He is at a point where unless he shot 40% from 3 his stock wouldn't have rose if at all. As a Gopher fan I wish he would have stayed, but I don't think we would have finished better than 6 with him so I understand his thought process

This. Coffey was a top-50 player out of HS with a number of offers that were much better than the Gophers....and he chose to stay and play for his hometown school anyways. Something that you cannot really say about a lot of the better players in the state.....at least in basketball. Oturu hopefully is going to buck that trend. We've had much better luck in football I'd say.

Anyways. I hope he gets drafted and develops. He was never going to be a good fit for him in the pros. He's not a good enough outside shooter or ball handler. Most of all....he's not nearly quick enough to guard NBA point guards. He would have benefited greatly without being the primary ball handler. His size screams SG/SF. Playing with a true PG would have allowed him to develop into the type of player that he would have to be in the NBA. And towards the end of the season....as he grew more comfortable....and natural in that role....would have showcased to NBA scouts what he was capable of.

Right now....NBA scouts have little to work with....because his tape from last year playing PG is practically worthless.
 

As others have noted, I and others on this board have NO idea what kind of feedback Coffey is receiving during his individual team workouts. I do know that after the G-League showcase, a lot of teams invited him to work out - so they clearly saw something in him.

I have to think that, if teams were telling him "you have 0% chance of being drafted," he would not be staying in the draft. So, either he is hearing something more positive - OR he just flat out does not want to be in college any more - or he flat out does not want to play for the Gophers any more.

Either way, he is gone. The Gophers will play basketball next year without him. Five guys will start the season opener. Just don't ask me to predict who those five guys are.
 

Agree huge loss for the Gophers but best of luck to Amir. He is a talented player with a great frame and a lot of athleticism. I could see him playing in the NBA if he can continue to develop his shot.
 

Agree huge loss for the Gophers but best of luck to Amir. He is a talented player with a great frame and a lot of athleticism. I could see him playing in the NBA if he can continue to develop his shot.

Here’s the way I analyze the Amir thing. Was he hurt and couldn’t perform? NO. Did he have a conflict with the Coaches? NO, not they know about. Was he academically eligible? NO, not they we are ware. Did he have a conflict with his teammates? NO, none that have been reported. Then , he is a quitter in my book. Same book as Jelly.
 

Here’s the way I analyze the Amir thing. Was he hurt and couldn’t perform? NO. Did he have a conflict with the Coaches? NO, not they know about. Was he academically eligible? NO, not they we are ware. Did he have a conflict with his teammates? NO, none that have been reported. Then , he is a quitter in my book. Same book as Jelly.

Sorry about the mistake. Academically eligibility. Answer should read YES, as far as we know. (Thank you, son)
 

Sorry about the mistake. Academically eligibility. Answer should read YES, as far as we know. (Thank you, son)
Still doesn’t fix your moronic conclusion.

Thanks, Amir for being a classy, hard-nosed competitor, in the true sense of the word. I appreciate you coming to the U and giving it everything you had every game. You will be missed and I hope you achieve your dream of playing in the NBA. Don’t be a stranger to the Barn. And don’t let asshats like “Pete smith” color your view of Gopher fans.
 

Here’s the way I analyze the Amir thing. Was he hurt and couldn’t perform? NO. Did he have a conflict with the Coaches? NO, not they know about. Was he academically eligible? NO, not they we are ware. Did he have a conflict with his teammates? NO, none that have been reported. Then , he is a quitter in my book. Same book as Jelly.

Stupid. I assume you've never left for another job that you felt was a better opportunity for you.
 

There’s probably more truth to the rumors that the Coffeys didn’t like Pitino.
 

I get that coming back won't always improve your prospects. But how many of them are potential all-conference players and the best player on a potential top 25 team? His chances to improve his stock would seem to have been much higher than average.

The age thing baffles me. Why is 22 "old"? How many NBA teams are going to keep players they draft past 30 in any event?

I think maybe you are knocking on the "window". Might just be the answer to your question.
 

We will miss Coffey on the wing. As PG he would have been behind Carr and Willis. When the German kid is ready it will ease the pain.
 

We will miss Coffey on the wing. As PG he would have been behind Carr and Willis. When the German kid is ready it will ease the pain.

I would rather have a guy I’ve seen is all big ten caliber than 3 guys I’ve never seen play.
 

I would rather have a guy I’ve seen is all big ten caliber than 3 guys I’ve never seen play.

I think everyone here would agree that we'd be better next year with Coffey. The hope is that the "3 guys we've never seen play" can lessen the blow from Amir's early departure. If I were the Wolves, I'd buy an extra 2nd round pick, draft Amir, stash him in the G League and see how it all plays out.


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I think everyone here would agree that we'd be better next year with Coffey. The hope is that the "3 guys we've never seen play" can lessen the blow from Amir's early departure. If I were the Wolves, I'd buy an extra 2nd round pick, draft Amir, stash him in the G League and see how it all plays out.


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I wouldn't. Amir will need to prove himself first and he has not done so as of yet.
 

I wouldn't. Amir will need to prove himself first and he has not done so as of yet.

Maybe one of the reasons Amir entered the draft was the fact(herald it from multiple sources) that he didn’t attend any class since the finish of the bb season. Probably wouldn’t have been eligible had he not entered the draft. Sorry if this has been reported earlier, just returned from a fishing vacation.
 


per Shooter:

It looks like Amir Coffey, who’ll take his chances in the NBA draft on June 20 rather than return to the Gophers for his senior year, will end up in the G League with a two-way contract playing for about $7,000 a month while trying to work his way up to the NBA, which has a minimum salary of about $850,000.

The best Coffey can hope for is being a second-round pick in the NBA draft. The top half of second-round picks generally get guaranteed contracts; the second half do not. Coffey could try playing in Europe, but that’s tough unless you score a lot.

https://www.twincities.com/2019/06/...s-in-market-for-dallas-keuchel-craig-kimbrel/

Go Gophers!!
 




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