UNC draft trio Part Three

I feel for Danny Green. I really do.

He seems like a nice enough fellow. He plays the game with energy and enthusiasm. He isn't afraid to perform an embarrassing dance before tipoff just to get his teammates loose.

His father went to jail under circumstances that raise suspicion -- was he just associated with some bad dudes or was he really involved in dirty dealings?

His dad got out of prison partway through the 2007-08 season and likely is far behind on paying bills and having a nice place to stay.

When a son has athletic ability and dreams of stardom, the idea of making a lot of money to support the whole family must seem like a godsend.

But now is not the time, Danny.

When you're thinking about a pro prospect, you must consider what his specialty will be. What will he do on a consistent basis to merit a roster spot?

Danny's best ability is an odd one for a man just slightly under 6'5 barefooted.
Danny is a great shot-blocker. The best I have ever seen under 6'6.
Maybe my experience isn't as vast as someone else's, maybe there is another who is better, but I haven't seen that man play yet.

He averaged 1.2 blocks per game, which sounds just so-so, but consider that (A) he played only 22 minutes a game; and (B) many of his blocks came on running down a play from behind. Some shotblockers pad their stats because they are long and just have to hold their arms up. Danny does his work with hustle and great leaping ability.

How high exactly can he jump? I'd like to tell you, but Green wasn't able to work out at the draft combine in Orlando. He was nursing a sprained ankle that came a couple of weeks earlier during a pickup game.

He played in the camp games, but admitted he was slowed by a laundry list of problems: the ankle, a sore hip, sore elbow and a hairline fracture in his wrist.

And he played with all that going on? See my earlier post on Ty Lawson ...

Danny said he would try to go through a few workouts with teams, but if he continued to be slowed by injuries, he would pull out of the draft and return to school.

Look, I know he's frustrated. He wants to help his family. He wants to show everyone what he's capable of doing after spending three years coming off the bench. He wants to get out from under the 6-9 shadow of Tyler Hansbrough.
I can understand all of that.
But he needs to show everyone what he can do in a starting role.

If Ellington stays in the draft -- which looks like a good possibility -- then Danny becomes a starter with Marcus Ginyard sliding over to the SG spot. And then he and Marcus could hear Dickie V screaming some more about how much he loves the G-and-G boys.
What better stage to showcase your skills than on a team that will be on TV repeatedly next season?

Will it happen? Probably not. If money is really such a big deal, Danny may just opt to play in Europe next year to show what he can do.