40 Acres Sports

There wasn’t much hope that Texas point guard [tag]DJ Augustin[/tag] would return for his junior season but all doubt was erased Tuesday.

Augustin signed with the Thaddeus Foucher of the Wasserman Media Group. The group, headed by mega-agent Arn Tellem, also represents former Longhorns LaMarcus Aldridge and TJ Ford.

As long as they don’t hire an agent, underclassmen have until June 16th to withdraw their name from the NBA Draft. Augustin has long been slotted as a late lottery pick (10th – 13th) so he was holding onto his eligibility as injury insurance. The only way he was coming back to Texas was if he was seriously hurt in one of his many pre-draft workouts.

The NBA Draft will be held June 26th. Good luck DJ.

DJ Augustin confident he’s ready to lead a team. The lowest he’ll fall will be to the Pacers at pick #11.

Bad news for [tag]AJ Abrams[/tag]’ NBA aspirations but possibly good news for next year’s basketball team. The NBA did not invite AJ to the league’s pre-draft camp being held this week in Orlando.

From the AAS:

Longhorn guard AJ Abrams is not at the NBA Pre-Draft camp in Orlando this week, after all. Abrams thought last week that he was going. Others, in the media, predicted that Abrams would make the list of players competing there.

But when the list was released by the NBA Monday night, Abrams was not one of the 64 players included. He can still work out for teams starting on June 3 before deciding whether to remove his name from the draft before the June 16 deadline and return to school for his senior season.

This essentially means that according to the NBA Abrams is not one of the top 64 draft eligible players. Hopefully this means he’ll be headed back to Texas next year, assuming he’s willing to accept his role as defined by coach Rick Barnes. This team needs him back draining threes.

Chad Ford’s Mock Draft, Version 1.0. Sonics take point guard at 4 and DJ Augustin goes 11th to Pacers.

Coaches, fans hold their breath as more players flirt with NBA. Discussion on AJ Abrams and other NBA Draft early entries.

Augustin made right decision, no matter what might have been. He had $3 million reasons he had to make this decision.

Like his backcourt mate AJ Abrams, sophomore point guard [tag]DJ Augustin[/tag] will be leaving Texas early and entering the NBA Draft. Augustin will not hire an agent and has until June 16 to pull his name out and return for his junior season. Unlike Abrams I feel that now that Augustin has made this decision he won’t turn back. His draft positioning is pretty well decided at between about 12th and 25th overall and unless something happens to make him drop out of the first round during his workouts.

It looks like we’ll be seeing a very different team next year, let’s hope someone (Justin Mason, Dogus Balbay, and/or J’Covan Brown) can step up and take over the point guard position.

In very surprising news, Texas junior guard [tag]AJ Abrams[/tag] has reportedly declared for the NBA Draft. FoxSports.com is reporting that multiple sources have indicated to them that Abrams will workout for NBA teams but not hire an agent, hoping to get a better feel on what exactly his draft prospects are. Since he’s not hiring an agent, Abrams can pull his name out of the draft at any time and return to Texas with no issue. Thanks to a new(?) rule NBA teams can now pay for travel for workouts so there’s no risk for AJ, but I also don’t see the reward in it for him. I don’t believe there’s much chance a team would use a draft pick on a 5-foot-10 shooting guard.

I just put up a poll a few minutes ago about whether incoming frosh J’Covan Brown or Abrams should start next year, it now looks like Rick Barnes might not have to make that decision. Hopefully he decides to stay in school for his senior season, but if not best of luck to AJ at the next level.

Seattle wants to have team of unselfish, versatile players around Durant, but I don’t think Rashard Lewis is coming back

Durant and Oden shine at NBA Draft, nearly complete roster overhaul for both the Sonics and Blazers.