From talking with some folks at FSU, everyone seems pretty surprised that Malik Beasley decided to jump so quickly to the NBA. Not that he would test the waters, but that he just up and left mid-semester. He's already back in Atlanta. I think FSU's coaches were hoping he would at least stay in school and go through the process without signing with an agent, but he and his family apparently are ready to move on. So it doesn't sound like there's any chance of him returning.
I personally don't get that ... what's the harm in being evaluated? Especially with the new rules, which allow you to jump back out late in the process. But it sounds as if Malik's family already had their mind made up before they spoke with the coaches. Hope it works out for them. Malik and his family seemed like great people during their time here. ... If there's a bright side to that, it's that FSU now has some time to see if there are any options for transfers, etc. If he had gone through the entire process and THEN left, that could have dragged on until June. And then FSU would have had even less time to come up with a plan B (if there's a plan B to be found). This is a very slim silver lining, I know, but it's something.
As for Dwayne Bacon, I know a lot of fans are assuming he's gone too ... or they're at least preparing for the worst. I'm sure Hamilton has already spoken with him, and I don't get the sense that a decision has already been made. In fact, some people around the program believe he's going to stay. All I know is there's no way to know right now. It's definitely not a foregone conclusion.
As for Hamilton and his contract extension, it's easy to take shots at FSU and Wilcox for giving him the extension. But as I said at the time, I don't think they had much choice. Yes, they could still lose both Beasley and Bacon ... but they knew that when they made the deal. The alternative was not doing the extension and likely losing both of them as well as Isaac and possibly Forrest and Walker. You can criticize the deal if you want, but don't believe for a second that they thought keeping Hamilton GUARANTEED keeping Bacon and Beasley. No one in the program ever thought that. At best, it improved their chances. At the end of the day, they gave Hamilton the extension because they thought there was a better chance of FSU getting back to the tournament over the next couple of years with Hamilton, as opposed to starting over. You can disagree with that. But they didn't do it because they thought it guaranteed Bacon and Beasley would stay.
Final thought on this situation. If Bacon stays, FSU still has everything in place to have a great season. These guys they have coming in are very good. And from everything we've heard, Isaac is more of a wing player than he is a post. And Forrest is a combo guard. So there were going to be some issues with a lot of guys playing the same positions. Granted, it would have been a good problem to have. But if there's any way Hamilton and his staff can bring in a post player, that would do wonders for a team loaded with guards and wings. ... If Bacon leaves, that's obviously a huge blow. But I still don't think next season would be a lost cause either way.
Anyway, just wanted to share what I'm hearing and some of my thoughts on the situation.
I personally don't get that ... what's the harm in being evaluated? Especially with the new rules, which allow you to jump back out late in the process. But it sounds as if Malik's family already had their mind made up before they spoke with the coaches. Hope it works out for them. Malik and his family seemed like great people during their time here. ... If there's a bright side to that, it's that FSU now has some time to see if there are any options for transfers, etc. If he had gone through the entire process and THEN left, that could have dragged on until June. And then FSU would have had even less time to come up with a plan B (if there's a plan B to be found). This is a very slim silver lining, I know, but it's something.
As for Dwayne Bacon, I know a lot of fans are assuming he's gone too ... or they're at least preparing for the worst. I'm sure Hamilton has already spoken with him, and I don't get the sense that a decision has already been made. In fact, some people around the program believe he's going to stay. All I know is there's no way to know right now. It's definitely not a foregone conclusion.
As for Hamilton and his contract extension, it's easy to take shots at FSU and Wilcox for giving him the extension. But as I said at the time, I don't think they had much choice. Yes, they could still lose both Beasley and Bacon ... but they knew that when they made the deal. The alternative was not doing the extension and likely losing both of them as well as Isaac and possibly Forrest and Walker. You can criticize the deal if you want, but don't believe for a second that they thought keeping Hamilton GUARANTEED keeping Bacon and Beasley. No one in the program ever thought that. At best, it improved their chances. At the end of the day, they gave Hamilton the extension because they thought there was a better chance of FSU getting back to the tournament over the next couple of years with Hamilton, as opposed to starting over. You can disagree with that. But they didn't do it because they thought it guaranteed Bacon and Beasley would stay.
Final thought on this situation. If Bacon stays, FSU still has everything in place to have a great season. These guys they have coming in are very good. And from everything we've heard, Isaac is more of a wing player than he is a post. And Forrest is a combo guard. So there were going to be some issues with a lot of guys playing the same positions. Granted, it would have been a good problem to have. But if there's any way Hamilton and his staff can bring in a post player, that would do wonders for a team loaded with guards and wings. ... If Bacon leaves, that's obviously a huge blow. But I still don't think next season would be a lost cause either way.
Anyway, just wanted to share what I'm hearing and some of my thoughts on the situation.
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