The NBA Draft can be screwy proposition: a volatile mix of
potential stars, role players and cautionary tales. And while the top of the
totem pole is where the major media casts its blinding beam, the descending
order with its gathering chaos and uncertainty has no shortage of other storylines.
Enter Mitchell Robinson, a former 5-star prospect who came
up with the dubious strategy of dropping out of college before his freshman
year actually began, hence guaranteeing himself plenty of alone time in which to
“concentrate on my training.”
There may be a consolation prize for a player once regarded
as a lottery lock: whispers of a promise from the Los Angeles Lakers to take
Robinson with their No. 25 pick, first from NBADraft.net and more recently from
the New York Times’ Adam Zagoria.
But these kind of agreements—when they actually exist apart
from rumors—can be fluid and uncertain things, especially outside the lottery
as the selection process devolves into a mad scramble.
