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Kansas basketball: NBA Draft great for 2 Jayhawks

ByStan Unruh|
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Picks one through 30 are seen on the board at the conclusion of the first round during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Picks one through 30 are seen on the board at the conclusion of the first round during the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Kansas basketball fans are celebrating for Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk.  Both deserved to hear their names called in the NBA draft.

The two Jayhawks Devonte Graham and ski Mykhailiuk waited patiently through the first round of the NBA draft until their names were called in the second round. Two of their former Kansas basketball teammates were not as fortunate.  The NBA draft, as coach Bill Self explained to Matt Tait at KUSports.com this week, is an inexact science. The league’s decision makers have a very different approach to the game than most college basketball fans.

For example, how did a sophomore guard from Wichita State get drafted in the first round ahead of Big 12 Player of the Year Devonte Graham?  The NBA makes decisions based on potential but that decision made Thursday night made absolutely no sense.  Graham never faced the Shocker guard but may have the opportunity to show him up as a pro.

While some Kansas basketball fans celebrated the fact that Graham was going from the Jayhawks to the Hawks, Atlanta traded him to Charlotte.  Graham will begin his pro career just a couple of hours from his Raleigh, North Carolina hometown.  If you look at the Hornets roster, they need a player with Graham’s leadership ability and award-winning smile.

Svi begins his pro career in Hollywood. The Lakers are a perfect landing spot for the 6-foot-8 sharpshooter. As a matter of fact, he will fit in nicely on a team that needs a lot of help.  Coach Luke Walton is fortunate Svi was available at No. 47 and that Malik Newman was available to sign a free agent deal.  Kansas basketball fans know both have more than what is necessary to have long, lucrative NBA careers.

One former Jayhawk has a lot of work to do

Billy Preston’s future appears bright but full uncertainty. He has not played enough to know what to expect. He certainly has the talent but sitting out the NBA combine games didn’t help him with NBA decision makers. His job now is finding just the right opportunity where he can fit in and learn.

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