Draft Prospect: Ryan Richards

[BronxCowboy]

He'll need to have surgery on his sholder down the road but it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

If I understand correctly, he has what's called a Bankart lesion, a tear in the labrum as a result of dislocating his shoulder. If he doesn't have surgery, he'll have around an 80% chance of dislocating it again, which could put him out of commision for months. I especially don't like the way he seems to kind of pull up and swing on the rim every time he dunks in the videos. Everytime his arm goes behind his head he's asking for trouble. If he's going to be playing in the big league anytime soon, I would get that taken care of.

[Spurologist]

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/...spx?news=sport

Family overjoyed as Richards signs NBA deal

by Steve Tervet
POSTED: 29/06/2010 08:42:45

A former Sittingbourne schoolboy is set to line up against the best basketball players in the world next season after being drafted to the NBA and picked by San Antonio Spurs.

The 19-year-old was the 49th pick of the draft, having earlier impressed coaches and pundits at the NBA Draft Combine camp in Chicago.

Richards, who went to Westlands School, had stated his desire not to return to Europe as part of a deal with an NBA side and he will remain in the States with the Suns ahead of the new season, which begins in October.

His first taste of club basketball came with the Kent Crusaders (now Medway Park Crusaders) before moving abroad to join Spanish side Gran Canaria.

Last season saw Richards spend a loan spell in Switzerland, but he will now come up against the biggest names in basketball having achieved what he always dreamed of as a youngster.
His mum, Debbie Richards, who lives in Church Road, Sittingbourne, told KOS Media: “It’s always been his goal. A lot of the European teams are coming on now, but that was his dream. He didn’t want to play in Europe, he wanted to be in the NBA.

“It’s been really exciting and it’s a really good outcome. It’s unbelievable, because this sort of thing doesn’t really happen to everyone. Of course, I wanted him to get picked but I’m pleased he’s going to a team where they work with the younger players. Other teams would have wanted him to go back to Europe in his first year, which he didn’t want to do.”
Richards has represented England at under-16 and under-18 level but has never been selected for Great Britain at senior level – a fact which makes his sudden rise all the more incredible.

His three younger sisters have all played club basketball in Kent but Debbie revealed it was the influence of another sibling which started Ryan’s love-affair with the sport.

“He started playing at 11,” she said. “His brother Keenan came over from Jamaica and he played really well. Ryan wanted to be as good as him, so that was the start of his interest.

“He’s worked hard and he had to live on his own from the age of 17, which isn’t easy. It’s not all been plain sailing, he’s had a few injuries but he’s stayed focused. I don’t see him a great deal but he comes home at Christmas and at the end of the season.”

------------------------

Now we know that Richards likely won't be stashed in Europe. I guess he will be Spurs 6th bigman and will work on his game with The Toros.

WTF?

[BronxCowboy]

WTF?

Remember he's British. They just know he's going to some team located in the American southwest.

[coyotes_geek]

The writer obviously made a mistake, no need to nitpick on that.

The interesting point of the article is that Richards should be a Spur player.

Depends on what the terms of the deal are. For all we know Richards could just be playing the Jack McClinton card by accepting the 1 year, unguaranteed, league min tender offer that the Spurs are required to make.

Now if the deal has multiple years on it along with some guaranteed money, then it should be safe to take that as a sign of commitment from the Spurs to have Richards on the roster this year.

As much as I hate to say it, I think the fact that Richards is announcing a contract so early after the draft points more towards Richards just taking the tender offer since one would think a multi-year contract with guaranteed money would take longer than a week to negotiate.

[lotr1trekkie]

HOw did he get to the combine anyway? How many are invited? He certainly wasn't on many radar screens after playing in Switzerland. Surprised to see him interviewed on NBA channel.

[mountainballer]

again, in an interview he stated that he doesn't want to get stashed and that he would withdraw, if he didn't get some positive signs from a team. (or several teams?)

and his agent once more is the well known Herb Rudoy, who is in permanent contact with the Spurs anyhow. (Splitter, Manu)
it's not totally unreasonable, that the Spurs agreed to bring him in immediately, knowing that he will spend at least a season with the Toros.
if he refuses to stay in Europe, the Spurs would lose his rights, if they don't sign him. I'm pretty sure this issue has been discussed between Spurs and Rudoy before the draft.
Spurs will have 4 big, who form the primary front court (Tim, Tiago, Dice, Blair). the 5th likely will be a minimum veteran (like Ratliff was) and the 6th a young player eligible to play D-league. (Richards)
makes sense.

[manufan10]

If he does go to the Toros, then I'll go check him out when they play the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

[Bruno]

Depends on what the terms of the deal are. For all we know Richards could just be playing the Jack McClinton card by accepting the 1 year, unguaranteed, league min tender offer that the Spurs are required to make.

Now if the deal has multiple years on it along with some guaranteed money, then it should be safe to take that as a sign of commitment from the Spurs to have Richards on the roster this year.

As much as I hate to say it, I think the fact that Richards is announcing a contract so early after the draft points more towards Richards just taking the tender offer since one would think a multi-year contract with guaranteed money would take longer than a week to negotiate.

IMO, you are trying to read too much into it. It's his mom who speaks not his agent. It's possible that all the money aspect hasn't been finalized but that Spurs have said that they will sign him and send him to Austin if he doesn't want to go back in Europe.

And players who sign the tender offer do it very late in the offseason after failed negotiations.

[coyotes_geek]

IMO, you are trying to read too much into it. It's his mom who speaks not his agent. It's possible that all the money aspect hasn't been finalized but that Spurs have said that they will sign him and send him to Austin if he doesn't want to go back in Europe.

And players who sign the tender offer do it very late in the offseason after failed negotiations.

I certainly hope that's the case.

[Bruno]

HOw did he get to the combine anyway? How many are invited? He certainly wasn't on many radar screens after playing in Switzerland. Surprised to see him interviewed on NBA channel.

Richards wasn't some kind of obscure prospect. He was known for years as one of the most interesting player of the 1991 class. In 2007, while he was 15 years old, he even practiced with the international team at the Nike hoops summit.

[8FOR!3]

Any chance he makes the actual roster? What amazing experience that would be to get a 1991 guy on the court at such a young age, the anti-Darko Milicic effect.

[wildbill2u]

Ah, the dreams of summer. A new face becomes our focus and our hope.

[ChumpDumper]

Depends on what the terms of the deal are. For all we know Richards could just be playing the Jack McClinton card by accepting the 1 year, unguaranteed, league min tender offer that the Spurs are required to make.

Now if the deal has multiple years on it along with some guaranteed money, then it should be safe to take that as a sign of commitment from the Spurs to have Richards on the roster this year.

As much as I hate to say it, I think the fact that Richards is announcing a contract so early after the draft points more towards Richards just taking the tender offer since one would think a multi-year contract with guaranteed money would take longer than a week to negotiate.

So he would be under contract with the Spurs.

What's the problem?

It was easy for the Spurs to waive McClinton when he asked because he sucked.

[DesignatedT]

Does this mean he's playing in the Summer League?

[coyotes_geek]

So he would be under contract with the Spurs.

What's the problem?

It was easy for the Spurs to waive McClinton when he asked because he sucked.

Hopefully there isn't a problem. I'm just saying that there's a difference between Richards signing a contract and the Spurs being committed to having Richards on the team this year since the Spurs are required to offer him a contract. I know Richards is out there saying he's going to be in the NBA next year, but are the Spurs saying the same thing? Richards certainly wouldn't be the first guy to publicly announce his plans to be in the nba immediately, only to find out that the team that just drafted him has other ideas. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

[ChumpDumper]

It would probably be stupid to let Richards go in the manner of McClinton. So it's up to the Spurs to not be stupid.

[ChumpDumper]

McClinton didn't want to be sent overseas or play in Austin so he asked to have his rights renounced basically. McClinton wasn't going to make the 15 man roster over Hairston or Marcus Williams so the Spurs were going to have to waive him.

Exactly. It wasn't stupid to waive him.

[EricB]

In retrospect coulda kept him instead of Marcus Haislip...

[SenorSpur]

I think the Spurs will use the #49 on an international big man. assuming they will add the #20 pick and Splitter, they almost have no other choice than to draft and stash. likely for a 3+ years perspective. the big man projects look a little more promising. (and they already have a guard in De Colo in the pipeline)
Richards could very well be the guy. or Prestes, Pleiss, Parakhouski (who likely would go back to Europe), Marjanovic, Vaty.

You nailed this one MB.

[K-State Spur]

In retrospect coulda kept him instead of Marcus Haislip...

McClinton didn't exactly light up the Turkish league even after his release. It's not like anybody was missing him even after Haislip left.

In retrospect, there is no point about worrying about the retrospect regarding JMC.

[admiralsnackbar]

McClinton didn't exactly light up the Turkish league even after his release. It's not like anybody was missing him even after Haislip left.

In retrospect, there is no point about worrying about the retrospect regarding JMC.

Agreed.