In theory, the NBA Draft matters only to those who are actually drafted. In practice, it will affect the lives of many Buckeyes.
The spotlight is on D'Angelo Russell, as it should be: as the best shooting guard in the draft, he will be snapped up in the first few picks. But as he enjoys the spotlight, several other Buckeyes are hoping to maneuver their way into the NBA.
Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson and Trey McDonald, the next best draft prospects from Ohio State, are not expected to have their names called on Thursday night. In CBS Sports' draft prospect rankings, Scott and Thompson are the No. 89 and 97 overall prospects; in Draft Express' rankings, they are 86th and 81st, while McDonald is unranked on both lists.
Scott, Thompson and McDonald are not bad players, but NBA teams won't reach to select college seniors. Even so, that doesn't mean their dream of playing pro basketball is dead. They will have two choices: try to catch on in the NBA as an undrafted free agent or play abroad.
As undrafted free agents, players hope to get lucky and catch on with the right team. Scott and Thompson have each worked out for a number of NBA teams, and one of those teams might have fallen in love with an aspect of their game (sticky hands for Scott, explosiveness for Thompson).
If a franchise likes one of them enough, it could ask them to be part of their Summer League team. That's how former Buckeye Othello Hunter got to the NBA; after going undrafted in 2008, he played well for the Atlanta Hawks' summer league team and ended up playing in 23 games for the Hawks over two seasons.
While Sam Thompson and Shannon Scott make up their minds about whether to try their luck in the summer league, the Developmental League or elsewhere, Trey McDonald has made a different choice: he will play in an international league. McDonald spoke to Bill Broderick of the Battle Creek Enquirer, telling him that he would probably be headed to Europe:
"I am working out here, staying ready and making plans to go overseas by the end of July," said McDonald from Columbus, Ohio. "I signed with an agent, he is getting offers from teams over there and then we will look at what the best situation is for me and head out – probably to a pro league in Germany or France."
If McDonald does end up in Germany or France, he would have several options. The top German league would be Basketball Bundesliga; the second and third would be Pro A and Pro B. In France, the top two leagues are LNB Pro A and Pro B.
"The process right now is to look at the teams overseas and see where I fit and get a feel. I have talked to some former teammates who have played over there and that's good because it will help me know what to expect," McDonald said. "I know I have to play the '4' over there because that's where I'd have to play over here in the future. So that is what I have to do to get to the next step."
There is some precedent for Buckeyes having success in foreign leagues. Jon Diebler has carved a niche for himself in the Turkish Basketball League playing for Pınar Karşıyaka. After being taken 58th in the 2013 NBA Draft, Deshaun Thomas played for teams in France and Spain, with an eye to return to the U.S.
Foreign leagues are not easy to break into, or glamorous. In LNB Pro B, for instance, each team is allowed only two non-European "import" players, and other European leagues have similar nationality restrictions. The NBA has no such requirements.
Even so, a European league can be a better bargain than playing in the States. In America, the next-best option to the NBA is the NBA D-League, where a player could expect to make as little as $13,000 in 2012, compared to $23,000 in LNB Pro B.
The high end pay isn't as good in Europe as in the NBA – a good Pro B player with a few years of experience makes between $500,000 and $1 million, equivalent to an NBA minimum salary – but it comes with additional job security.
Trey McDonald may not be alone; according to him, Shannon Scott is also eyeing foreign leagues. It's not known what Sam Thompson will do, but he could make a living in one of Europe's many basketball leagues – or go to China, like Byron Mullens did. Whatever the next step is for those three, they will have plenty of well-wishers at home cheering them on.
