Should ESPN Make David Thorpe's Clients Public Knowledge? We Asked Him About It
By Jason McIntyre
What does Thorpe have to hide? Probably nothing. But when we’re reading opinion on the NBA draft from a supposed “analyst” at the largest sports entity on the planet (ESPN), we like to know if that guy has any skin in the game. Here, Thorpe breaks down prospects who could go after the “Big 4” of Wall, Cousins, Favors and Turner. Things we noticed:
"1) It’s the 2nd time Thorpe has taken a jab at Wesley Johnson of Syracuse. If we had to guess, Thorpe is not training Wesley Johnson. (See answer below.) But what if Thorpe were training another SF who is similar to Wesley Johnson? (In this chat, Thorpe again questions Wesley Johnson as a Top 5 pick.) 2) Thorpe really seems to like Patrick Patterson: “Patrick Patterson is my choice, though, for ‘most ready power forward’ thanks to his skill game and his excellent ability to move as a defender (he’s an upgraded Udonis Haslem, my first NBA client and one of the most respected power forwards in the game).”"
If you’re an agent, and you know you can send your client to a training center where the executive director also has a voice on ESPN, wouldn’t you do it? In this blog post (tucked behind the insider wall) Thorpe lists three “second round steals” – Dominique Jones, Quincy Pondexter and Solomon Alabi (pictured above). Is he working with any of them? (In this chat he says, “I’ve spent some time with Alabi from FSU.”)
Thorpe returned our email query Tuesday afternoon.
"I have no draftable players in my gym. I did have Solomon Alabi here for 8 days or so earlier in May. I turned down 8-10 players because I’m covering the draft for espn. But Alabi is a special case. His benefactors from Nigeria asked me to help him get to the states 6 years ago, and made me promise that if he were to ever be “draftable” (he could not make layups when he first arrived) I would help him make the NBA. He had knee surgery after the season, so he was limited in what he could do with me. He’s gone now, attending workouts for teams."
Transparency is a good thing.
Photo: Getty