Chris Lofton..

[ukcatfan]

was he drafted or did he sign later?

[matt colvin]

not drafted. He'll have to work in just like Chuck and Kelenna.

[BigBlue75]

Not sure what date this is from.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Chris Lofton is trying to choose between two teams interested in his services in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The two-time All-SEC guard from Tennessee was not selected Thursday night in the NBA draft, which was not unexpected.
Lofton's agent, Erik Fleischer, says Lofton will pick a team to join in the Las Vegas league that begins July 11.
Of the 30 NBA franchises, 21 compete in the Las Vegas league.
Charlotte and Denver are believed to be the teams interested in Lofton. Buzz Peterson, the Tennessee coach who signed Lofton, is Charlotte's director of player personnel.
Lofton is a native of Maysville, Ky.

[ukcatfan]

Thanks guys

[Matt Dillon]

I was afraid his size would hurt his chances of being drafted.

[matt colvin]

I just wonder how much the cancer affected the decision to not draft him. In like manner, Darrell Arthur ought to be furious (If I understand it correctly, nothing was actually wrong with him?) If Steve Kerr can make it, surely Lofton can.


I certainly hope he does, he deserves the chance.

[Volfan]

I think Chris will have a hard time getting into the league because of his size and the issue of cancer.

[SamKat]

I wish young Chris Lofton well. It amazes me that neither he, nor many others of similar size without his stats, don't tear up the pros. I am not so analytical about pro player attributes. There are exceptions and I hope he becomes one soon.

[JWORLD]

If Lofton can play the point, he may have a chance to make it once he is healthy. Great shooters are hard to find and don't be suprised if he ends up on a NBA roster in the next couple of years.......

[poodoo]

Best of luck to Chris Lofton, especially in life itself. Also, I suspect Lofton may have been drafted last year IF he had not battled cancer and had not chosen to return to UT. His stock, despite any limitations, had surely been higher at that time.

[allnet]

Lofton is really small for a shooting guard and is not a point guard, but a team with a big athletic point guard might be able to slip him in and get away with it. Kerr was a better ball handler than I see in Lofton, by a fair amount, but Lofton was improving as he went on in college.

Let's see, Lofton had the same cancer as Lance Armstrong, so yeah, probably his future as an athlete is all but dead...:icon_confused:

I think the final showdown will twist on whether he can actually get his shot off in the pros, with a big defender on him. They aren't going to let him go hide behind somebody to shoot. His cancer should only have a modest long term influence on his physical abilities. It is going to come down to his ability to hang on to the ball and get his shot away.

I think he can hit the shot if he gets it. He will trying to play his way onto a team as a useful sub at best(at least I think that).

Let me add this question, How old is Lofton?

[Adolph Rollingover]

I think he will catch on if his shot is as deadly as it was his junior year. He can be a bench player in the roll of Dell Curry, go stand at half court and wait for the kick out. The NBA has evolved into a scorer's league, but I hope there is room for a shooter as well.

[allnet]

I think he will catch on if his shot is as deadly as it was his junior year. He can be a bench player in the roll of Dell Curry, go stand at half court and wait for the kick out. The NBA has evolved into a scorer's league, but I hope there is room for a shooter as well.

Judging by some of the shooting percentages being shot, I have to think it isn't that much of a scorer's league and surely there is room for a GOOD shooter.

As for shooters themselves, absolutely no shortage of those guys:icon_lol:

[Adolph Rollingover]

agree 100%. Kobe gets his 20, Wade gets his 20, but they have to put up 30 shots.

[leroybyrd]

agree 100%. Kobe gets his 20, Wade gets his 20, but they have to put up 30 shots.

Actually Kobe gets 30 while shooting 46% and 36% from 3. I would say he's a pretty good shooter, scorer, and pretty much whatever you need.

As for Lofton, not much need in the NBA for a fairly slow, unathletic 5'11" guy with limited ball handling skills who can't play PG. I didn't even mention his poor defensive ability.

[CaliUKFan]

I'd still sign him in that Steve Kerr role...Steve Kerr the player not Steve Kerr who ruined my Suns

[Will Lavender]

I don't care if he latches on with someone or not, Chris was a very good college player. He was one of the best three point shooters to ever play in this league, a league that's had its fair share of great shooters.

It became fashionable to sort of dog him late in his career, and I agree that the whole Lofton thing became a miserable debate for UK fans (and a worthless one), but he could really put the ball in the basket -- which was his job at UT.

I would be shocked if he ever steps foot on an NBA court.

[poodoo]

Let's see, Lofton had the same cancer as Lance Armstrong, so yeah, probably his future as an athlete is all but dead...:icon_confused:



FWIW, I, too, don't think Lofton's having had cancer will keep a team from taking Lofton (although it would have been a problem for last year's draft, because of the timing), as he has recovered. In regard to Armstrong's story, what he overcame was much more serious. Armstrong's cancer had spread to his lungs and brain. Armstrong's comeback is just unreal. :)

Again, best of luck to Lofton.

[Adolph Rollingover]

Actually Kobe gets 30 while shooting 46% and 36% from 3. I would say he's a pretty good shooter, scorer, and pretty much whatever you need.

As for Lofton, not much need in the NBA for a fairly slow, unathletic 5'11" guy with limited ball handling skills who can't play PG. I didn't even mention his poor defensive ability.

Wow, did not know, and was too lazy to look it up, that he shot that well. Definitely a bad example. Thanks for the imput

[SevenTimeChamps]

Actually Kobe gets 30 while shooting 46% and 36% from 3. I would say he's a pretty good shooter, scorer, and pretty much whatever you need.

As for Lofton, not much need in the NBA for a fairly slow, unathletic 5'11" guy with limited ball handling skills who can't play PG. I didn't even mention his poor defensive ability.

Lofton is more like 6'2" and lacking speed, but athletic (wide receiver in high school, could have played at WR for UK). He is a pure shooter and I find him very
comparable to Derek Fisher.

[I. Melvin]

Hope you're right, but isn't Fisher a PG?

[leroybyrd]

Lofton is more like 6'2" and lacking speed, but athletic (wide receiver in high school, could have played at WR for UK). He is a pure shooter and I find him very
comparable to Derek Fisher.

I am sure that is the first time I've ever seen Lofton described as "athletic." And, he may be listed at 6'2" but ..........................

[SevenTimeChamps]

Hope you're right, but isn't Fisher a PG?

I don't know, but Lofton's as fast as Fisher.

[SevenTimeChamps]

I am sure that is the first time I've ever seen Lofton described as "athletic." And, he may be listed at 6'2" but ..........................

Lofton is moderately athletic. He is in a family of athletes.

[westtncat]

Maybe Lofton can play in Puerto Rico and shoot with those guys next time they beat the NBA.

[htb0089]

Lofton is more like 6'2" and lacking speed, but athletic (wide receiver in high school, could have played at WR for UK). He is a pure shooter and I find him very
comparable to Derek Fisher.
Your example using Derek Fisher is very right I would also compare him to several other good players in the NBA. He is a dominite shooter and can knock down the big shots.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

Not sure what date this is from.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Chris Lofton is trying to choose between two teams interested in his services in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The two-time All-SEC guard from Tennessee was not selected Thursday night in the NBA draft, which was not unexpected.
Lofton's agent, Erik Fleischer, says Lofton will pick a team to join in the Las Vegas league that begins July 11.
Of the 30 NBA franchises, 21 compete in the Las Vegas league.
Charlotte and Denver are believed to be the teams interested in Lofton. Buzz Peterson, the Tennessee coach who signed Lofton, is Charlotte's director of player personnel.
Lofton is a native of Maysville, Ky.

Rex Chapman is the VP of Player Personnel for the Nuggets so I hope he can help a fellow Kentuckian make it in the NBA...I know I am pulling for Chris to do so :thumbup: