As much as the Arizona Wildcats may need Allonzo Trier, he may need them just as much.
Trier wasn’t a surefire NBA first-round pick last spring when he opted to return as a sophomore, and he’s now sitting at No. 57 in Draft Express’ latest mock 2017 draft.
That isn’t an upward move.
“I think the fact that he isn’t playing affects him,” Draft Express president Jonathan Givony said by telephone Thursday. “Anytime he’s on sidelines and not helping his team it’s not going to improve his stock. … He never was considered a lottery-level prospect so anytime you sit out more than half a season it isn’t going to help you.”
If and when Trier does return, Givony said, he will be judged on whether the Wildcats become better with him. As for whether the PED use itself will affect his draft status is hard to determine, he said, because Trier hasn’t revealed enough information.
“I think the details really matter of what he took, who gave it to him, and what were the circumstances,” Givony said.
