NEW YORK -- After weeks of indecision, rumors and speculation, the Mike Dunleavy case is finally closed.
Now, a new chapter begins as the former Duke standout and third-overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, becomes yet another player to undertake the unenviable challenge of turning around a franchise.
"I'm not going to look back, and I'm also not going to look back on what was going on with the Warriors and their past," he said. "I know that the last few years have been tough, but everything's forward now. It's all about the future."
Dunleavy's future will be a busy one. Since he didn't sign with an agent earlier in the draft process, he must still find someone to represent him and must also set up shop in the Bay Area. Finally, and most importantly for his basketball career, the Warriors must figure out what positions Dunleavy is going to play.
Prior to the draft, experts had ruled out only the five slot, noting he has the size of a power forward, the quickness of a wing player and the ball handling skills of floor general.
"Mike's case is that he has a lot of potential," his former coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "He has to learn to be the go-to guy, but he's determined and athletic and he's still growing--who knows how big he'll be."
As far as the Warriors are concerned, they already have former Arizona player Gilbert Arenas and former Michigan State star Jason Richardson that they are bringing up in the backcourt.
If all goes according to plan, however, Golden State wants to play Dunleavy at the three and move Antwan Jamison back to his more natural power forward slot.
For the time being, Dunleavy was just excited to have a new team.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Dunleavy said. "Those guys are the guys to build around, and I think, just like any team player, I'm going to fit in well."
Helping Dunleavy make the transition will be his father Mike Dunleavy Sr., who had both a playing and coaching NBA career. His son has said that the two have not talked much about NBA life, but were instead focusing in recent weeks on making a decision about entering the draft--a decision that he says, despite advice from his parents, was ultimately his.
"I'm sure we'll sit down a lot this summer and we'll talk about how to be professional," he said. "I think I have an idea about how to be professional, but there are all kinds of things, the ins and outs of the game, on and off the court."
Off the court, Dunleavy must also focus on completing his degree. Since he, unlike teammates Jay Williams and Carlos Boozer, had not planned a year in advance to leave school early, Dunleavy still has, according to Krzyzewski, four and a half credits to graduate.
Dunleavy said at his press conference after being drafted that it was "never a question" of whether or not he was going to complete his degree.
In the end, he knows school can wait, and admits that all he really wants to do is start playing for the Warriors.
"Tell you what, right now, I know [my parents] are 100 percent sure. They absolutely are ecstatic with what I am doing," Dunleavy said. "It makes me happy, and my whole family is happy about it."
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