Is Austin Rivers Leaving Too Soon?

    It's official as of today that Austin Rivers will forgo his sophomore season and declare his name for the NBA Draft. With that being said, Is Austin Rivers ready for the NBA? I absolutely think so.
     Here's why, Rivers does has some flaws in his game that were brought to light in his first year at Duke, but the kid has a NBA game. People are going to jump on my case when I say this, but the decision for Rivers to go to Duke was not the right fit for him to blossom. I guarantee you if Rivers would have chose to stay with Florida where he originally committed to play or decided to go to Kentucky there is not doubt in my mind that he would have been a POY candidate. The kid does have some work to do but who doesn't?, He does have a tendency to force the issue by driving too deep in lane resulting in a turnover, or his lack of having a consistent jump shot, but at the next level Rivers will shine.
    At 6'3 185 and a frame to build on Rivers is going to be a nightmare for defenders at the next level. In the NBA, you MUST be able to create your own shot in order to be a legitimate threat , and Rivers handle will keep defenders on their heels at all times keeping them honest. His drive and work ethic doesn't need to be questioned, and that will show as he continues to work on his game. What also is a major intangible is his killer instinct wanting the ball in his hands when the game is on the line, which was on display earlier against Carolina. That is something that can't be coached, and that what separates the great from the good.
    As I leave you thinking I want you to remember, Austin Rivers has been trained to have an NBA game since high school, with time and growing pains I have a feeling this kid is going to be something special.