[CBS Sportsline] Aldridge a goner

In yet another follow-up, CBS annoyance Gregg Doyel reports that Lamarcus Aldridge "has spoken with coach Rick Barnes about entering the NBA Draft" and "is making inquiries about agents." I do not really understand the benefit of guys like Aldridge and Rajon Rondo commiting to an agent so early in the process. It is my understanding that the NBA has set up a deal where plenty of credible scouts and sources are available for potential draft entrants to use as references so that they do not have to sever all ties to their amateur status.

As Chad Ford says in his ESPN blog today, Rondo's inability to make a shot without having his hand in the cylinder makes his draft stock "volatile", at best. Ford does have Aldridge listed as the #3 player overall on his "Big Board" and has Rondo listed as the #2 overall point guard behind UConn's Marcus Williams, but Rondo could sure use another year or two to discover a jump shot and Aldridge, though clearly a tremendous talent, is still extremely raw fundamentally. It just seems like, especially in Aldridge's case, he'd be smart to "test the water" sans agent. What does he have to lose?