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Luc Richard Mbah a Moute has joined Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook in the pool of early entrants into this year’s NBA Draft, though unlike some underclassmen he seems to be carefully wading in rather than screaming “Cannonball!” and making a splash. Like Love and Westbrook, Mbah a Moute will hold off on hiring an agent until he can answer the question of where he might go- if anywhere- come draft day.

Unlike Love and Westbrook, there’s a high probability said answer could land him back at UCLA for his senior season.

Sometimes, another year of school won’t help a player. One example from very recent Bruins history would be Arron Afflalo. By the time he finished his junior season, most scouts knew exactly what he was- a tough defender and extremely hard worker with decent range on his shot and the ability to go to the hole, but without the unholy athleticism to run with long guards heavy on quick and an offensive game that while nice, would be unlikely to translate to big points at the next level. A great senior year wasn’t likely going to elevate him from late-first round/early second round status. A poor one, though, could have hurt.

Mbah a Moute, however, currently is unlikely to get into the first round without a huge showing at predraft exhibitions and workouts, and another year at Westwood could go a long way towards bumping his status. He could use the time to improve his midrange game, and more importantly, show teams he can stay healthy for an entire season. As a defender, he could probably make it on the next level, but I can’t picture a team taking him in the first round. Given the upheaval in the program, Mbah a Moute could play a much bigger role on both ends next season for Ben Howland. That can only help him, and since he is, at best, a marginal first round pick (and might even go undrafted), I don’t see a downside to one more year.

I have a feeling, too, that’s how it’ll play out. No harm in testing the waters, though.

Brian Kamenetzky hosts the Lakers Blog and Blue Notes: A Dodgers Blog for the LA Times.com. He’s a contributing writer to ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, and can be heard regularly on the Steve Mason Show, on 710 ESPN radio in LA. Write him at bk@sportshubla.com.

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