Only first-round picks are assured of receiving fully guaranteed contracts…
Chicago — You may argue that the NBA Draft Combine, particularly the five-on-five scrimmages, have a greater impact on college basketball than on the NBA.
Even this year, when fewer players than ever chose to sit out the games, the vast majority of the anticipated first-round picks did not take part in live action. Instead, NBA officials were able to observe players who were largely contending for second-round places or, at most, late first-round picks.
That’s a group littered with players who have remaining college eligibility and are still trying to decide whether to stay in the college ranks or enter and commit to the draft and professional ball.
Neither decision comes with guarantees. Whereas the professional track used to mean more money, even if players ended up abroad or in the G League, that is no longer necessarily the case with the dramatic rise and impact of NIL.
Only first-round picks are assured of receiving fully guaranteed contracts. The most likely scenario for second-rounders, as well as some top undrafted players, is a two-way deal, which pays just over $500,000 on the season and is not guaranteed. The going NIL rate for players like the ones in the combine is likely higher than that in the current market. In other words, unless they’re first-round picks, it’s very possible playing college basketball next season would be their most lucrative option.
Conversely, the narrative that coming back to school is a means to improving your draft stock is not always true, especially when next year’s draft currently looks much better than this years. Coming back to school certainly worked for UConn’s Donovan Clingan, and even Purdue’s Zach Edey, who really improved his stock this week, but it’s not difficult to find cautionary tales, either. Here’s what I’d advise.
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