Even if he were to get a rookie exception exemption, he would get less money than we are offering and would play in half empty stadiums in the G League. Whatever...
NBA Draft
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It could theoretically be around $2.3m per year, with 3 years guaranteed. He would go to the NBA under that kind of contract.
Very unlikely to happen, though, so you're probably right about the money. But he would think very hard about it if he was offered guaranteed money for 3 years under the rookie minimum.
On the flip side. Come back make a ton of money and work on your game. Then you can enter a historically weak 2027 draft.
If he's this significantly opposed to going back to school that he's actively trying to negotiate his way into the SECOND ROUND, then he should stay in the draft. This is a mindless decision for those who even want to give a little effort to the non basketball (classes) side of things. The fact that he has a year, possibly two years of multi-million dollar eligibility left and he trying to back channel his way into the second round..... I'm at the whatever stage too.
I can't help but think he's worried that he'll bet buried on the roster and this is the highest that he thinks his ceiling will be? There is a lot of talent and NBA potential on this roster.
We also can't rule out that some of these young men are not interested in going to school anymore. Especially when they have had 2 or 3 years to get the college experience. They may be willing to take less if its guaranteed.
Lebron pulled strings and got his kid selected in the 2nd round (55th overall), not the 1st. I think Peja is trying something similar, with assurance Drej would get an exception deal. Less likely to succeed on that front.
Go watch a few NBA playoff games and tell me how many non-shooters are getting run. He needs to come back and improve his shooting to get what he's looking for and imagine he realizes that too.
“5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
The No. 5 pick might be the biggest pivot point of this draft, and it could reveal plenty about L.A.'s approach to the annual talent grab. Because there might be a best-player argument to be made here for Darius Acuff Jr. And there's almost certainly a best-fit label draped around Aday Mara, whose 7'3", 255-pound frame could immediately fill the void created by the deadline subtraction of Ivica Zubac.
With Wagler, though, the Clippers could see the convergence of both worlds.
With lead-guard creativity, off-guard shooting and big-guard size (6'6"), he might be regarded by many as the best player on the board. And since he should have significant off-ball value, he's probably the most natural fit with Darius Garland among this guard-heavy tier.”
Stephon Castle was a bad shooter in college (27% from 3, 35% from mid-range). But he was a freshman and had a lot of other skills on both sides of the ball.
No? He was the 55th pick.
I'm sorry. Not sure why I put down the 1st round. Yes, the Lakers did him a solid by sneaking him in the 2nd round. If he dad leaves, that will probably be the end of Bronny when his contract his up. He was already passed up during the playoffs when they were riddled with injuries.
I 100% agree with your take with what sticks and doesn't stick, playoffs or no playoffs, which is why trying to find one team that they can pin down is silly. I agree with LvillILL1 that taking this long is not abnormal. I also agree with FL that this was never a slam dunk. I do think that he's legitimately trying to find a way into the pros, ready or not.
I think that if Sacramento wasn't SO bad and they didn't need every draft pick to hit desperately, Peja could have sold Drej as a marketing tool while he was in the G-League.
I think it's fairly well known that every GM gave him feedback with the advice to go back to school to put the work in. I don't think he needed that feedback you know that, but it's still a good experience.
Parental advice is extremely important and his parental situation here is extremely unique. We'll know extremely soon.
Correct. My error. Point still stands. He was a kid that with any other father doesn't get drafted and probably doesn't even leave college. He used his dad's free agency situation as a leverage point. It worked.
I don't care if it's the 60th pick in the draft, if they're to the point where if ANY team offers him a guarantee, he's leaving....he's riding the connections of his dad. I would be shocked to see any team give him a full guarantee, but I could totally see Sacramento give him a sweet deal(for someone in his leverage and is nowhere near an NBA player right now) and if Drej is bent on leaving school and is ok going overseas....he'd nail down a top flight deal in Greece.
None of us know where his true headspace is. I do know that after the season, he took off the California in April to workout and prepare. Not sure how school work fit into that move?
I think that it's 90/10 that he comes back, but they are molding that 10% as much as possible.
Looks like Andrej and Fears are the last of the stay-or-go decisions that have been labeled as "fully expected to be back."
FightinIllini30
Future insider
No disrespect to Peja but he ain’t LeBron
The Galloping Ghost
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altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
The NBA draft is the manipulative girlfriend in this scenario:
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay, it will be double
Checking in after a while, we feeling we get to celebrate today or tomorrow that Stojakovic is announcing he’s staying with the ol’ Orange & Blue?
I can't believe I'm about to have to listen to Stephen A talk but I'll do it this one time for Keaton
I'm not sure how much leverage Peja has with Sacramento or any other team, but I am sure it's less than 1% of LeBron's leverage with LAL, especially 2 years ago.
Obviously, LeBron being a top 5 player of all time, by any objective measure gives him some sway, but even minus his contributions on the hardwood, he is a marketing juggernaut whose value to any team he has been on is multitudes more than whatever salary he has negotiated... Even with all his cache, the Lakers took Bronny with their very last pick.
The 2024 draft was also pretty thin on talent... No one drafted after Bronny has played demonstratively better than him, and no undrafted guys from that year have done much either... He may have in hindsight, been drafted...appropriately? There is an argument there to be made.
I'm sure Peja has some buddies he can call, but unlike the James' situation, their jobs won't be reliant on keeping Peja happy.
Gotta be honest, even though the Bulls are absolute butt right now, I'd still rather he go there than to the team where careers go to die...
In the last 10 years, the Bulls have finished 8th or better in the East twice. (3 playoff game wins) In the same span, the Clippers have finished 8th or better in the West 7 times. (28 playoff game wins)
The Bulls certainly have a better overall history, but recent history is not close.
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