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Following Potential 2026 Draftees

He's going to get $3-4M in NIL money (one of the biggest deals ever) to go play for BYU. How is $100M guaranteed a year later? He'll get a 4 yr/$55M rookie deal.

And we've seen a number of top recruits go an alternate route and still go #1 overall.

Cade - OK State
Edwards - UGA
Simmons - LSU
Fultz - Washington
Yeah, Id rather be a college student at all those schools than BYU for reasons I dont feel like I have to explain.

But props to him if he's just focused on basketball 100% and he feels that's the best situation.

And the 100M comes from endorsements along with the 55 rookie scale deal. Obviously he's not getting it all at once, but I dont feel like he needs to prioritize the highest NIL bag to make his college decision.
 
Yeah, Id rather be a college student at all those schools than BYU for reasons I dont feel like I have to explain.

But props to him if he's just focused on basketball 100% and he feels that's the best situation.

And the 100M comes from endorsements along with the 55 rookie scale deal. Obviously he's not getting it all at once, but I dont feel like he needs to prioritize the highest NIL bag to make his college decision.
I'd assume the deciding factor for the majority of top recruits is the NIL bag at this point
 
As it should be, but AJ is kind of past that and is more of a sure thing than most top 10 recruits.
The same could've been said about Simmons, Cade, Fultz, and Edwards.
All of them could've went to an elite blue blood program, received more exposure, played with better teammates, and had a chance to compete for a national title.

Instead they all chose programs where they'd be the big man on campus from day one, would have the ball in their hands at all times, and would be able to coast through the college basketball season.

AJ living in Utah already, potentially going to BYU, and having a relationship with Danny and Ryan could definitely pay dividends for us in the future.
 
I think Danny and Ryan's personal relationship could tip them to really pull the plug this off season and pull the trigger on a Lauri trade. They may convince themselves that they are light years ahead.
 
I think Danny and Ryan's personal relationship could tip them to really pull the plug this off season and pull the trigger on a Lauri trade. They may convince themselves that they are light years ahead.
Wouldn't that put us light years behind?
 
I think pulling the plug happens if we don't get a top 5 pick this year... maybe. The runway on being good during Lauri's prime starts to get short if we don't land a high potential prospect in this draft.
 
I could see us trying to do another hail mary and almost getting someone, then pivoting to a Lauri trade as backup.
 
I think pulling the plug happens if we don't get a top 5 pick this year... maybe. The runway on being good during Lauri's prime starts to get short if we don't land a high potential prospect in this draft.
I kind of see it the opposite, but not exactly. I think what direction we take this summer is more dependent on how our young guys play this year. So if we have a better than expected record because our young guys are further along than expected then we try to win next year. If not our record will be worse and we will have a better draft pick.

It's hard for me to imagine making a decision based on a draft pick that hasn't played an NBA minute yet.
 
I kind of see it the opposite, but not exactly. I think what direction we take this summer is more dependent on how our young guys play this year. So if we have a better than expected record because our young guys are further along than expected then we try to win next year. If not our record will be worse and we will have a better draft pick.

It's hard for me to imagine making a decision based on a draft pick that hasn't played an NBA minute yet.
My thinking is if you get the guy... you can kind of go full steam ahead. I think Cooper may be the only guy you'd feel confident to that level as of right now. If you get a guy you think could be the guy (maybe 3-4 guys in that group) then you can justify limping along another year or taking on a buy low on a potential all star... think someone in the Brandon Ingram tier of player.

If you end up with the 5th or 6th best record... then slip to 7/8 and think you get one of the leftover guys who you may or may not be sold on... then you may look around and say its gonna be a while and we really need to make sure we have a good shot at Boozer/Dybansta and bail on Lauri.

IDK its just a thought. I doubt DA plays it out like this in his head tho. Not that he isn't a critical thinker... I just think he's less mapped out than say Presti.
 
Ok was watching the exhibition between Duke and ASU. Was impressed by Jayden Quiantance 6'9" forward. He is only 17 and playing college ball. When he becomes draft eligible he will already have 2 years of college.
 
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