And it comes back to the well debated issue of whether it’s better to develop on an NBA bench or GLeague or being a key player in college at Virginia.
Getting paid to play, not having academic responsibilities, not being limited on practice time with coaches, twice as many games on the schedule vs developing under fantastic coaches (for up to 20 hours a week), finishing a degree, maybe NIL compensation, traveling first class, big man on campus status, maybe improve your draft position.
Personally, if I were a lottery pick, no question I’d leave. Any first round guarantee, I’d leave too. Even if I improve my draft position from 30 to 10, that’s 3.3M guaranteed plus 2 options vs 7.3M guaranteed. Sure, 4 mil is a lot, but 3.3 is enough to set you up for life and you’re a year closer to the 2nd contract that could set generations of your family for life plus you have an extra year of earning potential. Even a later second rounder like Isaiah Joe got 2.4 guaranteed. I leave for that too. Even a guy on a 2 way deal makes half a mil a year for the time they’re on the NBA roster. I’d have to think hard about a 2 way or GLeague contract. If I could realistically improve my draft position, I’d stay, but if I can’t it’d depend on whether I liked school or just wanted to get a start on my career.