🏀 🏀 2025-26 Bama Basketball Off-season News and Updates: THURS Press Conference with Nate Oats

[BAMAneck]

Gotta come back if your not solidly in the 1st round.

 

[Bammerboy321]

 

[Justneedme81]

That was given. They both challenge each other.

 

[UAgrad93]

On Philon, I believe if you aren't guaranteed top 20 pick, you need to come back to improve your draft stock. You get voutside that Top 20, you run into more teams looking overseas and bumping you lower and likely out of first round and guaranteed money. JMO

 

[TerryP]

On Philon, I believe if you aren't guaranteed top 20 pick, you need to come back to improve your draft stock. You get voutside that Top 20, you run into more teams looking overseas and bumping you lower and likely out of first round and guaranteed money. JMO

Weigh that thought against this.

What if the evaluation told him staying in school would not improve his draft stock? We've seen that every season for years. We've also seen guys make a mistake each year when they could have improved over the course of another season.

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This isn't meant as a "dig" or a "knock" on anyone: just an observation that has entertained me over the years.

We've seen so many "he should do this" in conversations like this one but it's seldom we see "he needs to do this."

 

[Bammerboy321]

That was given. They both challenge each other.

Yep. This was a drop in the bucket given their relationship. Look forward to the series. Hogdson will have USF competing in no time.

 

[TerryP]

Hogdson will have USF competing in no time.

I want to say they were a 25 win team last season: no invitations as I recall. (I don't remember when their coached passed: that may have played into that.)

Competing. He and that program have a tough row to hoe with teams like Wichita State, Memphis, Temple ... there are some solid programs in The American—a one bid conference.

 

[BamaFan334]

Weigh that thought against this.

What if the evaluation told him staying in school would not improve his draft stock? We've seen that every season for years. We've also seen guys make a mistake each year when they could have improved over the course of another season.

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This isn't meant as a "dig" or a "knock" on anyone: just an observation that has entertained me over the years.

We've seen so many "he should do this" in conversations like this one but it's seldom we see "he needs to do this."

This is an honest question. Is coaching in the NBA better than college? A lot of coaches dip into the NBA and bring guys to assist in college. I guess where I am trying to understand is "staying in school would not improve his draft stock" so are they simply going on his perceived ceiling (developing and coachability) or saying his talent is limited and peaked so he is better off shooting his shot at the NBA now?

 

[TerryP]

This is an honest question. Is coaching in the NBA better than college? A lot of coaches dip into the NBA and bring guys to assist in college. I guess where I am trying to understand is "staying in school would not improve his draft stock" so are they simply going on his perceived ceiling (developing and coachability) or saying his talent is limited and peaked so he is better off shooting his shot at the NBA now?

I'm sure there are many reasons. What I was pointing to is this...

Let's say it's 2030 and he's in the league playing every night. Did one more season in college help him get there, or was it the extra year playing in the league?

Just because NIL is in the picture doesn't make a kid any more likely to be a NBA prospect today as it will a year from now: some just aren't. I see a lot say "he's coming back because of NIL." I'm leaning towards that being bullshit. They come back because they don't have a step forward.

 

[alabama mike]

I'm sure there are many reasons. What I was pointing to is this...

Let's say it's 2030 and he's in the league playing every night. Did one more season in college help him get there, or was it the extra year playing in the league?

Just because NIL is in the picture doesn't make a kid any more likely to be a NBA prospect today as it will a year from now: some just aren't. I see a lot say "he's coming back because of NIL." I'm leaning towards that being bullshit. They come back because they don't have a step forward.

I’ll bite on this. IMO, Philon will come back bc he is not guaranteed a top 1-15 draft choice this year. Does he have the talent to be a late first or second round pick? Absolutely! If we will recall, he hit a wall this season and really struggled with his game. I do think another year of college will help him in the long run bc he will practice and play every day. If he goes to the NBA, I do not see him getting a lot of minutes. Of course, that also depends on the team drafting him. Do I want him going to the NBA? No, if he is not going to get good minutes or end up in the G League like some of our others who have left early. I wish him the very best in whatever decision he makes.

 

[Justneedme81]

I’ll bite on this. IMO, Philon will come back bc he is not guaranteed a top 1-15 draft choice this year. Does he have the talent to be a late first or second round pick? Absolutely! If we will recall, he hit a wall this season and really struggled with his game. I do think another year of college will help him in the long run bc he will practice and play every day. If he goes to the NBA, I do not see him getting a lot of minutes. Of course, that also depends on the team drafting him. Do I want him going to the NBA? No, if he is not going to get good minutes or end up in the G League like some of our others who have left early. I wish him the very best in whatever decision he makes.

He can play a lot in g league. Hell get called up and play 25 games and then if he does well conver contract to rookie deal and all. It is real hard to make team. Look at JD Davidson. Left early and spent lot of time in g league. Philon will be the same

 

[TerryP]

He can play a lot in g league. Hell get called up and play 25 games and then if he does well conver contract to rookie deal and all. It is real hard to make team. Look at JD Davidson. Left early and spent lot of time in g league. Philon will be the same

Assuming he gets a two way contract...he's looking at a little less than 600K a year if he's average.

 

[Justneedme81]

Assuming he gets a two way contract...he's looking at a little less than 600K a year if he's average.

Yup. His realistic path is through g league. I don't see him impacting game as rookie and as starter. Hell need three or four years before becoming a solid contributor.

 

[TerryP]

Yup. His realistic path is through g league. I don't see him impacting game as rookie and as starter. Hell need three or four years before becoming a solid contributor.

If things are taken straight at face value, and CNO is saying he's hearing he's going to be drafted and goes on to talk about "not being on the board" after last season?

I'm thinking Oats is telling him to jump at your chance.

 

[Justneedme81]

If things are taken straight at face value, and CNO is saying he's hearing he's going to be drafted and goes on to talk about "not being on the board" after last season?

I'm thinking Oats is telling him to jump at your chance.

Also it tells me he got few players coming in if he's telling him to take chance.

 

[BamaFan334]

I'm sure there are many reasons. What I was pointing to is this...

Let's say it's 2030 and he's in the league playing every night. Did one more season in college help him get there, or was it the extra year playing in the league?

Just because NIL is in the picture doesn't make a kid any more likely to be a NBA prospect today as it will a year from now: some just aren't. I see a lot say "he's coming back because of NIL." I'm leaning towards that being bullshit. They come back because they don't have a step forward.

Meh, a lot of kids take that one year and improve their draft stock. Could JD have cracked the bench by now had he stayed one more year? Could Keon Ellis or Alex Reece be where they are with one less year in college? Who knows. Learning it's more about timing and luck anyways with basketball and baseball.

 

[TerryP]

Meh, a lot of kids take that one year and improve their draft stock.

One would have to look but I'd bet those numbers even out.

Here's a case in point: Hunter Dickinson. He looked at the league last year and instead of choosing to stay at Michigan he books to Kansas and plays another year. Now, in a different system. His draft stock, including playing in two different systems, is no higher today than it was a year ago. Last year he was a projected second rounder. Right now, a projected second rounder.

 

[Bammerboy321]

The Athletic mock draft has Philon going to the Celtics at 28. Philon is looking at the top 20.

I also take Nate Oats' recent quotes on thinking Philon getting drafted as a means of fully supporting him throughout this process.

 

[Justneedme81]

The Athletic mock draft has Philon going to the Celtics at 28. Philon is looking at the top 20.

I also take Nate Oats' recent quotes on thinking Philon getting drafted as a means of fully supporting him throughout this process.

If he does to Boston, he'll end up going through JD Davidson path and it'll take him a while. Hope he realizes that.

 

[TerryP]

If he does to Boston, he'll end up going through JD Davidson path and it'll take him a while. Hope he realizes that.

If I KNEW I was going to the Celtics, and I was in his shoes, no matter what I'm gone. Why? It's the Celtics.

I've never been a Celtics fan; never been a Celtic hater.