.jpg)
2 hours ago
1
This is a pivotal time for the future of the NBA, as prospects from around the world showcase their talent and receive feedback at the Draft Combine. Many athletes will eventually withdraw from the draft and return to college basketball—however long that may be.
This year’s combine features some of the brightest young stars in the game. It provides a key opportunity for both older and younger college players to showcase their abilities just a month before the NBA Draft. For many, it’s a chance to significantly improve their draft stock.
One player has already decided to withdraw his name from the draft: Arkansas point guard Boogie Fland. Fland was projected to be a one-and-done out of high school, but a midseason injury appears to have disrupted that path. While it's still early for fringe prospects to make decisions, Fland may have chosen to act quickly because the signs were already clear.
“Miller represents Fland and must have heard enough feedback from NBA scouts to realize the writing was on the wall: Fland would be better off making another year of NIL money than testing his salt in the NBA,” Nick Roush wrote.
Mike Miller, Fland’s agent, seems to have used his NBA experience to determine that staying in the draft was too risky. Not only that, the feedback may not be what the two sides wanted to hear. Meanwhile, a potential frontrunner has emerged to land Fland with a lucrative offer on the table.
“If the star point guard decides to return to college, Florida may already have sunk their claws into him. And the price tag, according to Bo Mattingly of The Chuck & Bo Show, could top out at around $7 million,” Austin Farmer wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
It’s possible Miller advised his client to withdraw with that deal in mind—or perhaps the feedback from NBA scouts simply didn’t align with what they hoped to hear from the professional level.
English (US)