Nate Oats landed another gem on Sunday with Miami transfer and former 5-star guard, Jalil Bethea, who chose Alabama Basketball over many other options. The best thing about Alabama landing Bethea is that he is a perfect fit for the Nate Oats system. That Bethea passed on Will Wade and North Carolina State is sweet cake icing.
Including the three incoming freshmen, Nate Oats has added six new players for next season's team. His average has been eight new players over the past three seasons. He might go even higher in this cycle if Alabama increases the number of men's basketball scholarships as allowed in expanded roster limits.
What happens with three players from the 2024-25 team may not be known until June. Decisions by Jarin Stevenson and Derrion Reid could come at any time. An NBA 'go or no go' decision by Labaron Philon may not be made for several weeks.
The NBA's Early Entry deadline is Apr. 26. The NBA G League Combine, followed by the NBA Combine, are May 9 through May 18. The Early Entry withdrawal deadline is June 15. Philon will get plenty of NBA feedback, along with workouts from a few teams. Few mock drafts have him going in the first round.
While some NBA second-round selections can negotiate guaranteed deals, the projected number for the 2025 Draft is around $635K for the next season. Only about 50% of that amount would be guaranteed. Alabama Basketball can afford to pay Philon more.
A sound business strategy for Philon would be to try to play his way into a late first-round selection through the combines and team workouts. Even at the last pick in the NBA Draft First Round, Philon would make more money than Alabama can afford to pay.
Alabama Basketball 'Wait and See'
That strategy would put Nate Oats in a 'wait and see' mode, requiring him to hold on to a big chunk of his player payroll funds. Philon is worth the wait, but doing so is not without risk. Patience is of limited value in the 'pay for play' era of college basketball.
Elite players are drawn to Alabama Basketball because the Nate Oats system prepares them well for the NBA. Whatever happens with Philon, Reid, and Stevenson, Alabama will have a strong roster next season. With Philon and one of Reid or Stevenson, it might be a Final Four roster.