Alabama Basketball has 11 players on the payroll for next season. Alabama fans are convinced that Nate Oats must add one or two more. Some Crimson Tide fans have little patience for the ebb and flow of annual roster rebuilding. In contrast, Nate Oats appears to have no similar urgency. Some of the worried Alabama fans believe that frequently getting outbid for top players will result in diminished success. Nate Oats has a different perspective on that issue as well.
Alabama does not lack financial resources. Nate Oats just will not risk roster chemistry by paying any player well above the range of his other players. When Boogie Fland dropped out of the NBA Draft, he was never coming to Alabama. What Florida was willing to pay Fland was far more than Alabama would consider.
With the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline looming on May 28, PJ Haggerty may decide to withdraw. Reportedly, his advisors are asking college programs for $4M. He is an outstanding player, but apparently, no team has yet offered the $4M for his final college season. It has been rumored that Kansas State is willing to offer a bit over $3M. Transfer Portal experts claim that currently, the range of offers for top, available players is $2M to $3M.
Nate Oats has an Alabama Basketball Spending Cap
Nate Oats' cap on paying a player is not known. Speculation among Alabama basketball insiders is the ceiling is under $2M for a season. Players will transfer to Alabama for less money because they love Oats' style of play. Nate Oats also has a strong record of preparing guys for the NBA. But for many players, a million more bucks (or more) to play elsewhere is too much to decline.
The good news is that Nate Oats is excited about his current 11-player roster. Another player will likely be added. Another ball-handling guard would be great, but failing to add one would not be a disaster. Insiders say that despite the delay of a previously scheduled visit by Desmond Claude, Alabama is still in contention. The USC transfer would be a good fit for the Nate Oats system. Florida was on him until they landed Fland. Gonzaga and maybe Washington might be serious threats to Alabama's chances. The rumor is that Claude has been offered more than Nate Oats will pay, but that Claude prefers playing on the Oats' system. In this case, Oats and Claude are both being patient.