Roster Management for 24-25

[bamamc1]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787158216133992570

Wow, basketball is using LANK. That’s going to leave a mark on a few. I love it. RTR

 

[BamaMoon]

Here's the kicker ... if Sears does come back, he doesn't have to be the guy on offense and he can just focus on the things needed to get him ready for the NBA and we would still have the potential to be a Final Four team.

Imo Cliff will be an even better complement to Grant and vice versa. Grant will be able to play a true stretch 4

Only way I can see Sears in the league is at PG, but that's not his most comfortable position. But, do we run him at point with two new guys who are true PGs sitting on the bench?

IDK. I just don't see Sears playing a true #2 at the NBA level at only 5'10".

Make no mistake about it. I hope Sears is back. He's so effective in CNO's offense and we can use him as a 1 or 2 and technically a 3 if we go with a 3 guard lineup.

 

[BamaMoon]

Without Sears, who is the big scorer?

CNO's offensive MO creates so many opportunities with 5 positionless players (in theory) that you can expect each position to garner impact points game in and game out.

IOW, we don't need a 25 point scorer. I'd argue that year before last it hurt us to be so dependent on Brandon Miller to get his 20 each game.

Sears can score 20+ a game, but with next year's infusion of talent I doubt it would happen as much. We'd probably be a better team if he averaged around 15-18 a game (which is nothing to sneeze at) because it would probably mean we are getting another 5 or 6 players with double digit scoring averages.

 

[BamaMoon]

I've heard Sears is probably coming back. TIFWIW.

 

[Bama9001]

I expect Sears back (fingers crossed). I don't expect Stevenson back but would love it if he returns.

 

[BamaMoon]

I do wonder how he and Nelson will mesh. I think most agree GN was a 4, pressed into a 5 role. I'm sure Nate will work it out and coach them. Just wondering...

I agree GN is not a #5. He's got the length at close to seven feet, but he's not built for that role, especially on defense.

The thing that will help him the most next year is Cliff will draw the biggest/longest defender away from GN and our length and offensive talent at the #2 and #3 positions will draw the other teams more athletic defenders. GN could possibly benefit from that.

 

[BamaMoon]

I expect Sears back (fingers crossed). I don't expect Stevenson back but would love it if he returns.

I'm been wrong before. I thought Primo could have used another year at Bama, but NBA drafts on potential not production.

That' said, with his long, but slender frame and him being so young, I think there's a good chance he's after feedback and will get what he wants and then come back for another year at Bama.

 

[oskie]

...
IDK. I just don't see Sears playing a true #2 at the NBA level at only 5'10".
...

Is Mark really only 5'10"?

I've never seen him listed as anything other than 6'1".

 

[TexasBama]

I promise you that it is much larger than a 10% chance that Sears returns. That doesn't mean that he won't leave but, I actually think he comes back.

We'll see how Sears does at the NBA combine. I think that will be a good read. The combine Stevenson is going to is for the G League; I think he's just putting his toes in the water. He's still only 18 years old.
And NIL money is better than G League money.

 

[BamaMoon]

Is Mark really only 5'10"?

I've never seen him listed as anything other than 6'1".

That's what we list him as, but I've heard several people say he more like 5'10".

 

[dayhiker]

We'll see how Sears does at the NBA combine. I think that will be a good read. The combine Stevenson is going to is for the G League; I think he's just putting his toes in the water. He's still only 18 years old.
And NIL money is better than G League money.

I wonder if that might also be what brings Sears back. I keep wondering what he can show scouts that they haven't already seen.

 

[TexasBama]

I wonder if that might also be what brings Sears back. I keep wondering what he can show scouts that they haven't already seen.

A G League contract starts around 50k. OTOH, the NBA rookie minimum is 1.1 mil, and an NBA two-way contract is around 550k. I think you have to be pretty confident you'll get in the Big Show when you consider dollars.

 

[BamaMoon]

A G League contract starts around 50k. OTOH, the NBA rookie minimum is 1.1 mil, and an NBA two-way contract is around 550k. I think you have to be pretty confident you'll get in the Big Show when you consider dollars.

Hasn't it been floated Sears could be in line for a $500K NIL deal for one more year at Bama?

 

[BamaMike05]

Hasn't it been floated Sears could be in line for a $500K NIL deal for one more year at Bama?

What I have been told is that Alabama has NIL money already available to give to Sears when he returns. That money will be a decent amount more than a two-way NBA deal. All I can really say is to expect Sears back.

 

[AlexanderFan]

What I have been told is that Alabama has NIL money already available to give to Sears when he returns. That money will be a decent amount more than a two-way NBA deal. All I can really say is to expect Sears back.

I think it would be his best decision. He’s not elite at anything, so he needs to improve on his defense and not let his offensive intensity falter as he does.

The NiL money will be a nice cushion if the NBA doesn’t pan out as well as he’d like.

 

[BamaMike05]

I guess our attention now turns to Sears and Stevenson.

I expect Stevenson to get the news he wants but return. We could use him, especially his length. He was showing signs of getting more aggressive and more confident. I think he could have a big year next year.

If Sears returns, our offensive potential just goes thru the roof. I'm not sure how it'll go with the draft potential. I want what's best for his NBA hopes, but I kind hope they tell him to use another year at Bama to get better.

If these two become the final two spots we are gonna be cooking with gasoline next year.

If one or both don't come back, I'm assuming CNO goes portal shopping again. Wouldn't mind seeing another quality big in the 7 foot range in case of foul trouble. I'm not sure what CNO might do with the other opening because we are flush with 1-3s right now.

We already have a 5 Star (depending on which service you look at) 6'11 freshman C coming in that will backup Cliff. If Sears stays in the draft, we will probably go after another ball handler. I don't think some of you realize how good Sherrell actually is.

 

[dayhiker]

I think it would be his best decision. He’s not elite at anything, so he needs to improve on his defense and not let his offensive intensity falter as he does.

The NiL money will be a nice cushion if the NBA doesn’t pan out as well as he’d like.

His 3pt shooting improvement seems elite to me.

 

[AlexanderFan]

His 3pt shooting improvement seems elite to me.

That does sound a little too rough. Let me try again: at his current level of play I think the NiL value at Alabama is greater than the NBA contract he would receive. I think by coming back and improving his game overall he could secure a decent round pick in the next draft.

 

[TexasBama]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1787204576547926158

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Once we know about Mark and Darin, the difficult part begins. Having this much talent is intoxicating. Turning it into a team – never guaranteed – takes hard work, alchemy and luck. Safe to say that Nate has never managed such a loaded roster. Does everyone buy into the shifting roles?