He’s still technically a junior player for them and doesn’t take a salary. He may be provided necessary room and board but not much else. I’m sure there is a lot more to it but that’s what I’ve gathered over the last eight years or so.
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Ugh hope they don’t know what the hell they are talking about
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Not so fast my friend. Let’s see what develops in the next days and weeks. 
I’m not sure they do, adamsmit86, but I guess we’ll see.
Just spent some time over on mgoblog (not one of my favorite pastimes) and the German newspaper article was posted there, too. Only five or six comments so far, mostly disappointed/depressed. One commenter believes, as I do, that the article doesn’t say he is staying in Germany, so it may not be a done deal. Let’s wait a week, or perhaps a few weeks, before we get too upset with this “news.”
I asked a friend who is a German professor.
He says his impression is that Wagner is using the Michigan offer as leverage to get a large contract from Alba. His priority is whatever gets him more ready faster for the NBA.
Edit: this is his interpretation of the article
who is the last player who went from alba to NBA directly?
I asked a friend who usually roots for Germany in the World Cup and he says that Franz is a lock to come to Michigan.
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The coach of Alba has coached over a dozen NBA players. The Gasols, Sergio Rodriguez, Ricky Rubio among them.
I don’t see anywhere in the translated article it saying that he is staying in Germany.
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Real insiders are clear when they put something out there.
However, Franz Wagner is already thinking about the near future “without interruption”. Talks about a contract for the upcoming season did not exist yet. “We have to do that now,” he said. “I hope they want to keep me.” A solution seems tangible, because even Alba would like to keep his youngster. “We will hold talks in a timely manner,” Ojeda announced.
It does not say he is staying however I think it is accurate to say he is trawling for a contract. Maybe it will be smaller than he wants who knows.
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Can anyone think of a reason why Franz would not want to have the option of a contract to stay?
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If he was set on playing @ UofM
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i am curious on how a typical european basketball contract works for young domestic players? are there transfer fees as in the soccer world? or poison pills to protect the club’s interests if the player is drafted by NBA or declare his eligibility? i can see a 4-5 year contract with plenty of strings works out for both parties.
All the article says is that Franz is looking for a contract offer from Alba. The most you could safely deduce is that he is looking at his options and wants to make them as appealing as he can. In the old days that post would have been taken down or a new title demanded–it doesn’t always seem like anyone’s at home over there these days.
Nonetheless, the article may stand as something of a caution to those of us who assumed his coming was a done deal.
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I will definately take another top 50-100 Player for this class. I hope he comes. Either that or Iggy comes back ( which I doubt) we may get Cumberland this season. (As a grad transfer) but I would much rather have Franz or Iggy back.