I’m guessing Franz’s draft stock is as high as it will ever be. He would have to make a major leap next year to move higher. Incremental improvements would merely tread water with his draft status because he’d be a year older and if he had a bad year for whatever reason, he’d probably fall out of the 1st round.
Selfishly it’d be nice if he came back to make my favorite team better next season. I mean that would be great for me. If he was my son, though, I would encourage him to go pro unless he is just so enjoying being in college that he is willing to potentially cost himself money long term to do it.
Big East doesn’t have the 4 year scholarship rule since they haven’t adopted the 4 year rule. Michigan is in Power 5. He explicitly said P5 athletes can’t get out of scholarship as long as they maintain good standing with school, AD and the community. Unless Jace was insubordinate or got arrested, he’s on scholarship until his eligibility runs out.
It’s interesting how the attitude on message boards on this has changed in recent years. Fans used to desperately beg players to stay and take it personally if they went pro. This could be quite cringe-worthy. But now it’s almost like people are overcompensating for that and say that anyone who turns down the chance is an idiot.
It’s his life and he gets to choose at 19 years old whether to be an NBA player or big man on campus next year. It’s a nice position to be in.
You know some of us have “grounded” our kids when they do something we don’t like or think is inappropriate, but how taking away a scholarship! “You were insubordinate to your mom by talking back to her, young man! I’m taking your scholarship!” Of course who would be the one who would really be paying the price for that?!?
One of my sons quit a high paying job on Wall Street for a 50+% haircut because he didn’t want the grind. He decided to go work for a small company due to quality of life. He didn’t want to give up the opportunity in his 20’s to enjoy life and have memorable experiences.
My other son went to an Ivy League college and could have almost any job he wants, but he decided he wanted to be an associate pastor on college campuses to help change people’s life for the better. He will be making slightly over minimum wage to start.
Franz will make plenty of money (millions) whether he goes to the NBA this year or next. Clearly he will make more money if he goes this year. But he won’t be poor either way. What he will miss if he doesn’t come back for another year is playing in front of all us crazy Michigan fans and have a chance the win the National Championship in front of capacity crowds. That is a once in a lifetime experience and part of the reason he came to Michigan instead of going pro in Germany two years ago.
Not saying he won’t enter the draft this year (still probably is the case), but there is a chance that other factors may weigh more to him than just money, so there is still a possibility he comes back another year.
We will support any decision that Franz makes, but what I am trying to say is that it is not necessarily a “mistake” or “dumb decision” if he does return .
I was workshopping this same joke. He can presumably get advice from Jeff Jackson, but if I were him, I’d really get some bang for the buck and take a Michigan State or Ohio State athlete with him into incarceration.
I don’t think anyone will be upset with Franz if he comes back. They’re just stating the factors involved and maximizing his earning potential would mean leaving now. Returning to win a national title could be a reason to stay, but is also a highly emotional reason. The actual chance of winning a national title for any team in the preseason are unlikely to be much higher than 5%.
Also again, Dot just said Franz is gone in this thread, and we just recruited his spot. Even if we could open that scholarship if we wanted, our need for another rotation player is not very high if Franz were staying. Connect the dots, no pun intended
I must have missed that Dot said that because I don’t remember him saying affirmatively that Franz is gone… it just looks like Franz may have a decision already but not what that decision is. I still believe that he is gone but I don’t think you can read what Dot said as that affirmation
I think the change has to do with guaranteed contracts in the NBA and the NBA G League. Or at least, that’s how my mindset changed.
Basically, it used to be that you should 100% leave if you are a lottery pick, and 75/25 if you project to the first round (or moreso end of first/early 2nd). Now the worst guaranteed 1st round contract is 2-years, 4+ million. With team options for the 3rd and 4th year - which unless you’re a total bust, you usually get the 3rd year picked up.
Now, even MOST of the 2nd round picks are signing multi-million guaranteed contracts.
Secondly, these guys have the G League to continue NBA development. A lot of rookies go down to the G League if they aren’t receiving playing time and get a chance to continue to play in an NBA type setting/offense. It’s no longer that a rookie is sitting on the end of the bench - instead they are getting experience.
It’s just harder and harder to argue that college basketball is the ONLY or BEST route for these kids to develop.
If Dot says a decision has been made, and there’s not more positive rumblings, to go along with Jones inevitable commitment, I think it’s more than safe to assume that decision is to go to the NBA.
if so it’s honestly pretty funny