Carter Bryant

[arxpert]

Looking at several prominent NBA Mock Drafts, Bryant is projected 15th by Bleacher Report/NBA.Com, 23rd by USA Today and 18th by O'Connor on Yahoo. Bryant is solidly projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and now has a decision to make with his team.

Bryant could leave for the 2025 NBA Draft with the likelihood of earning a four-year rookie-scale contract, with the first two years guaranteed, or return to Arizona for his sophomore season, continue to develop and potentially be a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/cba/rookie-scale

If he really is IRONCLAD landing in the 15-23 range, Arizona would need to offer at least around 3 to 4 million and Feature him in order to get him to stay.

Tommy goofed up in many ways this year. I pleaded with him. Use him or lose him.

I think if Carter stays, he will be a no doubt Top 10 pick next year which is around Double the money.

I don't think Carter is in a race to be a Super Max player so 1 more year in College won't hurt that and the NBA pay scale will be rising massively. So if he is due an extension say by 2028 and he is legitimately a good player, he will undoubtedly get his 150-200mil deal.

If he is SOLID, he will stand to earn around 60-90mil.

If I were in Carter's corner, unselfishly, I would really ask him to consider staying in Arizona and force them to purchase an insurance policy that covers what he would miss out this year. It would really be worth it to all parties. Even a good Agent could make a contingency that if he does land the "Jalen Williams" of OKC extension type money, that perhaps he can do a charitable donation that "pays back" the money laid out to insure his return.

I really want to see

Burries
Bradley
Carter
Koa
Krivas

Delly
Awaka

That's the 7 guys you go to war with. Tommy needs to find 1 more 6'11' ATHLETIC type with a nice Wingspan and really cement the Bigs rotation and we would be looking Enfuego.

Then you have "Nelson" looming.

[Bear]

Our ceiling is higher with Carter returning. I want him back. I think he should return but see him more as a 3 year player. I just don't think he will hit close to top 10 next year due to team dynamics and NBA drafting on potential. I wanted to see him play a lot more this year. Should have been starting. Early season progress through mistakes and so on. Spilled milk at this point.

Carter looked best when he dribbles 1x or less. Great as a 3 and D wing. Year 2 if he came back, he is competing for points against Peat and Burries with a pg that isn't pass first which may not play well with Carter's ROI.

If Bradley could up his assists at least 2 more per game or Burries plays heavy lead guard minutes and is dishing, come on back CB. If it's rinse and repeat of last year with a dribble heavy create your own, or more post heavy play with Mo and Peat, I would bolt for 20ish. He can develop there just as well as here.

Would like a high end wing to replace Carter but I don't see why Aristode couldn't do next year exactly what Carter did this year for us. If we want him to develop like we wanted CB starting, it's an early season sacrifice for strength later. A similar progression as this year.

If CB stays we have Nelson, Delly, Aristode, and Awaka off the bench. Get Bryce needs some tick too. Otherwise, bring on an RJ Luis and it's FF or bust. It's FF or bust if CB stays too.

Not sure if lower NIL deal is compensated by playing time guarantees but hate seeing portal players disappear as we navigate these waters. If NIL is your drive and you got it, put on your big boy pants because you might get decleated.

[mvpreed2]

Bryant is another prospect in a long list of examples of why I do not like when coaches slow-play the 5* prospect.
You land the 5*, but instead of starting him instantly?
You have him coming off the bench?

The problem there is normally the prospect is going to figure it out.
Now, it is hard for you to keep him off the floor.
The worst part is he is peaking right around the end of the conference play leading into the NCAA Tournament.
Lloyd better hope Bryant wants to be a lottery pick because he is gone!

NOTE: I have zero inside information, and I am not "in the know". All posts are made off of logic, reason and personal decisions should I been in their shoes. Thank you.
#BearDown

[arxpert]

Carter looked best when he dribbles 1x or less. Great as a 3 and D wing. Year 2 if he came back, he is competing for points against Peat and Burries with a pg that isn't pass first which may not play well with Carter's ROI.

If Bradley could up his assists at least 2 more per game or Burries plays heavy lead guard minutes and is dishing, come on back CB. If it's rinse and repeat of last year with a dribble heavy create your own, or more post heavy play with Mo and Peat, I would bolt for 20ish. He can develop there just as well as here.

Would like a high end wing to replace Carter but I don't see why Aristode couldn't do next year exactly what Carter did this year for us. If we want him to develop like we wanted CB starting, it's an early season sacrifice for strength later. A similar progression as this year.

I agree with this, however - the difference in development in the NBA vs NCAA is staggering. You have to think about it in terms of... Carter may not be able to play 20min per game... I mean, Zeke Nnaji barely plays and he might be 4 or 5 years in now?

The differences you are thinking are more "on paper"... We have physically seen Carter snap 3's rising up in an unblockable way. If we do have some creators who are unwilling to pass even 4 times a game each, then Carter will end up that guy with 10 to 13 FG per game. Especially if he is "on"

I think if Carter returns we will see 5 guys averaging over 12ppg which is pretty good, but not unheard of these days. We have elite talent. Bradley is sort of at risk of losing his grip on the "Floor General" position. He already gave it up this year to Caleb Love.

Bradley was there for us when it mattered though.

I don't think Burries will be a 20ppg guy or KOA will command the ball that way. I don't know what Aristode is at the moment. I think Carter's shot is amazing. He needs to work on FTs big time. Aristode may get the Carter treatment if CB stays. I think Carter really should consider staying. 3 years of playing 5-12min per game isn't going to get him "paid" when his time comes.

He won't get any instant NBA playing time if he is out there guarding the 3 or 4. That's guarding Lebron, Kawhi, etc.. I don't think he is "ready" for that. SGA is 6'6".. not going to be guardable by Carter's 3+D archetype... it took Pelle and Keshad Johnson all year to get some minutes on the Heat and they are known for drafting players like Carter.

Carter needs just a little bit more meat on the bones. I think we have a good gym and a strength program. Probably just as good as NBA level. The thing with NBA is most players don't lift weights. They don't really even have time to especially during an 82 game season. So you sort of are what you are.

I hope Carter returns and uses every moment he can until November to bulk up. He has all the attributes. His stock will increase and there is insurance of injury.

Tommy doesn't seem like he will play Aristode or Bryce over Carter obviously.

I left them off the list because i didn't think Tommy was going to play them much.

Burries
Bradley
Carter
Koa
Krivas

Delly
Aristode
Awaka

Bryce
Nelson

Still missing 1 "J'Wan Roberts/Francis/Tuggler" type of Houston who can come in if needed as a 3rd behind Krivas and Awaka. Tommy has so many lineups available right now even without adding 1 more big, but I still recommend one. Especially a guy who can hit a jump shot/3pt shot and is 75-85% FT line. Just so that we don't have any "Hack a Ballo's"

We are going to be super young no matter what where it matters. Carter is someone who I think learned leadership qualities and would mesh really well as a Young Big 3. Carter, Burries, Koa playing heavy minutes with 3 Battle Tested Guys: Bradley, Awaka, Delly.. and then Krivas who you just have to hope is on a different level than anyone is thinking right now.

Duke showed how Freshman laden classes can go far.

Auburn and Houston were all 23-25 year olds

Florida had a mix, but similar to their 2 Back to Back Natty's, had great Twin Towers and an Elite Guard leading the way.

I think from an Arizona Basketball fan it makes sense for Carter to go pro, but he won't earn as much money in doing so. If I were close to Carter personally I would trust Tommy and get it in writing that 30 Minutes and 10 FGA is the benchmark this year. Obviously the game flows as it does, but there has to be someone willing to speak up for Carter.

I think if those parameters are met, Arizona will have 3 Top 10 picks in Carter, Koa, and Burries. Maybe another Lottery pick in Krivas.

This is Serious situation and Aristode may be phenomenal as well as phenomenal insurance if Carter declares, but Tommy could really start a heck of a trend where he finds Elite players who stay 2 years.