Yaxel Lendeborg is at a crucial crossroads in his career: stay in the NBA Draft or resume his NCAA career. Both options have their pros and cons, but the truth is that he is running out of days to make a decision.
Yaxel Lendeborg: NCAA vs. NBA Draft
The point is that Lendeborg is not a guaranteed first-round pick, even though many see it that way. If he takes a chance and is selected in the second round, his situation could change dramatically, and not for the better.
Analyst Jeff Goodman put it this way in the latest edition of The Field of 68 podcast:
“I wonder if is Yaxel a big roulette player, because I think that’s what he’s doing here. I do. I think that’s what he would do. You know, you go back to Michigan, you got $3 million on the table, right? Otherwise, you are playing roulette right now, with your career.”
“Do you take the given? Are you a conservative person, or are you going to roll the dice? Because yeah, sure, he could go 20 to 25. He could also fall out and go 35, and he’ll get a guaranteed deal at 35? The investment is not the same. That’s the biggest thing.”
“It’s not necessarily the money. It’s the investment by the general manager to make sure a guy succeeds when he drafts him as a first round pick. And Yaxel could easily fall out of the top 30.”
Goodman not only exposed the risk Lendeborg is taking, but stated that he personally would not hesitate to return to the NCAA.
“I would be conservative. I would take the money in hand and playing for a program like Michigan when you’ve been at a mid-major level at UAB for, you know, your career. Experience that, prove it again at Michigan in the Big 10.”
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Lendeborg is considered the top prospect on all available NCAA Division I transfer portals. No wonder Michigan is offering him a $3 million contract if he decides to play for them next season.
ESPN projects the 6’9″ forward to be the No. 27 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, making him the Brooklyn Nets’ top pick.
Lendeborg has until May 29 to withdraw from the transfer portal, and until June 15 to do it from the draft.
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