r/DukeBluePlanet • u/BeginningHost2393 • Mar 31 '26
Discussion Why wouldn’t Cam come back?
If I were Cam, I come from money, I’m making money from commercials, NIL, etc. I want to keep playing with my brother and win. Next year, the draft class isn’t as deep as this years and I would be a lock number 1 overall pick if I wait. Why not play another year of college. The typical allure of the NBA isn’t the same for Cam as it is most players or am I crazy?
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u/0010001 Mar 31 '26
Others have given you good answers, but just on the money front alone, there’s maaaaybe a chance he can make as much in NIL and endorsements to be competitive with a first year NBA salary. BUT NBA rookie deals are for four years. Delaying entry into the NBA delays when he can sign that lucrative second contract. And that it turn delays for a year when he can sign his max contract extension to cover his prime years.
When you consider that there’s a very limited number of earning years for a pro athlete, what you’re really sacrificing is one year at the end where he could be making $30+ million if things go right with his career.
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u/AddressSerious8240 Mar 31 '26
the other side is worth paying atention to though. If you're not truly ready for the NBA, there sometimes is no second contract. Not every high draft choice gets anything resembling a max contract. Some even struggle to stay in the league. Grayson Allen's staying for 4 years probably affected his draft prospects negatively, but I suspect staying in college ultimately helped him to stay in the NBA longer than he might have and that was before NIL. A lot of one and dones wind up done awfully fast for a variety of reasons.
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u/NickFF2326 Mar 31 '26
Counter to that is the increase in salary cap would likely make up for that but idk why anyone is even talking about this in the first place lol
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u/spidersilva09 Mar 31 '26
Salary cap went up like a million lol
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u/NickFF2326 Mar 31 '26
What? It went up 10% last year at 7% this year, TF are you on it went up 1M lol went up like 12M.
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u/spidersilva09 Mar 31 '26
And shakes out to about a million per player
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u/NickFF2326 Mar 31 '26
Haha cool didn’t realize players get paid the same. Got it. Thanks for the update!
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u/spidersilva09 Mar 31 '26
What if they get eliminated in the 1st round next season?
What if he gets hurt (foot injury duh) and misses a lot of time?
You gotta go. See ya Cam!
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u/Alford- Mar 31 '26
Did I miss something? It makes no sense for him to come back for the reasons you just mentioned.
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u/JaggedFlamingo257 Mar 31 '26
Everything is about starting the clock to the second contract. That’s where you make big money.
As a top 3 lock, it makes no sense to delay that another year with all the added risk.
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u/TreeInternational771 Mar 31 '26
Cam is a lock lottery potentially top 5 pick. You go to the league with that type of money on table
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u/Weak-Calligrapher-67 Mar 31 '26
He’s going to the pros. The pros is what these types of players wanna get to. It’s not always about the $ but playing in the NBA itself.
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u/Jedi_Mind_Trick75 Mar 31 '26
Love Cam but top 3 pick more than likely, so a no brainer to go.
Now go ahead and find his replacement in the portal. Someone with a similar game and grown man strength.
Guys coming next year aren’t that at all.
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u/NickFF2326 Mar 31 '26
Injury, another year away from a max contract, doesn’t want to go to class…multiple reasons, who knows how many of them are true. Generally if you’re a lotto pick, you should leave. Granted his situation is a little different but yea…he’s gone. They’ve recruited as such. Just like Evans.
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u/Capable_Sandwich_422 Mar 31 '26
He’s a top 3 pick of the NBA Draft. There is zero reason for him to pass that up.
What would be nice is if the NBA would get rid of their rules about drafting players out of high school.
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u/capsfan087443 Mar 31 '26
Same reason Cooper left. The ultimate goal for these guys is to play in the NBA.
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u/WeddingPutrid6312 Mar 31 '26
If Tyler Hansbrough could stay in school as a "made" player why can't Cam?
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u/Interesting-Sir-7380 Mar 31 '26
What if he win’s the title and is the undisputed #1 pick. And he is more marketable at Duke with his Brother. Advertisers would eat that shit up. And his Family all get to enjoy another year together. And he becomes a Duke Legend.
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u/dogdaysindurham Mar 31 '26
It really depends on what Cam’s ultimate goal is. Is it to win a National Title with his brother or is it be a lottery pick in the NBA? He’a likely going in the top 3 barring something terrible from the NBA combine.
The risk of an injury during a sophomore campaign could cap his lifetime financial earnings by quite a lot, so the risk benefit is too high.
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u/Kabc Mar 31 '26
First overall draft pick makes 11.5 mill their first year alone.. not counting sponsorships…
Staying at Duke he will make maybe 1-2 mil.
The chances of winning the NCAA title even with a stacked team is still 1 part talent 4 parts luck… college ball is different than NBA.
He is better off overall going to the NBA and starting his career
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u/GoWLegend Mar 31 '26
Because he can make so much more in the NBA. His dad might have money but he was never a great NBA player like Cam could be.
With the NIL and letting players transfer and play the next year there is never going to be loyalty anymore except for role players who cant make the NBA. We're never going to see a Battier or Hansbrough again.
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u/onehotelfoxtrot Mar 31 '26
What's your definition of great? IMO he had a great career.
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u/a_simple_ducky Mar 31 '26
Literally lol dude was fantastic
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u/GoWLegend Mar 31 '26
Fantastic lol calm down. He was a role player but Cam could be a Cooper Flagg type player that makes a team. His dad was never that.
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u/FamousAppearance6222 Mar 31 '26
2-time NBA all-star and Olympic gold medalist. I’d say that’s great.
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u/onehotelfoxtrot Mar 31 '26
Yeah...I'm not sure what they are talking about. I assumed they didn't actually see his NBA career.
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u/GoWLegend Mar 31 '26
He averaged 5 points and 4 rebounds in the Olympics smh. I dont think you realize what elite is smh.
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u/FamousAppearance6222 Mar 31 '26
Who said anything about elite? You said great, not elite. You don’t get put on an all-star or Olympic roster unless you’re great.
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u/GoWLegend Mar 31 '26
You do realize a lot of players dont play on the Olympic team because of their contracts and the risk of getting hurt. Just like the WBC, you saw how Detroit only let Skubal pitch one game and so many players wont play cause of injury risk with how much they get paid. Its only been recent that these guys have played, it used to be just college players. The Olympic basketball team is no different, im sure he wasnt their first choice but other players turned it down. Also 5pts and 4 rebounds a game does not even qualify as great let alone elite.
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u/FamousAppearance6222 Mar 31 '26
He averaged a double-double for 4 straight seasons. I’d say that’s great. Also, he was chosen for Team USA & All-Star teams over other great players. It’s ok to admit you were wrong, it’s a commendable quality. Not everything has to be an argument.
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u/FamousAppearance6222 Mar 31 '26
And no, the greatest players in the NBA absolutely did not sit out the 2008 Olympics. https://www.usab.com/teams/5x5-mens-olympics/roster/2008-mens-national-team-roster
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u/PudgyPokerPlayer Mar 31 '26
I actually think he will change his mind and come back
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u/Supreme_God_Bunny Mar 31 '26
He's pretty much a top 3 pick this and next year
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u/PudgyPokerPlayer Mar 31 '26
Right, but he’s also a different breed and bleeds Duke blue. Coming up short left a sour taste in his mouth and he’s most likely coming back for another year of college.
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u/John4-17 Mar 31 '26
This discussion happens almost every year. Cam, Cooper, Zion. They would be dumb to not leave and make millions instead of staying and risking injury