An agent’s perspective on NBA Draft’s early entry decisions

Where are agents leaning when it comes to Tyus Battle and others?

By John Cassillo@JohnCassillo May 22, 2018, 3:50pm EDT

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Midwest Regional-Syracuse vs Duke

While we’re getting word that Syracuse Orange guard Tyus Battle is likely to stay in the NBA Draft, that final decision still requires quite a bit of thinking on both his and teams’ parts.

Battle wants to be a first-rounder, of course, given the guaranteed money involved. But he also likes the idea of completing his degree, and has enjoyed his time at SU. He could go without a guarantee, of course. That just makes everything much less assured. There’s no telling where his future draft stock goes if he comes back, however. It doesn’t necessarily have to climb from here, especially if his production drops off and/or he fails to improve aspects of his game scouts may be keeping a close eye on.

We may be locked in on Battle’s decision, but there are still plenty more early entree players who still need to make their own respective choices, too. SI asked someone who may know a thing or two about this decisions -- an NBA agent — for some perspective before we get some answers about all of these players by the May 30 deadline.

That story, plus the rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Stay or Go: An Agent’s Perspective on NBA Draft Early Entry Decisions (SI.com)

There is definitely a high amount of risk for any second-round draft pick, however, as with any fully negotiable contract, there can be upside. For example, in the 2015 NBA draft I represented Jordan Mickey from LSU. Jordan, an early entrant that year, had a terrific showing at the NBA Draft Combine and did very well in his team visits leading up to the draft.

2018-19 college basketball rankings: Why Villanova has fallen out of the top 5 of the Top 25 (and one) (CBS Sports)

Why the Orange are ranked here: Five of the top six scorers from a team that finished 41st at KenPom and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament will be back -- even with the expected departure of Tyus Battle. So the Orange should be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament for the third time in a four-year span.

Ranking the ACC quarterback situations entering the 2018 college football season (Yahoo Sports)

5. Syracuse – Eric Dungey, Tommy DeVito: If it feels like Eric Dungey has been around for a long time, it’s because he has been. The senior enters 2018 with 6,472 yards and 40 touchdowns passing and 1,239 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing in 25 career starts. When Dungey has been healthy, he’s been very productive for the Orange, who are entering year three under Dino Babers. But health has been an issue.

Overachiever or underachiever? Ranking all ACC teams (Rivals)

The study considers any school within 0.2 of the median to be performing at its expected level and Syracuse, like Pitt, falls into that group. It hasn’t been a spectacular decade in Syracuse, but the Orange have found their way to the postseason on three occasions and average 3.33 wins per NFL Draft pick, a number significantly higher than Louisville, which ranks above them on this list.