MORGANTOWN — Sometime between now and July 7, Deuce McBride will announce his decision to remain in the 2021 NBA Draft or return to West Virginia for his junior season.
The last thing it will be for McBride is easy, something WVU head coach Bob Huggins discussed in detail Tuesday during a Zoom conference with the media.
“It’s not as simple as one would think it is and it’s certainly not as simple as the players think it is,” Huggins said.
Reason being, McBride’s options are plentiful and the scenarios are both glamorous and dangerous.
After competing in the NBA Combine in Chicago last week, McBride finds himself projected as a late first-round pick in next month’s draft, which would mean a guaranteed two-year contract worth at least $3.3 million over the duration.
Or, McBride could return to WVU and possibly improve his draft status with a big junior season.
“Deuce has all the information and his family has all the information and we were very transparent with things,” Huggins said. “You take a Marcus Smart, for example, if he had come out after his freshman year, he was projected to make $653,000 (the first year). That’s a lot of money.
“He stayed, so the next draft year, he moved up in the draft and made $3.7 million. I think those are things that guys have to take a really hard look at.”
In McBride’s case, say he were to return to the Mountaineers and jump up to the No. 15 pick in the 2022 draft — that would be worth $5.95 million over two years, with the salaries only going higher if he were picked earlier than 15th.
Returning to WVU brings no guarantees to McBride, though, meaning there is always the gamble he could get hurt or simply not have the big season many would expect.
Through it all, Huggins said he’s been in contact with his point guard.
“Actually he called me the other night and we talked for a while,” Huggins said. “It was more of updating me on his workouts. He had three workouts (with NBA teams). He’s keeping an open mind and certainly wants to do what’s in his best interest, which I think we’re all on board with.”
If McBride was thinking about remaining in this year’s draft, Huggins pointed out there are other things to consider other than just the money.
If McBride were picked in the first round, it would likely be somewhere between Nos. 25 to 30, which consists of the L.A. Clippers, Denver, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Utah.
Those six teams had the six best records this season and aren’t exactly in a position with their roster to depend on a rookie point guard, which would likely mean McBride would have to develop his game in the G League.
“I think what happens sometimes is the NBA season starts way before the G League season starts, so those guys are able to hang on (in the NBA) and sit on the bench and maybe get a few minutes,” Huggins said. “As soon as the other league opens up, they send you down there.”
In that scenario, Huggins wondered what exactly is a better basketball life, the G League or playing Power Five Conference college ball?
“Now you’re in the G League playing in Canton, Ohio in front of 25 people,” Huggins said. “You go home and turn on the TV and your (college) teammates are playing at Allen Fieldhouse playing in front of 16,000. What price do you put on that?
“There are a lot of things for 19- and 20-year-olds to think about. Do you go right away? Do you come back and have a bigger year and move up?”
In April, the Mountaineers signed Old Dominion transfer Malik Curry, who could step in as WVU’s starting point guard if McBride were to remain in the draft.
“He’s really good at attacking the rim,” Huggins said of Curry. “Should Deuce not return, we need somebody who can put pressure on the rim.
“Taz (Sherman) and Sean (McNeil) will score, but they’re not really great at attacking the rim. Malik can attack the rim and I think he’s a guy who can get other guys shots. I really like what I saw.”
NOTE
McNeil, too, currently has his name in the NBA Draft. Huggins said there was nothing official yet as to whether McNeil would return to school or seek a professional career.
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