CHICAGO — In the afterglow of Gilas Pilipinas’ 68-56 win over Iran on Sunday night, coach Tim Cone told Kai Sotto something intriguing.
“I’ll talk to Miami. See what I can do.”
Coach Tim’s offer was noble, well-intentioned. It’s also “unrealistic.” a high-profile NBA agent told me on Monday.
READ Cone 'the happiest guy in world' after a perfect window for Gilas
The 7-foot-3 center averaged 15.1 points, 15 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one block per against Jordan and Iran in the just-concluded window 4 of the 2027 FIBA Wotld Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Kai was on fire but there’s no Heat in his immediate future.
NO SHORTCUTS.
Unlike perhaps in the PBA, earning precious entry to the world’s most prestigious pro hoops league can’t be facilitated simply through a phone call between friends.
Miami, which just acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson in a torrid offseason push to contend for an NBA championship again, doesn’t have a roster spot available.
Per RealGM, the Heat already have the maximum 15-man roster plus three two-way contracts.
Even if coach Erik Spoelstra bumps one of those three dudes with two-way contract to accommodate his coach buddy, why on our rain-soaked slice on earth would Kai take it?
Those deals are non-guaranteed and pay only half of the NBA’s rookie salary minimum of $1.3 million.
Kai would make more dough plying his trade overseas or in the US NCAA where the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) windfall could top $1 million a year.
In fact, Kai right now is in standby mode waiting for the NCAA to approve his request for a waiver that would allow him to reacquire his amateur status.
SET GOALS.
If that falls through, it is my understanding that his five-star representation has “planned out in a long while now” a carefully thought out career path.
Hopefully, that means eventually winding up in the NBA.
And if the NBA doesn’t pan out, an increasing likelihood now that Kai is already aged 24, Sotto will have to settle as being the most dominant big in our region.
And doing so while making the type of cash we ordinary mortals can only dream of.
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