Lloyd to get clarity on Arizona basketball future this week | Greg Hansen

Arizona has four players potentially affected by these deadlines. Junior center Motiejus Krivas and freshmen Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and Ivan Kharchenkov must make a stay-or-go declaration this week

It's not realistic to think all four will return. It's more likely that only one or two will return for the 2026-27 season. Burries seems to be a sure first-round draft pick and Peat, whose draft stock declined after a remarkable season-opening game against Florida, remains a first-round possibility.

A case can be made for Peat to return to Arizona for one more season. Unlike last year's one-and-done draftee, Carter Bryant, Peat is not a 3-and-D prospect. Peat's shooting touch (and range) need considerable work. In many ways, he reminds me of Dalen Terry, who jumped to the NBA after his sophomore season, 2021-22.

Yes, Terry was selected with the No. 18 choice in the first round and has since been paid $15.7 million, but he mostly sat on the bench, averaging just 11 minutes per game when he did play. He has averaged playing in 54 games per season, meaning there are 28 games he does not get off the bench. Terry isn't guaranteed a contract for the 2026-27 season; it is the Philadelphia 76ers' option whether to re-sign him.

Terry's salary for next season, his fifth, would be just $1.35 million if the 76ers choose to re-sign him. Peat probably makes close to that (or more) at Arizona. People argue that Peat can get much more developmental work by being part of an NBA squad, but look at Terry. He wasn't a shooter at Arizona, and he hasn't improved. He shot 47% as a Wildcat and 44% over four NBA seasons.