Will Armando Bacot get drafted into the NBA? Exploring the chances of UNC forward's 2024 draft projection 

Former North Carolina forward Armando Bacot is predicted to go undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft. After five seasons with the Tar Heels, Bacot declared for the NBA draft but failed to impress scouts and teams.

Despite this, all hope is not lost for the forward. It was reported that the Los Angeles Lakers had shown interest in him and he reportedly participated in a workout earlier this month along with Baylor's Dennis, Hofstra's Tyler Thomas and Memphis' David Jones.

If he goes undrafted on Wednesday, Armando Bacot's options also include the NBA G-League, from where he can work his way up into the league.

One of the reasons for the disinterest from teams is questions about his restricted upside. Most teams, even in the second round, go for players who have a decent amount of skills that can be worked on. While he is undoubtedly skilled, it is still unknown how transferable they are in the NBA.

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A look at Armando Bacot's college career and NIL

Armando Bacot joined UNC in 2019 as a five-star recruit (ESPN). The Richmond, Virginia native averaged 9.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks in his freshman season.

Bacot quickly improved in his sophomore season and averaged 12.3 ppg. He subsequently received the Dean Smith Most Valuable Player and Danny Green Most Improved Player team awards. He continued to get better and had his career-best season as a junior when he averaged 16.3 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.7 bpg.

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Despite having the opportunity to move to the NBA in his second and third years of college, Armando Bacot stayed at Chapel Hill because of an injury (via Washington Post):

“After my junior year, I was basically going to leave and go to the NBA,” he said. “But I just couldn’t get back healthy fast enough [to excel in workouts for teams]. That was really a big change. I had to rethink my career.

“I have an opportunity to play for such a big brand like this,” Bacot said. “And there’s so many lucrative things that come with it. It’s great.”

North Carolina assistant coach Sean May said of Bacot's business acumen:

“He knows what’s out there in the real world. He’s really big into finance, really big into the market. People would perceive that an athlete, that’s all he cares about. But there’s so much more out there that interests him. People gravitate toward him.”

After five years with UNC, Armando Bacot will say goodbye to his college career. His way ahead will be decided on Wednesday or Thursday when the two rounds of the 2024 NBA draft take place at Barclays Center in New York.

What are your predictions for Armando Bacot? Will he get drafted? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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