COLUMN: As massive Japan offers come in, Kai Sotto keeps eyes on NBA path

CHICAGO – Thanks to a stellar 2023-24 Japan B.League season, Kai Sotto is now the object of several teams’ desires.

After showing tremendous inroads in his overall game, averaging 12.8 points and 6 rebounds while hitting 57.7 percent of his field goals, the 7-foot-3 center is a sought-after free agent.

And Japan teams are throwing insane sums of money at his feet.

Per multiple sources, the lowest offer Sotto has received so far is worth US $600,000 a year, or roughly P2.9 million a month based on the current exchange rate.

The highest bid, I am told, is valued at $900,000 a year or P4.35 million monthly.

For context, if Sotto enters the PBA Rookie Draft next month, the most he’ll make under league rules is P200,000 a month in Year One and P250,000 a month in Year Two.

After he completes his rookie contract, he can then make the maximum allowable monthly pay of P420,000.

THE PBA CAN WAIT.

So yeah, let’s stop all these rumors and stupid conjectures that Kai is leaping to the PBA. In the next 10 years, maybe.

As Kai’s camp mulls on the offers, it is not known if the 22-year old will sign a short- or long-term deal. The expectation, however, is that the contract will be buy-out friendly with an NBA opt-out clause.

Around this time last year, Kai joined NBA mini camps with the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks – stints that culminated in a Summer League appearance with the Orlando Magic.

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There will be no redux of that cycle this time around. It’s not a change of course, just a necessary detour.

Instead of attempting to head back to the Summer League in Las Vegas where scouts and NBA team executives will be on the lookout, Kai will use Gilas’ FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to showcase his much-improved skills.

“This summer with Gilas is a huge development towards Kai’s future goal of pursuing his NBA dream,” Tony Ronzone of Wasserman Sports told me in a telephone interview.

“We’re excited to watch Kai play for Tim Cone and Gilas in Latvia,” Ronzone added.

TRUSTING TIM CONE.

There is resolute confidence that under the stewardship of Tim Cone, Kai will blossom in a way that would generate passionate interest from some NBA teams.

Having bulked up with muscle and tirelessly worked his butt under the watchful eyes of sports and conditioning coach Mel Lantin of the Fit Twenty-One gym in Las Pinas, there is similar enthusiasm that Sotto will rise above the competition.

PHOTO: Jerome Ascano

So it’s now up to him to replicate his B.League success in the bigger pond of international basketball where Gilas is set to play the host Latvians and Georgia, whose team is ranked 23rd in the world.

If Kai shines in the OQT, he could still make an appearance in the NBA Summer League. A G League tour of duty down the road also remains a possibility.

Whatever the path, the goal and the destination remains the same.

Reach the NBA.

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