There’s a number floating around right now that should make every Syracuse Orange men’s basketball fan stop in their tracks.
$2–3 million.
That’s what Eric Devendorf — a program legend and plugged-in voice — believes Donnie Freeman could command in the NIL market.
“I think Donnie goes… I think he’ll go somewhere else for 2–3 million dollars.”
Let that sink in.
Because if that number is real, this isn’t just a roster decision.
It’s a program-defining one.
Freeman arrived as a decorated 5-star recruit, the type of talent Syracuse used to build around. And there’s a real argument that he was never properly utilized under Adrian Autry. Some recruiting analysts believe his skillset was miscast, his development uneven, his role unclear.
Because if you believe Freeman was underused, then letting him walk — especially for money — could look like a massive mistake in hindsight.
But there’s another side to this.
For all the flashes, Freeman didn’t elevate Syracuse.
Yes, the roster had issues. Yes, the system wasn’t always helping. But the reality is the Orange struggled mightily in big moments — especially late-game situations — and Freeman never fully took control the way elite players do.
Even Jim Boeheim hinted at it after the season:
When you take their two best players and they have really bad years… they don’t win. When your two best players don’t play well…
That was a direct shot at Freeman and JJ Starling.
And critics would go further: Freeman’s production often came against weaker competition. Against top-tier opponents, the impact didn’t always match the recruiting hype.
So now Syracuse faces the real question:
Is Freeman worth $2–3 million?
That’s paying for a star.
And if you’re committing that kind of money, you better be sure you’re getting a player who can:
- Close games
- Elevate teammates
- Carry you in March
If not?
That money might be better spent spreading across multiple impact players in the portal — building a deeper, more balanced roster rather than betting big on one talent.
Syracuse — under new leadership and a new direction — has to decide:
Pay the premium and hope Freeman becomes the star he was projected to be…
Or walk away, reallocate the money, and build something different.
Either way?
It’s a massive decision.
