2025 Transfer Portal Thread

[MoCo_Vol]

I would expect Ament to be much closer to 10rpg than 5 imo

Let me be more clear.

I'm looking at the guard rebounding of those 3 and that would be the only area I'd be worried about.

That's completely separate from Ament and what he offers.

 

[Jean-Claude van Manning]

I think we are getting a little too lenient when we call a guy a "three level scorer."

To me, Rice isn't that. He is a three point shooter with midrange stuff. His game isn't facing up and taking on a guy one on one, nor is he gonna post up other guards consistently and take it in to finish at the rim.

I do think we would be well served to have a guard who can finish layups off the bounce above the rim. We haven't had that profile enough under Barnes. Gainey was our best option this year and his play really catapulted us on offense.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I think we are getting a little too lenient when we call a guy a "three level scorer."

To me, Rice isn't that. He is a three point shooter with midrange stuff. His game isn't facing up and taking on a guy one on one, nor is he gonna post up other guards consistently and take it in to finish at the rim.

I do think we would be well served to have a guard who can finish layups off the bounce above the rim. We haven't had that profile enough under Barnes. Gainey was our best option this year and his play really catapulted us on offense.

What's your definition of 3 level scorer exactly?

 

[Stoked]

I’m sure this isn’t the case, but feels a little to me like the staff is focusing on 2 kinds of guards and probably wants 1 from each:

Scorers:
Rodney Rice
Malik Thomas
Alex Chaikin
Jestin Porter
Jayden Stone

Defenders:
Duke Miles
Denzel Aberdeen
Rakease Passmore
Jaiden Glover

Nothing against the bottom two defenders types... but I'm really liking the idea of having guys with SEC experience, like Carey. Would like to get either of those two guys!

 

[Jean-Claude van Manning]

What's your definition of 3 level scorer exactly?

You're actually the poster that originally called Rice a three level scorer. A simple definition might be a player that is above average at all three levels in the half court setting (transition settings would skew things).

Basically -- Rice isn't going to be facing guys up, dribbling past them and finishing at the rim. He also won't be posting up guards and laying it off the glass. IMO we need a player like this -- a "scorer" rather than a shooter. JMO.

Rice is going to work off screens for catch and shoot threes, and occasionally take a couple dribbles and get to a spot for a mid-range jumper (and we will want to minimize how much he does that).

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Let me be more clear.

I'm looking at the guard rebounding of those 3 and that would be the only area I'd be worried about.

That's completely separate from Ament and what he offers.

Gotcha…

Zeigler/Lanier/Gainey & Mashack combined to give you 14.3rpg

Gillespie/Rice/Miles combined for 7.5rpg, so you’d need about 7rpg from Ament for that to be an even wash at the 1-3 spots, which is right in line with what I think you’d probably get.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

You're actually the poster that originally called Rice a three level scorer. A simple definition might be a player that is above average at all three levels in the half court setting (transition settings would skew things).

Basically -- Rice isn't going to be facing guys up, dribbling past them and finishing at the rim. He also won't be posting up guards and laying it off the glass. IMO we need a player like this -- a "scorer" rather than a shooter. JMO.

Rice is going to work off screens for catch and shoot threes, and occasionally take a couple dribbles and get to a spot for a mid-range jumper (and we will want to minimize how much he does that).

I disagree with your assessment and believe he is already a capable 3 level scorer, playing at Maryland with 2 great interior post scoring bigs there was almost zero reason for him to post up guards, but he showed the ability to drive on his man and finish at the rim with high % success. Catch and shoot with the best of them, take shots off the dribble at ease as well.

Edit: Also I think Nate is going to fill the scorer role you're talking about, so I'm not so sure Barnes is looking for that in his SG.

 

[CamVol8]

If we don’t end up getting Rice, I truly believe Thomas is the guy we should make our top target. He can get to the rim extremely well, shot nearly 40% from 3, and averaged nearly 20 ppg. Obviously don’t think he will score as much in the SEC but this dude is wired to score and is experienced. Fits exactly what we need IMO

 

[MoCo_Vol]

If we don’t end up getting Rice, I truly believe Thomas is the guy we should make our top target. He can get to the rim extremely well, shot nearly 40% from 3, and averaged nearly 20 ppg. Obviously don’t think he will score as much in the SEC but this dude is wired to score and is experienced. Fits exactly what we need IMO

My worry with him is just he's a Cali guy and hasn't left the state in his 4 years yet...would be curious if we could pull him this far east.

Also on 247 looks like adding Nate has us in the top 15 composite now...10th overall (for just HS)... a couple more transfers and we should be top 10 composite as well.

 

[cncchris33]

Where would the 2nd come from?

Sorry, it's under the assumption that the 5th year rule passes. He's only played three years that count.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Also...someone else I'd be curious if we've contacted.

BJ Freeman from Arizona State

6'6" and listed as a CG in the portal...84 games played in 3 years, 70 he started and has been playing 30+ a game. at Milwaukee for 2 years he was averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg and shooting 41% FG and 34% 3PT. Last year at Arizona State he was averaging 13.7 PPG, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg and shooting 42% FG and 35.6% 3PT. Just went in on the 17th and is a NC kid originally... worry is he's only played 1 full season of the 3

 

[TrippieRedd]

Also...someone else I'd be curious if we've contacted.

BJ Freeman from Arizona State

6'6" and listed as a CG in the portal...84 games played in 3 years, 70 he started and has been playing 30+ a game. at Milwaukee for 2 years he was averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg and shooting 41% FG and 34% 3PT. Last year at Arizona State he was averaging 13.7 PPG, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg and shooting 42% FG and 35.6% 3PT. Just went in on the 17th and is a NC kid originally... worry is he's only played 1 full season of the 3

He got dismissed from ASU. No thanks

 

[Jean-Claude van Manning]

I disagree with your assessment and believe he is already a capable 3 level scorer, playing at Maryland with 2 great interior post scoring bigs there was almost zero reason for him to post up guards, but he showed the ability to drive on his man and finish at the rim with high % success. Catch and shoot with the best of them, take shots off the dribble at ease as well.

Edit: Also I think Nate is going to fill the scorer role you're talking about, so I'm not so sure Barnes is looking for that in his SG.

Yes, I think you're significantly overrating Rice.

Ament will, hopefully, be an elite scorer for us. As the last two seasons showed us -- we need multiple scorers. I do think Carey will be very solid in the post for us as a scorer.

 

[omghulkhands]

I think Ament can definitely play that stretch 4 role they'd like to have seen Igor succeed in, last year. I definitely think we need to land at least 2 guards who you can rely on to play major minutes and I trust Barnes to sell the vision to them.

I think landing two of those guys is probably more likely if one of them isn't Rice, to be honest.

It will have to be a very different stretch 4 role compared to Igor IMO.

Igor was probably the player who got the most flak from our fans this year and in game threads.

But he contributed to winning by doing lots of things that don't show up on a stat sheet. He was an ace screener. He rarely blew his defensive assignment, and he was a good switching defender because he could guard bigs AND could guard smaller players on the perimeter.

Igor was strong and quick. He rebounded well. And he knew what he was supposed to be doing and where he was supped to be most of the time (makes sense. His dad is a high level coach)

Ament can probably be a finese rebounder. He likely can guard smaller players and have good lateral speed to switch and recover well and fit from that perspective.

But I have two questions. How can he defend vs strength? And how will he be as a screener?

My expectation is due to his body, he will do neither of those things very well.

based on personnel, the more important of those is screening. Under Rick Barnes, we've always had a strong, and very good physical screener at the 4. Grant, Fulk, JJJ, Igor. The offense will have to be pretty radically different if Ament isn't an effective screener. So I am interested to see what changes get made.

 

[TrippieRedd]

It will have to be a very different stretch 4 role compared to Igor IMO.

Igor was probably the player who got the most flak from our fans this year and in game threads.

But he contributed to winning by doing lots of things that don't show up on a stat sheet. He was an ace screener. He rarely blew his defensive assignment, and he was a good switching defender because he could guard bigs AND could guard smaller players on the perimeter.

Igor was strong and quick. He rebounded well. And he knew what he was supposed to be doing and where he was supped to be most of the time (makes sense. His dad is a high level coach)

Ament can probably be a finese rebounder. He likely can guard smaller players and have good lateral speed to switch and recover well and fit from that perspective.

But I have two questions. How can he defend vs strength? And how will he be as a screener?

My expectation is due to his body, he will do neither of those things very well.

based on personnel, the more important of those is screening. Under Rick Barnes, we've always had a strong, and very good physical screener at the 4. Grant, Fulk, JJJ, Igor. The offense will have to be pretty radically different if Ament isn't an effective screener. So I am interested to see what changes get made.

He’s a very good screener.

“Nate is also often used as a screener which adds to his versatility on offense. In the pick and pop game he is extremely effective. Even though he doesn’t set bone crushing screens, these actions give him just enough space for him to knock down jumpers or attack close outs. Both his rolls and pops bring a lot of defensive attention to him as well. Opening up lanes for teammates and also allowing him to leverage his playmaking. He isn’t an elite roll threat but he does draw extra defenders. Which makes him a very powerful weapon in the short roll. Where he can catch on the move and make quick decisions and punish defenders who are out of position. He can take screens and set them a very valuable skill indeed.”

 

[MoCo_Vol]

This is more question for folks more in the know...

We kick tires on Blake Harper any? He seems almost identical to Freeman...only played slightly better competition. We might not be in the market for a long SF now though at all with Ament, but just curious.

Combing the portal additions and saw him ranked just ahead of Freeman.


Also, RJ Luis must have a crazy price tag or something...he's been in the portal since the 31st of March. (only top 10 ranked guy still available that has been in that long)

 

[omghulkhands]

He’s a very good screener.

“Nate is also often used as a screener which adds to his versatility on offense. In the pick and pop game he is extremely effective. Even though he doesn’t set bone crushing screens, these actions give him just enough space for him to knock down jumpers or attack close outs. Both his rolls and pops bring a lot of defensive attention to him as well. Opening up lanes for teammates and also allowing him to leverage his playmaking. He isn’t an elite roll threat but he does draw extra defenders. Which makes him a very powerful weapon in the short roll. Where he can catch on the move and make quick decisions and punish defenders who are out of position. He can take screens and set them a very valuable skill indeed.”

We’ll see. I don’t know if it was Givony or someone else who wrote that analysis, but I find it to be a bit unwieldy and self contradicting.

Like, how is he an effective screener if he doesn’t set strong screens or isn’t a great roll man? Sounds more like he probably got a ton of screen the screener action because he is the primary offensive threat on any team he has been on.

IMO that doesn’t make him a good screener. It makes him good at drawing double teams. So I have a difference of opinion in that eval.

Anyway, I’m not being critical. I’m just pointing out that this might be different than what we are used to seeing. I expect the staff to figure it out.

 

[cncchris33]

It will have to be a very different stretch 4 role compared to Igor IMO.

Igor was probably the player who got the most flak from our fans this year and in game threads.

But he contributed to winning by doing lots of things that don't show up on a stat sheet. He was an ace screener. He rarely blew his defensive assignment, and he was a good switching defender because he could guard bigs AND could guard smaller players on the perimeter.

Igor was strong and quick. He rebounded well. And he knew what he was supposed to be doing and where he was supped to be most of the time (makes sense. His dad is a high level coach)

Ament can probably be a finese rebounder. He likely can guard smaller players and have good lateral speed to switch and recover well and fit from that perspective.

But I have two questions. How can he defend vs strength? And how will he be as a screener?

My expectation is due to his body, he will do neither of those things very well.

based on personnel, the more important of those is screening. Under Rick Barnes, we've always had a strong, and very good physical screener at the 4. Grant, Fulk, JJJ, Igor. The offense will have to be pretty radically different if Ament isn't an effective screener. So I am interested to see what changes get made.

I don't think it will be our primary offensive set with Ament at that spot as it was with Milicic, so that is one point of clarification. I just think it is an option in certain sets. I also can't remember where I saw it at this point since there have been so many recent articles, but his screening ability was listed as one of his strengths. Now, maybe that was in regards to his ability to set them without fouling, using his base to get wide, etc. I do agree that he needs to get stronger to do that in the SEC.

 

[TrippieRedd]

We’ll see. I don’t know if it was Givony or someone else who wrote that analysis, but I find it to be a bit unwieldy and self contradicting.

Like, how is he an effective screener if he doesn’t set strong screens or isn’t a great roll man? Sounds more like he probably got a ton of screen the screener action because he is the primary offensive threat on any team he has been on.

IMO that doesn’t make him a good screener. It makes him good at drawing double teams. So I have a difference of opinion in that eval.

Anyway, I’m not being critical. I’m just pointing out that this might be different than what we are used to seeing. I expect the staff to figure it out.

Weirdly enough, it was just a random person that likes breaking down NBA prospects.

He wrote a very very detailed description of him. I thought it was interesting at least.

Talked about all his strengths, weaknesses and talked about his game in general.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

We’ll see. I don’t know if it was Givony or someone else who wrote that analysis, but I find it to be a bit unwieldy and self contradicting.

Like, how is he an effective screener if he doesn’t set strong screens or isn’t a great roll man? Sounds more like he probably got a ton of screen the screener action because he is the primary offensive threat on any team he has been on.

IMO that doesn’t make him a good screener. It makes him good at drawing double teams. So I have a difference of opinion in that eval.

Anyway, I’m not being critical. I’m just pointing out that this might be different than what we are used to seeing. I expect the staff to figure it out.

Watching more of Nate I see more Dalton than Igor in his game and we rarely screened with Dalton.

I could see us only playing Nate at the 4 when Carey is at the 5 though...he's a good screener and very strong post defender. Felix is also a great screener...but I'm curious if it becomes less used this year without a Chaz type scorer being our primary option.

 

[nateernst]

Ament under our strength and conditioning program will be scary, I genuinely don't know if I have ever been more hyped for a new player.

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

Something that I’ve wondered about with Spurs sports approach:

We are obviously quite calculated and statistic driven when it comes to our evaluations of players. Surely that has an attempt to be proprietary methods, but in the end, it’s mostly math. Once a player knows his offer and value from Tennessee, I feel like it’s obvious the agent Involved or representation knows there’s only so much further. Tennessee is willing to go. It seems as if Tennessee is being used as a barometer and then shopped to more emotional/desperate teams that are willing to jump the gun and up an offer. Maybe I’m seeing this incorrectly.

And I think that’s a good part of exactly what an agent is supposed to do, especially if they’re trying to max known value immediately instead of just long term upside.

It plays well to parents/players/agents that are more mature in their approach and value beyond the upcoming season, but it seems to hurt us or at least gets us taken advantage of with those that approach it with a “next year” mindset only.

I suppose neither approach is “wrong” depending on where you’re sitting but it sucks to experience as a fan sometimes. And I’m not blaming the kids/parents/agents either, just wish there was a way we could have more clarity in the process.

/end random rant/

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Something that I’ve wondered about with Spurs sports approach:

We are obviously quite calculated and statistic driven when it comes to our evaluations of players. Surely that has an attempt to be proprietary methods, but in the end, it’s mostly math. Once a player knows his offer and value from Tennessee, I feel like it’s obvious the agent Involved or representation knows there’s only so much further. Tennessee is willing to go. It seems as if Tennessee is being used as a barometer and then shopped to more emotional/desperate teams that are willing to jump the gun and up an offer. Maybe I’m seeing this incorrectly.

And I think that’s a good part of exactly what an agent is supposed to do, especially if they’re trying to max known value immediately instead of just long term upside.

It plays well to parents/players/agents that are more mature in their approach and value beyond the upcoming season, but it seems to hurt us or at least gets us taken advantage of with those that approach it with a “next year” mindset only.

I suppose neither approach is “wrong” depending on where you’re sitting but it sucks to experience as a fan sometimes. And I’m not blaming the kids/parents/agents either, just wish there was a way we could have more clarity in the process.

/end random rant/

One reason I think it wise that Barnes basically requires a face to face before $ is even talked. I had this discussion with my bro-in-law over the weekend even.

Tony V is elite, he gets the guys here and when they sit down to talk offer/NIL he closes or he moves on...rarely does a guy leave and get to "shop around"

Barnes is calculated, you want to get a legit offer/NIL discussion you have to get on campus nothing is discussed until that happens...it helps weed out a lot of tire kickers, but Barnes doesn't close quite like Tony and often we see guys walk away and then commit later after sitting on it a bit

Heupel I think is a bit of a mix...with football it's more difficult to wait on in person discussion so unfortunately it seems like we throw out offers to get guys to visit more than with the other 2 sports.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I know some of y’all won’t read it becuase it’s Reddit, but this really is a good breakdown on Ament.

I also liked the comparison one of the comments made. I think Trey Murphy with less bounce is pretty spot on, imo.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comments/1jztycm/nate_ament_scouting_report/

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Ament under our strength and conditioning program will be scary, I genuinely don't know if I have ever been more hyped for a new player.

Pretty hard to make big differences in strength in one Summer.