2025 Transfer Portal Thread

#8,126
#8,126
RyanWalkerPGH said:
To be clear, I'm not suggesting you pay some lower tier guard that kind of money. I'm just suggesting in retrospect they should've just ponied up and paid McKneely or Rice. Or pursued other upper echelon guards in the first place.

Although, people keep acting like the goal is to make sure you get a deal or great value on these kids. Ultimately, the most important thing is filling a need. Who cares if you "overpay" some if it's the difference between a Sweet 16 or Final 4. Is anyone going to care that Tennessee paid a million more than they had hoped for Rodney Rice if it results in a Final 4? Doubtful.
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Yes, the other players will. That's the important part of it.
 
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#8,127
#8,127
RyanWalkerPGH said:
This is where I'm having a hard time understanding the situation.

We heard early in this portal window; "The boosters are backing Barnes. They feel his program is close to a Final 4 appearance. He's gotten separate fund commitments to pursue Ament"

Miss out on McKneely due to money. Pivot to Rice and allow him 2 weeks to take additional visits and leveraging for more money. Ultimately, pass on him over 1-1.5 million.

Then, settle for a bunch of C tier options who they apparently can't get traction with now. I really don't understand the thought process.

There's a gaping hole on at the 2-guard spot. If you're serious and your goal as a program is to pursue a Final 4, you throw a $3-4 million dollar bag to fill your final starting spot.

You supposedly saved $1+ million on letting Freeman go to Auburn. I'm just confused at this point why they went all in on Ament to take this approach. You're probably only getting one year out of him.

This predicament they are in just doesn't make sense to me.
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In the past we’ve been budgetarily limited. We have not been this year. Ultimately CRB has had the money to sign who he wants. Ultimately he doesn’t want to throw everything out of balance by giving Rice 700k more than Gillespie etc. We were not ready for the market with McNeely. Staff asked for lire and we didn’t move fast enough. After that, a group of boosters stepped in to say “do whatever it takes”. That said, after someone gives CRB a “yes” and then shops, he doesn’t chase. There is a case to be made for Trippie’s position. Just pay. The other side is that can wreck a culture, team, program over time. I think Ament was brilliant chess. We got the right guy for the right reasons. Boosters stepped in with additional funds. Done. They aren’t all going that way, sadly. We’re just going to have to see how the rest of this shakes out.
 
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#8,128
#8,128
i2amavol said:
I'm assuming you can't forget the current players on the team either. If we are paying high prices for these portal players, how does that make our current players feel?

Lot's of moving parts.
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What current players on this roster outside of Okpara & maybe Cade have any leverage or a leg to stand on?

I'd laugh in Boswell's face if he tried to leverage for more money. Estrella is coming off a lingering injury, and you have 3 high school kids that aren't considered elite.
 
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#8,129
#8,129
Stoerner Fumbles said:
In the past we’ve been budgetarily limited. We have not been this year. Ultimately CRB has had the money to sign who he wants. Ultimately he doesn’t want to throw everything out of balance by giving Rice 700k more than Gillespie etc. We were not ready for the market with McNeely. Staff asked for lire and we didn’t move fast enough. After that, a group of boosters stepped in to say “do whatever it takes”. That said, after someone gives CRB a “yes” and then shops, he doesn’t chase. There is a case to be made for Trippie’s position. Just pay. The other side is that can wreck a culture, team, program over time. I think Ament was brilliant chess. We got the right guy for the right reasons. Boosters stepped in with additional funds. Done. They aren’t all going that way, sadly. We’re just going to have to see how the rest of this shakes out.
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I get what you're saying, but how can you justify paying Ament that kind of money but then worry about what Gillespie might think by giving Rice more?

Just seems very contradictory on the culture concerns to have Ament making that much money when he's unproven at that level.
 
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#8,130
#8,130
CAVPUT said:
Agents and most of these kids are seeing dollar signs. No visit/offer will be wasted. I can sympathize with the coaches, and you have to think what the kid will be like once.jes in the program if they behave like this now. There are a bunch of Nicos out there. Very few Knecht and Laniers. Kinda think this might be the spark that has Barnes questioning if it's still worth it? These players don't prioritize getting better. They want quick paths and money. Barnes has be find it very distasteful.
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Yea but he's near the end of the line. Why not go all in as was suggested. I guess the money must be tight. Not the time to worry about principle and risking culture at this point is probably worth it. Guys have to suck it up and don't worry someone else is getting a big bag. It's go time or retire time
 
#8,131
#8,131
Stoerner Fumbles said:
In the past we’ve been budgetarily limited. We have not been this year. Ultimately CRB has had the money to sign who he wants. Ultimately he doesn’t want to throw everything out of balance by giving Rice 700k more than Gillespie etc. We were not ready for the market with McNeely. Staff asked for lire and we didn’t move fast enough. After that, a group of boosters stepped in to say “do whatever it takes”. That said, after someone gives CRB a “yes” and then shops, he doesn’t chase. There is a case to be made for Trippie’s position. Just pay. The other side is that can wreck a culture, team, program over time. I think Ament was brilliant chess. We got the right guy for the right reasons. Boosters stepped in with additional funds. Done. They aren’t all going that way, sadly. We’re just going to have to see how the rest of this shakes out.
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I mean how much time does he think he has? Even going all in doesn't guarantee anything but it gives you a much better chance to ride off into the sunset
 
#8,132
#8,132
RyanWalkerPGH said:
I get what you're saying, but how can you justify paying Ament that kind of money but then worry about what Gillespie might think by giving Rice more?

Just seems very contradictory on the culture concerns to have Ament making that much money when he's unproven at that level.
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It doesn’t make sense to you, but right or wrong, it does to CRB. Ament had a market value and we paid below it. Rice had a market value and USC paid well above it. Im not weighing right or wrong. As I said there are two sides. Barnes doesn’t want a team that is a mercenary group. I prefer it, but it has a downside.
 
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#8,134
#8,134
RyanWalkerPGH said:
I get what you're saying, but how can you justify paying Ament that kind of money but then worry about what Gillespie might think by giving Rice more?

Just seems very contradictory on the culture concerns to have Ament making that much money when he's unproven at that level.
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That’s the going rate rate for a top 3 recruit, Gillespie was a teammate of Rice and the better player, paying Rice more feels a bit “off”, especially twice as more.
 
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#8,135
#8,135
Stoerner Fumbles said:
It doesn’t make sense to you, but right or wrong, it does to CRB. Ament had a market value and we paid below it. Rice had a market value and USC paid well above it. Im not weighing right or wrong. As I said there are two sides. Barnes doesn’t want a team that is a mercenary group. I prefer it, but it has a downside.
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Appreciate you explaining the thought process. Don’t want to make it seem like I’m coming at you.
 
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#8,137
#8,137
omghulkhands said:
I am having a hard time understanding this claim that UK is spending $20M on their roster.

The math just doesn't make sense. They would have to be massively overpaying for lots of guys to hit numbers like that.
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They’ve got what, 10 or 11 committed, average $2m a player…I’m sure Lowe, Aberdeen & Quantance were probably closer to the $3m mark or more
 
#8,138
#8,138
omghulkhands said:
I am having a hard time understanding this claim that UK is spending $20M on their roster.

The math just doesn't make sense. They would have to be massively overpaying for lots of guys to hit numbers like that.
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Local reporting puts the number much closer to the $10M-$12M mark. Quaintance reportedly took a bit of a pay cut for him compared to other offers but his dad has talked about how they want him to play the Amari Williams role and showcase his playmaking and ball handling, not just play under the basket, to maximize his value for next year's draft. He also probably didn't get as many $3M-$4M offers as he would have prior to the injury. Prior to the ACL tear he was a consensus top 5 pick for the 2026 draft so they want to make sure he gets there.
 
#8,140
#8,140
Sounds to me like we met their demands including money. They committed then sounds like they kept shopping even if demands were met. Bidding war. Who quits bidding first loses. Sometimes in that case both parties have regrets. Best practice to me for a player is to get all bids without giving a commentment. Then go back to one you want and tell them the price you will take. They keep moving the goal.

For true team chemistry, if we ended up over paying, we then should increase money to current players based on worth???
 
#8,142
#8,142
MoCo_Vol said:
I mean honestly just 1 good SG from the portal and I think a lot of hand wringing stops.

But it's weird how many of these players are willing to take bigger paydays to not even play...

Cedric Coward & Duke
Alex Chaikin & Indiana

Hell Cade Tyson to UNC last year did it...and a lot of those programs don't develop players they recruit over them.

Any clue if we've talked to these names?

Taye Fields
Trent McLaughlin
Tyon Grant-Foster
Mister Dean (went to USC Upstate where Gainey was before)
Liutauras Lelevicius
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I said Liutauras Lelevicius out loud and my coffee table started floating
 
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