2026 Transfer Portal Thread

[wtmvol]

It depends on his price, but I might agree with that if he committed to working toward being a 70-73% FT shooter and developing post moves to create space and draw fouls instead of getting so many shots blocked. Kind of like a poor man's Moses Malone, because he clearly has a nose for the ball on the boards.

Maybe a homeless person in a 3rd world country's Moses Malone...

 

[CamVol8]

To me it’s pretty simple, we all want to add 3-4 portal pieces, in order to do so you have to lose 2-3 guys off the current roster…

I don’t think anyone wants to lose:
Estrella, Brown, Evans or Phillips

Next tier:
Boswell, Henderson, Massamba, Burg & Carey


Given you want to ideally add a rim protecting 5 and you return 3 posts I don’t see much of a fit/need for Carey when you’re also trying to budget a roster. Obviously you’d like Boswell back from that group, but again when budgeting a roster you probably view him and Evans as a little bit redundant, and again if you’re talking about adding 2-3 starter types at guard spots can you keep both Boswell & Evans happy and is it worth the money?

The big thing, to me at least, is you want all 4 of those first guys back, and then want 2-3 back from that 2nd tier.

This probably seems obvious but tough decisions will have to be made if we wanna improve the roster next year. With the freshman coming in, I think the odd ones out should be Henderson, Burg, Massamba. Carey I would think will move on but who knows because Barnes loves him
I really hope we find a way to keep Evans

 

[Govolsman98]

Boswell has an unmatched ability to stop the opposing player with his nose.

Interesting that he has that particular ability instead of Burg

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

It's hard for me to imagine Barnes not doing what is necessary to bring Boswell back after two years of working with him and praising his development the way he has been. I think he sees BB and Cade as a continuation of the UT lineage of Williams/Admiral/ZZ/Shack/Gainey in maintaining the culture in the program.

Agreed

 

[Chaz-Vol]

To me it’s pretty simple, we all want to add 3-4 portal pieces, in order to do so you have to lose 2-3 guys off the current roster…

I don’t think anyone wants to lose:
Estrella, Brown, Evans or Phillips

Next tier:
Boswell, Henderson, Massamba, Burg & Carey


Given you want to ideally add a rim protecting 5 and you return 3 posts I don’t see much of a fit/need for Carey when you’re also trying to budget a roster. Obviously you’d like Boswell back from that group, but again when budgeting a roster you probably view him and Evans as a little bit redundant, and again if you’re talking about adding 2-3 starter types at guard spots can you keep both Boswell & Evans happy and is it worth the money?

The big thing, to me at least, is you want all 4 of those first guys back, and then want 2-3 back from that 2nd tier.

Hopefully this off season don't run into an Awaka/Aidoo situation and lose both Evans and Boswell. Evans more naturally slides into 3 spot letting coaches recruit starting 1,2 spots.

 

[sami]

Maybe a homeless person in a 3rd world country's Moses Malone...

Haha, I hear you, but if that meant he was a 8-10 a night, a 70% FT shooter, and drawing fouls instead of getting shots blocked I would take it.

 

[tev.sm]

Doubt Carey wants to hang around...he will want to maximize his NIL and start somewhere with assurances for PT most likely which he will not get here plus we have Brown's development (basically on par with Carey right with better athleticism and higher upside potential) and Cade's return.

Given Carey is on his 3rd team in 3 years (James Madison, Vanderbilt, now Tennessee), I wouldn't be surprised he jumps ship and lands somewhere else that pays him more than what we'll offer him.

 

[oldaaucoach]

Stud in the right program

watched a couple of his games. His lack of shooting touch turned me off. 38.6 FG%, 31.4 3P%

 

[berryvol]

he's 2 years into the system. I can name tons of guards that Barnes has had that looked like crap and most thought they would never pan out based on their first two years. Considering that Boswell is going to be a 4 year player in college, he is on a very good trajectory when it comes to being a contributor in Barnes' system.

And to be honest, he's likely going to be one of the leadership guys next year next to Estrella. He doesn't have to become a 15 ppg contributor, but having the experience in Barnes's system for 2 full seasons and offseasons will be huge deal next year when we lose JG and Ament.

People are acting like we only have one season with Boswell to be great or be bad here. Guys is going to be here as long as Barnes is..... And we are going to need his leadership next season

I’m fine with keeping Bos. If he’s capable of making the same leap next offseason that he did in the previous one, he’s gonna be a damn good ballplayer. My post was in regards to our fans talking like he’s an all world defender when he’s far from it.

 

[garyp194]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion about a player. But I really have no idea how you formulated the opinion that you have on Estrella. He is very good.

He may have the best shooting touch of any Tennessee center or close to 7 foot player that I've seen here. If he can stay healthy he certainly is at least All conference.

 

[sami]

Given Carey is on his 3rd team in 3 years (James Madison, Vanderbilt, now Tennessee), I wouldn't be surprised he jumps ship and lands somewhere else that pays him more than what we'll offer him.

Depends if he wants to actually develop his skills or sees college ball as his last shot at making serious coin. If it's the latter, I'm sure he can find somewhere that will pay him well next season.

 

[berryvol]

In fairness, he typically draws the toughest assignment, but yes, at times, he's been as much a liability doing what he supposedly does best as he has been an asset.

Virginia game aside, we can't get next to nothing out of him on offense if he isn't going to absolutely lock down his defensive assignment.

Totally agree and that’s why I used the “borderline” qualifier. I’m not trying to totally rip on him - I know you and I have shared in our Boswell hatred over the years and have gladly eaten some crow on it this season. But the idea some people have that he’s a Mashack or even ZZ level defender is just misguided at this point of his career.

 

[berryvol]

Serious question: how on board would we all be with bringing Carey back if we were guaranteed he was devoting the entire offseason to perfecting a granny shot at the foul line? He’d probably get to 65%+ from the line. I think I could be convinced lol

 

[omghulkhands]

Serious question: how on board would we all be with bringing Carey back if we were guaranteed he was devoting the entire offseason to perfecting a granny shot at the foul line? He’d probably get to 65%+ from the line. I think I could be convinced lol

I mean… it’s a definitively superior way to shoot free throws. I think it’s stupid that anyone under 70% doesn’t do it. I’m specifically talking about the Barry family version.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

I don't hear a lot of talk about the need for a stretch 4/5. To me, that would add a dimension that we haven't had here since Grant Williams.

I don’t necessarily disagree, I just wonder if they don’t see Estrella in that light, can they improve tha quickness and lateral movement to where he can be more like a Milicic? The talk of adding an Okpara replacement rather than a stretch 4 makes me think that’s their likely thought process.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Serious question: how on board would we all be with bringing Carey back if we were guaranteed he was devoting the entire offseason to perfecting a granny shot at the foul line? He’d probably get to 65%+ from the line. I think I could be convinced lol

If it’s for league minimum salary then sure

 

[omghulkhands]

I don't hear a lot of talk about the need for a stretch 4/5. To me, that would add a dimension that we haven't had here since Grant Williams.

I think it’s that legitimately good stretch 4’s and 5’s are rare. And the good ones that exist end up being very expensive.

 

[McGeesPub]

I mean… it’s a definitively superior way to shoot free throws. I think it’s stupid that anyone under 70% doesn’t do it. I’m specifically talking about the Barry family version.

Completely agree. It’s just because it looks kinda dumb that guys don’t do it, but that’s a horrible reason. Coaches should mandate it more.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I don't hear a lot of talk about the need for a stretch 4/5. To me, that would add a dimension that we haven't had here since Grant Williams.

Freshman from New Mexico would be my first call. Tamper like mf

Not sure he would be cheap though.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Carey won't cost as much as he did this year. And its not like he is going to secure a bigger bag either elsewhere.

Also the least efficient post players in the country just went against one of the best frontcourt defensive teams in the country and was major contributor to get us to the Sweet 16..... But sure, he has been a failure for Tennessee this year......

That's beyond naive to think, his price and everyone else's on the team is only going up.

 

[MoCo_Vol]

I don’t necessarily disagree, I just wonder if they don’t see Estrella in that light, can they improve tha quickness and lateral movement to where he can be more like a Milicic? The talk of adding an Okpara replacement rather than a stretch 4 makes me think that’s their likely thought process.

Good chance they want Scott (incoming FR) to potentially play that role too. He's a bit bigger than Ament was and will also add size...I'm not sure he's going to be as comfortable dribbling as Nate, but if he can pick and roll or pick and hang back for 3s that would be a bonus.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

I don’t necessarily disagree, I just wonder if they don’t see Estrella in that light, can they improve tha quickness and lateral movement to where he can be more like a Milicic? The talk of adding an Okpara replacement rather than a stretch 4 makes me think that’s their likely thought process.

At a minimum he can be a spot-up 3-pt +33% shooter based on the stroke he has shown previously...will be interesting to see if he can develop the handles & lateral quickness

 

[sami]

I mean… it’s a definitively superior way to shoot free throws. I think it’s stupid that anyone under 70% doesn’t do it. I’m specifically talking about the Barry family version.

Remember the famous story of Barry teaching Shaq to shoot underhanded and after making a bunch in a row he said he couldn't do it because it would be too embarrassing.

 

[sami]

I don’t necessarily disagree, I just wonder if they don’t see Estrella in that light, can they improve tha quickness and lateral movement to where he can be more like a Milicic? The talk of adding an Okpara replacement rather than a stretch 4 makes me think that’s their likely thought process.

I speculated early in the season that if Estrella wanted to give himself the best chance to stick at the next level it would be as a stretch 5 that could defend the rim. He clearly has the shooting touch to become that player with some work, and hopefully Barnes is thinking along those lines.

 

[TrippieRedd]

I don’t necessarily disagree, I just wonder if they don’t see Estrella in that light, can they improve tha quickness and lateral movement to where he can be more like a Milicic? The talk of adding an Okpara replacement rather than a stretch 4 makes me think that’s their likely thought process.

Okpara replacement?

Found him.