2026 Transfer Portal Thread

Do you think if there is a really good 5 in the portal you bring him in for a look? I personally think they should. I know we definitely have major needs on the perimeter, but I just don't have that warm fuzzy on JP at this point.
I’m not sure you can expect to bring back/pay: Estrella, Phillips & Brown while adding a really good post to the mix, I also don’t know how good a use of funds that would be. I think they’d like to add a 5, but I’m hesitant to think it’s one of the top guys.
 
Who wants to cut him loose? There is a drastic difference between saying that a player who can't stay healthy and can't stay out of foul trouble isn't worth 7 figures...and saying, "cut him loose."

I really want Estrella on next year's team. But if he truly requires 7 figures, I'm not sure he's worth that kind of money from a roster construction standpoint, due to the fact that you can't pay 7 figures of your allotted "salary" for a player who isn't on the floor when you need him.

Neither of those statements are even true though...which is the frustrating part.

31 games out of 35 this season (just 2 less than Nate, Felix, Evans, or Brown played in) and his per game fouls are lower than Bishop, Felix and Ja'Kobi...

What JP is though is our most efficient player in scoring & assists. His effective FG% is 62.8% highest on the team for anyone with 3 or more attempts. Cade's is higher, but he's only played in 10 games and took just 2.6 shots a game. The next closest is Burg at 60.9% Felix is the only other player at 60%

If you looked at Per 40 (best way to confirm efficiency...)

JP would be 2nd in PPG, 2nd in RPG, 2nd in FG%, 1st in ORPG, & 3rd in BPG

I'd also prefer returning him for his 4th season with another year left to play a 5th than bring in another unknown from the portal for a 1 year replacement. Unlike offensive guards, we have yet to truly "hit" on a big in the portal.

Jaylen Carey = plays more than JP far less capable scoring and a bigger defensive liability
Felix Okpara = solid, but even in year 2 despite playing nearly 10 minutes more per game than JP isn't really producing more and fouls more often as well
Darlinstone Dubar = bust
Igor Milicic = not much better than Felix...and was expected to be a lot more productive than he was
Uros Plavsic = bust (loved Uros, but his best season was 5/3.5 and that was with 4 years developing here)
EJ Anosike = bust


If you're spending 10M or more for the roster...3-4 of your top players will be getting seven figures, just the way its going to be. I'd rather that go to a guy that's been grinding and improving under current staff.
 
Do you think if there is a really good 5 in the portal you bring him in for a look? I personally think they should. I know we definitely have major needs on the perimeter, but I just don't have that warm fuzzy on JP at this point.
I don't really want to go into next season with JP, Cade, Brown, and potentially Carey as our only post options. Cade coming off of injury and having had lingering shoulder issues for a couple years. JP being perpetually prone to injury, himself. Brown still developing, and Carey...who knows. I'll believe he's back when I see it.

So yes, I am totally onboard with adding a big in the portal. If we could find a similar player to Okpara (who I have been higher on than most), I think that would be a great option. A defensive presence at the rim who can be that lob threat, offensively. Ideally, you'd probably prefer to have him possess a little more offensive skill in the post.
 
I don't really want to go into next season with JP, Cade, Brown, and potentially Carey as our only post options. Cade coming off of injury and having had lingering shoulder issues for a couple years. JP being perpetually prone to injury, himself. Brown still developing, and Carey...who knows. I'll believe he's back when I see it.

So yes, I am totally onboard with adding a big in the portal. If we could find a similar player to Okpara (who I have been higher on than most), I think that would be a great option. A defensive presence at the rim who can be that lob threat, offensively. Ideally, you'd probably prefer to have him possess a little more offensive skill in the post.

I for sure agree we won't see Cade AND Carey back...of those 2 I think Cade's defensive ability and explosive athleticism would put him ahead of Carey imo. I also think Carey is already being overpaid so if we need to free up funds to keep JP and add a 5 that might be the best place to start.

Nate, Ja'Kobi, Felix, JP, and Carey are most likely the highest paid per NIL on roster (I am assuming this, don't have any real numbers though)...and 2 are gone for sure, 1 we fully expect to leave and then that leaves JP/Carey.
 
Neither of those statements are even true though...which is the frustrating part.

31 games out of 35 this season (just 2 less than Nate, Felix, Evans, or Brown played in) and his per game fouls are lower than Bishop, Felix and Ja'Kobi...

What JP is though is our most efficient player in scoring & assists. His effective FG% is 62.8% highest on the team for anyone with 3 or more attempts. Cade's is higher, but he's only played in 10 games and took just 2.6 shots a game. The next closest is Burg at 60.9% Felix is the only other player at 60%

If you looked at Per 40 (best way to confirm efficiency...)

JP would be 2nd in PPG, 2nd in RPG, 2nd in FG%, 1st in ORPG, & 3rd in BPG

I'd also prefer returning him for his 4th season with another year left to play a 5th than bring in another unknown from the portal for a 1 year replacement. Unlike offensive guards, we have yet to truly "hit" on a big in the portal.

Jaylen Carey = plays more than JP far less capable scoring and a bigger defensive liability
Felix Okpara = solid, but even in year 2 despite playing nearly 10 minutes more per game than JP isn't really producing more and fouls more often as well
Darlinstone Dubar = bust
Igor Milicic = not much better than Felix...and was expected to be a lot more productive than he was
Uros Plavsic = bust (loved Uros, but his best season was 5/3.5 and that was with 4 years developing here)
EJ Anosike = bust


If you're spending 10M or more for the roster...3-4 of your top players will be getting seven figures, just the way its going to be. I'd rather that go to a guy that's been grinding and improving under current staff.
Respectfully, it's a little disingenuous to admit that Per 40 is the best measurement of efficiency, and then use raw "Per Game" fouls to make the point that JP isn't as foul prone as others seem to believe.

Per 40, he is the most foul prone player on the team (of the regulars). The same is true using Per 100 Possessions. JPE plays a lot less minutes...usually due to foul trouble, ironically...than Gillespie, Boswell, and Felix.

I can agree that his injury history is maybe a little overblown based on the foot injury that kept him out, though it has been rumored that condition is chronic, so you're always waiting on the other shoe to drop (no pun intended), which makes it feel like he's maybe more injury-prone than he is in reality.

The foul trouble is a real issue, though. And he just hasn't really improved in that area. He commits some very silly, undisciplined fouls in spots on the floor and situations where they are just entirely unnecessary.
 
I for sure agree we won't see Cade AND Carey back...of those 2 I think Cade's defensive ability and explosive athleticism would put him ahead of Carey imo. I also think Carey is already being overpaid so if we need to free up funds to keep JP and add a 5 that might be the best place to start.

Nate, Ja'Kobi, Felix, JP, and Carey are most likely the highest paid per NIL on roster (I am assuming this, don't have any real numbers though)...and 2 are gone for sure, 1 we fully expect to leave and then that leaves JP/Carey.
Cade definitely has the higher ceiling and is a better fit for our system. He also is more bought in and invested in our team culture having been here for 3 years.
 
Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.
 
Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.
Foxwell surprises me, honestly. Just feels like the kind of guy who ends up at Arizona or Gonzaga.
 
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Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.

Go throw a bag…of McDonald’s at Paulius
 
Respectfully, it's a little disingenuous to admit that Per 40 is the best measurement of efficiency, and then use raw "Per Game" fouls to make the point that JP isn't as foul prone as others seem to believe.

Per 40, he is the most foul prone player on the team (of the regulars). The same is true using Per 100 Possessions. JPE plays a lot less minutes...usually due to foul trouble, ironically...than Gillespie, Boswell, and Felix.

I can agree that his injury history is maybe a little overblown based on the foot injury that kept him out, though it has been rumored that condition is chronic, so you're always waiting on the other shoe to drop (no pun intended), which makes it feel like he's maybe more injury-prone than he is in reality.

The foul trouble is a real issue, though. And he just hasn't really improved in that area. He commits some very silly, undisciplined fouls in spots on the floor and situations where they are just entirely unnecessary.

I agree it's an area JP needs to improve, but 2.2 a game with 18 minutes isn't nearly as bad as Awaka was. Even if you just ride with JP until he fouls out I think he'll be able to hit 24-26 mpg and stay below 3 or so a game.
 
Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.
Lines up with everything I’ve heard, I think 3-4 portal adds at least…

PG
Scoring off ball guard
Depth at 5 rim protector
Scoring guard depth
 
Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.

Just wonder if we're getting 2 of the same things in the bold...I agree that it was smart to have Cade get it fixed now, we had the depth to really not feel that impact. But if we pay Rice to bring him in...that sort of shoulder issue ended Turner's career and derailed Santi as well. Much more difficult for a jump shooter to battle through.

I know Rice's was an actual in game injury, but once you have shoulder problems they seem to linger.
 
What do you think will be the market for Boswell and Evans, and will we push to do what we can to keep both? If we are prioritizing a scoring off-ball guard, and I think that's the right strategy, that would seemingly push Boswell to the bench. I don't want him to leave, but I also don't want him to be the starting 2-guard next year. Will he be ok with that?
 
Foxwell is someone that has been reaching out through agent for over a month. We do plan to sign another big. Cade’s shoulder is a big unknown and Carey has been very frustrating to staff. We will be in big on a scorer at the two or three as that has been our highest yield move every year. As I mentioned previously, we remain very connected to Rice and will evaluate his recovery after the tournament.
Is there something going wrong with CP’s surgery / rehab making the staff think he’s not going to be 100% next season? I think he’s a valuable piece of our roster and won’t command a huge NIL.
 
What do you think will be the market for Boswell and Evans, and will we push to do what we can to keep both? If we are prioritizing a scoring off-ball guard, and I think that's the right strategy, that would seemingly push Boswell to the bench. I don't want him to leave, but I also don't want him to be the starting 2-guard next year. Will he be ok with that?
Boswell just played a great game in the sweet 16 with 9 assists and 12 points IIRC after barely playing as a freshman. How do we know he won’t make even more progress before next season? Personally, I’d bet he’s not a finished product. He’s a super hard worker who’s clearly bought into the culture. I think we could do way worse rolling the dice for a replacement 2 guard.
 
One thing that I loved seeing (that we didn’t have the last 2 years) was throwing it into the post in a crucial late game situation and getting a bucket. Aidoo could do it at times but struggled against top competition. I recall discussing 2-3 years ago that our clutch players were on the perimeter. It came right to my mind when I saw them throw it to JP late against UVA. I’ve been positive on him since the end of his freshman year. Obviously, he needs to stay healthy, but he’s skilled.
 
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With absolutely no knowledge, I would be pretty surprised if the staff isn't anticipating keeping JP. I feel like the path to him being a/the major contributor on the team next year, justifying the $ in the process, is pretty clear and easy to see. It would be smart to bring in another big as a replacement for Carey, hopefully one with a better game.
 
Lines up with everything I’ve heard, I think 3-4 portal adds at least…

PG
Scoring off ball guard
Depth at 5 rim protector
Scoring guard depth
This kind of feels like the same recipe as this year, with two studs at guard instead of three (like we could have had with Gillespie/Rice or McKneely or Miles/Ament). I think that's fine if Boswell, JP, and whoever starts at the 4 can bring more offensive juice. Of those, by far the most confident in JP and trust staff to develop everyone who stays. Still, though, would like to see as much firepower brought in as possible.
 
I agree it's an area JP needs to improve, but 2.2 a game with 18 minutes isn't nearly as bad as Awaka was. Even if you just ride with JP until he fouls out I think he'll be able to hit 24-26 mpg and stay below 3 or so a game.
I'm just saying that 2.2 fouls/gm at 18 mpg is in large part due to the fouling. His minutes aren't really limited to skill or contribution. They're limited because of his propensity to foul, and foul early on. We know picking up your second foul in the 1st half is a death sentence for Barnes. You're done.

In essence, he commits 0.122 fouls per minute played, which is highest on the team. Even at that rate, he could theoretically play all 40 minutes and not foul out.

Yes, Awaka was much worse, and people (myself included) acknowledged that it was an issue and would prevent him from reaching his ceiling. Fwiw, it has improved since he left Tennessee. He is committing more fouls per game, but he is playing more minutes per game, too. He was at 0.191 fouls per minute played as a SO at Tennessee. That dropped to 0.149 last year at Arizona, and 0.128 this year. Both figures still worse than JPE, this year, but improvements year over year. Hopefully, JP improves his number next year, too.
 

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