Karaban still weighing decision whether to return or go pro

[NEforceUConn]

Alex has earned the right to do whatever he wants.......

Sorry but he says he loves UConn, so help the school out and make a decision. Enough already.

 

[superjohn]

First, we have to acknowledge that this is now purely a business. These guys are on seven figure contracts and we have to sign a million dollar player to replace Alex if he leaves because the competition is out there pitching these kids right now.

As for Samson Johnson…meh. Feels like they’re building another Memphis where they run people in and out and get nowhere in the end.

Memphis was runner up and a second away from winning it all. Pitino is a much better coach than Cal and he brought St. John's their first Big East regular season title in over 25 years, their first Big East tournament title in 25 years in just his second season and he'll have them preseason top 3. I would say he's already gotten them somewhere.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Agreed look at what Hartenstein is doing for OKC. KAT is an incredible offensive force but he has to play the four like he did at MN with Gobert. He is such a liability that it makes elite defenders like OG and Bridges look pedestrian. They should have signed Hartenstein added Bridges and maybe one more legitimate bench player and they would have been better.

For the Knicks KAT has the same impact as Carmelo. As a person Melo seemed ok always said the right things but he could not cover anyone. True 4’s made him look small and most 3’s were too quick for him to guard.

They are going to struggle to beat Detroit but who cares they could not beat the Celtics even if Brown and Tatum don’t play. The reason the Celtics will make it to the finals is because they can coast with 80% effort and beat the Knicks.

Completely agree. They had all the momentum and flopped this offseason with the chips they had.

I don't get how teams/organization miss on what make them good. The Hartenstein/Robinson combo is what made them so tough.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Memphis was runner up and a second away from winning it all. Pitino is a much better coach than Cal and he brought St. John's their first Big East regular season title in over 25 years, their first Big East tournament title in 25 years in just his second season and he'll have them preseason top 3. I would say he's already gotten them somewhere.

I believe he's referring to recent, Penny Hardaway versions of Memphis.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Memphis was runner up and a second away from winning it all. Pitino is a much better coach than Cal and he brought St. John's their first Big East regular season title in over 25 years, their first Big East tournament title in 25 years in just his second season and he'll have them preseason top 3. I would say he's already gotten them somewhere.

Think Fishy is referring to present day Memphis with Penny.

Pitino is doing amazing by St John’s standards. But I'm sure he wants a FF and championship. Changing his roster every year probably won't get it done.

Its surprising that he's going this right seeing how great of a guard developer he was at Louisville. It'll be hard to coach players up like he's down in the past getting new ones every 1-2 years.

 

[Ewekon]

5 lb’s of muscle right?

Iirc, it was 15lb. of muscle under JC.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Completely agree. They had all the momentum and flopped this offseason with the chips they had.

I don't get how teams/organization miss on what make them good. The Hartenstein/Robinson combo is what made them so tough.

They couldn't offer Hartenstein more than some percentage increase over the deal they signed him two a couple years earlier, which started at a little more than $10 million in year one and had whatever the standard increase (15%? 20%?) Year over year. One of the weird things about the NBA cap rules as IH was signed to a two way G league deal that converted to a full NBA deal.

As an unrestricted free agent, any team under the apron could sign him for what the Thunder gave him (I believe ~$27 million year one with annual increases). The Knicks would have needed to find a way to shed about $30 million in guaranteed 2024-2025 salary to drop to where they could math that offer. The only realistic way to have done that would have been to have planned ahead by trading a player under contract before the 2024 deadline for an expiring contract.

 

[superjohn]

I believe he's referring to recent, Penny Hardaway versions of Memphis.

Penny is an awful coach.

Pitino is working with the system in place. He isn't going to get Duke recruiting classes at St. John's. This is the best way for him to win and the results have been really good so far.

I think Pitino can coach up any group, maybe the best ever at it and this is an incredibly talented group.

 

[Deleted at users request]

They couldn't offer Hartenstein more than some percentage increase over the deal they signed him two a couple years earlier, which started at a little more than $10 million in year one and had whatever the standard increase (15%? 20%?) Year over year. One of the weird things about the NBA cap rules as IH was signed to a two way G league deal that converted to a full NBA deal.

As an unrestricted free agent, any team under the apron could sign him for what the Thunder gave him (I believe ~$27 million year one with annual increases). The Knicks would have needed to find a way to shed about $30 million in guaranteed 2024-2025 salary to drop to where they could math that offer. The only realistic way to have done that would have been to have planned ahead by trading a player under contract before the 2024 deadline for an expiring contract.

They dropped the ball in getting rid of Randle to keep him on then.

Big time mismanagement of the surplus of assets they had. AND they got their superstar to sign for a discount.

Looking into this more its actually not surprising they went and got KAT who is another CAA client if you're into the agencies being the decision makers for certain orgs thing.

 

[444JR]

So now if we do somehow land Miller it would be despite Alex taking his time by getting lucky that a last minute entrant just happens to fit perfectly, and the staff pulling off a Hail Mary at the buzzer.

Cam Spencer rings a bell as precedence for this

 

[UCfor3]

Memphis was runner up and a second away from winning it all. Pitino is a much better coach than Cal and he brought St. John's their first Big East regular season title in over 25 years, their first Big East tournament title in 25 years in just his second season and he'll have them preseason top 3. I would say he's already gotten them somewhere.

With a HUGE assist from Repole.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

First, we have to acknowledge that this is now purely a business. These guys are on seven figure contracts and we have to sign a million dollar player to replace Alex if he leaves because the competition is out there pitching these kids right now.

As for Samson Johnson…meh. Feels like they’re building another Memphis where they run people in and out and get nowhere in the end.

In case you haven't noticed, StJ, SJU, Johnnies, Red Storm, and probably others will do what you were trying for, but until a change as to something that was created for the convenience of writing the name of a player who has completed his career gets changed, you just got SJed.

 

[J187Money]

The issue is who fills those roster spots smart guy. The portal is closed and there’s only 2 guys left that would be good Alex replacements and everyone is after them.

The point is - we could get a player and worst case we have too many players. Now if someone is a coward who won't come unless Alex leaves then maybe he isn't the guy anyway. I want someone that wants to be here. I don't want someone that is just coming here solely for PT / Money (although I acknowledge those are real factors).

 

[superjohn]

With a HUGE assist from Repole.

Yep, Vitamin Waterboy is huge but it's not just him. Pitino has people in the area excited about St. John's basketball.

Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of CrowdStrike is a Seton Hall guy and Holloway is bringing in MAAC players.

 

[J187Money]

You do know that know each roster spot has a price tag? Are y going to pony up a few mill to be sure we can get who we want?

A few mill? BTW I don't know how we have the money to pay all of the people we are paying already. But they seem to have figured it out.

Honestly AK has earned the right to make his decision however he wants to. And if Hurley has a problem with it - Hurley can tell AK what to do. He has earned that right also. I guess I trust them to do what they think is right - and will trust the process. As much as I want more titles, I am not going to obsess about it. If AK leaves and we don't get another guy? Then we roll with who we got and I'm ok with that. I like the returning players - I like the portal additions we got - and I like the recruits coming in. Lots of talent and a great coach.

 

[Devland]

He has until the 26th to declare and if he does declare he has until June 15th to withdraw from the draft. Technically he can declare this week and say he still hasn't decided and keep everyone hanging until June 15th. This place would melt

 

[willie99]

You can’t be drafted unless you enter your name in the draft otherwise the jazz or whoever would select Flagg with the first pick even if he was returning for his sophomore year lol

And that doesn’t address anything I said. Love that Flagg analogy, awesome baby

LOL

 

[Scottzer]

A few mill? BTW I don't know how we have the money to pay all of the people we are paying already. But they seem to have figured it out.

Honestly AK has earned the right to make his decision however he wants to. And if Hurley has a problem with it - Hurley can tell AK what to do. He has earned that right also. I guess I trust them to do what they think is right - and will trust the process. As much as I want more titles, I am not going to obsess about it. If AK leaves and we don't get another guy? Then we roll with who we got and I'm ok with that. I like the returning players - I like the portal additions we got - and I like the recruits coming in. Lots of talent and a great coach.

The number I heard Michigan State may be offering Adams (sleepers media isn’t 100 percent certain they believe it) is $1.5 million. Any good experienced big is probably going to run $2 mil or more. There just aren’t many.

 

[willie99]

"Players who are not automatically eligible but wish to be drafted must enter their names no later than 60 days before the draft"

 

[Fishy]

In case you haven't noticed, StJ, SJU, Johnnies, Red Storm, and probably others will do what you were trying for, but until a change as to something that was created for the convenience of writing the name of a player who has completed his career gets changed, you just got SJed.

Yeah, autocorrect got me.

(Edit…no, it didn’t. This site corrects S J to Samson Johnson.

That’s….kinda silly.)

 

[3rdbass]

The point is - we could get a player and worst case we have too many players. Now if someone is a coward who won't come unless Alex leaves then maybe he isn't the guy anyway. I want someone that wants to be here. I don't want someone that is just coming here solely for PT / Money (although I acknowledge those are real factors).

That isn't the way it works under this NIL age. It is alll about promoting yourself while making the most money you can with getting a chance to make an NBA roster. Guys aren't coming here to sit behind other player when it is their last year in college. They want to start especially one like Baba who has a point to prove he can play consistently at a higher level.

 

[Dove]

I hope he is not basing his decision on what has been or will be said on the Boneyard

Why not?

 

[Scottzer]

That isn't the way it works under this NIL age. It is alll about promoting yourself while making the most money you can with getting a chance to make an NBA roster. Guys aren't coming here to sit behind other player when it is their last year in college. They want to start especially one like Baba who has a point to prove he can play consistently at a higher level.

Bingo. And, if you’re a underclass a who rides the bench, you might lower your valuation by up to about $1 million for the next season….

Somebody else said, and I agree - that a lot of good top 50ish players might end up at low to mid majors for a year or maybe 2 tops - so they position themselves for the bigger college money as juniors and seniors.

 

[bendm]

And that doesn’t address anything I said. Love that Flagg analogy, awesome baby

LOL

How did I not address your post? You said players are automatically eligible for the nba draft. In response I said that’s not true they have to actually declare for the draft and then gave an example illustrating how crazy your alternative realty would be

 

[bendm]

Cam Spencer rings a bell as precedence for this

Hoping Miller is that guy this time around. Late portal addition that would fit perfectly on a chip contender.