Mullins questions

[navery12]

Based on what’s been broken down. I think it would be silly for him to come out unnecessarily early if he’s not guaranteed lottery, when there’s so much potential for him to go extremely high next year for multiple reasons.

I just don't find that reason compelling enough to come back. It's all about the second contract and it's not a situation like Clingan where he's not getting minutes as a freshman. He'll get a million times better development in the NBA

 

[RuffRuff]

I just don't find that reason compelling enough to come back. It's all about the second contract and it's not a situation like Clingan where he's not getting minutes as a freshman. He'll get a million times better development in the NBA

Do we know that he'll get better development in the NBA? This is the part I'm not entirely sure on.

I suppose the argument is if he drops a bit for whatever reason and falls into the 20's, is it still worth going? What is the threshold? I don't think dropping into the 20's is that crazy a possibility given the swarms of talent in this draft. While there is a race to a second contract, it's not an absolute guarantee and the difference between going really early and in the 20's is like 20mm over 3 years.

 

[HW611]

I just don't find that reason compelling enough to come back. It's all about the second contract and it's not a situation like Clingan where he's not getting minutes as a freshman. He'll get a million times better development in the NBA

With it being about the second contract it’s even more of a reason.

Being able to make $7M a year, being more ready, and being looked at as a franchise guy that a team will be way more invested in.

Or

Making $3M a year, needing more development, and going to a franchise who won’t be as invested. Look at what the Warriors did with Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman as a team with playoff chances.

Which situation puts him in better position to get a big second contract?

His situation to Clingan is similar in that they have an upperclassman in front of them in their roles. Solo being the one in front of Mullins now.

Him coming back to prove he can be the #1 scorer for a year and alpha in an offense would be very helpful to teams seeing him as a franchise scorer.

 

[navery12]

With it being about the second contract it’s even more of a reason.

Being able to make $7M a year, being more ready, and being looked at as a franchise guy that a team will be way more invested in.

Or

Making $3M a year, needing more development, and going to a franchise who won’t be as invested. Look at what the Warriors did with Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman as a team with playoff chances.

Which situation puts him in better position to get a big second contract?

His situation to Clingan is similar in that they have an upperclassman in front of them in their roles. Solo being the one in front of Mullins now.

Him coming back to prove he can be the #1 scorer for a year and alpha in an offense would be very helpful to teams seeing him as a franchise scorer.

But where is Solo going if he comes back? The backcourt will be the exact same with Silas, Solo, Braylon next year. That's why I'm saying it makes sense to go if he's a 1st rounder

 

[HW611]

But where is Solo going if he comes back? The backcourt will be the exact same with Silas, Solo, Braylon next year. That's why I'm saying it makes sense to go if he's a 1st rounder

If we win this year or make a really deep run, I wouldn’t be surprised if Solo got the “you’ve done all you could here” pat on the back Sanogo got.

If there’s a chance for Mullins to come back.

 

[navery12]

If we win this year or make a really deep run, I wouldn’t be surprised if Solo got the “you’ve done all you could here” pat on the back Sanogo got.

If there’s a chance for Mullins to come back.

If we win a championship our whole starting lineup is gone, but fair enough. Respectfully I think you're living in fantasy land with Dan Hurley forcing out Solo Ball though. It goes against everything he preaches and is a very different world. Even without the NIL factor the Sanogo/Clingan pairing is different from Ball/Mullins in terms of a starting lineup

 

[thekollieman]

If we win a championship our whole starting lineup is gone, but fair enough. Respectfully I think you're living in fantasy land with Dan Hurley forcing out Solo Ball though. It goes against everything he preaches and is a very different world. Even without the NIL factor the Sanogo/Clingan pairing is different from Ball/Mullins in terms of a starting lineup

Sanogo was also a special case because, if I’m not mistaken, at the time he was ineligible for NIL benefits for not being a US citizen. So to start making money playing basketball ASAP was the move regardless of his actual draft projection in 2023 given that it was likely the best it would ever be.

 

[HooperScooper]

Why are we having this huge discussion now about whether Mullins leaves at the end of the season and enters the NBA Draft? Relax, enjoy the season and worry about that in April.

 

[HooperScooper]

You pulled a RuffRuff again. And don't tell me you missed the thread on this. You're on here and post more than anyone in the history of the Boneyard. Or maybe you just have a terrible short term memory. 😂

OT: Thread 'DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony on Alex Karaban'

Dec 29, 2025

DraftExpress is no longer under the ESPN banner and is back to working independently, the AK comments are at the 1 hour, 32 minute mark if the video doesn't automatically start there. He's much higher on AK than other mocks right now, says he has him in his top 20.

There's also Castle/Spurs talk at the very beginning of the pod.

• aceboon
• Replies: 40
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

 

[RuffRuff]

You pulled a RuffRuff again. And don't tell me you missed the thread on this. You're on here and post more than anyone in the history of the Boneyard. Or maybe you just have a terrible short term memory. 😂

OT: Thread 'DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony on Alex Karaban'

Dec 29, 2025

DraftExpress is no longer under the ESPN banner and is back to working independently, the AK comments are at the 1 hour, 32 minute mark if the video doesn't automatically start there. He's much higher on AK than other mocks right now, says he has him in his top 20.

There's also Castle/Spurs talk at the very beginning of the pod.

• aceboon
• Replies: 40
• Forum: UConn Men's Basketball Forum

• 

If there a sin in posting a short snippet that hits it directly versus having to jump onto YouTube?

 

[ctchamps]

100% agree but have to add 100% that money plays into the decision. At some point NIL exceeds rookie contract.

Put me in this column. But that makes @navery12 assertion that everyone other than RuffRuff
believes Mullins is gone if he's a first rounder. Mullins, his family, and the coaches will discuss his situation and make it based on this. Just finished JC's "More Than a Game" and Rip Hamilton was persuaded to come back for his junior year. Of course the NBA situations were different back then but given what was available it was a wise choice.

 

[HooperScooper]

If there a sin in posting a short snippet that hits it directly versus having to jump onto YouTube?

With both you just have to click on a button and the video appears. What's the difference? If you desire then post it in the same thread then. Why put this in a thread about Mullins?

 

[ctchamps]

Post it in the same thread then. Why put this in a thread about Mullins?

Palate cleansing?

 

[HW611]

Sanogo was also a special case because, if I’m not mistaken, at the time he was ineligible for NIL benefits for not being a US citizen. So to start making money playing basketball ASAP was the move regardless of his actual draft projection in 2023 given that it was likely the best it would ever be.

Even if NIL was a thing for Sanogo, we were going to make room for Clingan.

This year is probably going to be as good as it gets for Solo too now that his game has rounded out and he’s fully emerged in the #1 option role.

 

[aceboon]

Even if NIL was a thing for Sanogo, we were going to make room for Clingan.

This year is probably going to be as good as it gets for Solo too now that his game has rounded out and he’s fully emerged in the #1 option role.

he's gotta get his 3ball into the upper 30s, obviously scouts know he can shoot it better than the numbers are showing right now but he's leaving alot of meat on the bone with how many wide open 3s he's missed to start the year. last 4 games he's about 39% so hopefully he continues the trend upwards.

 

[RuffRuff]

Even if NIL was a thing for Sanogo, we were going to make room for Clingan.

This year is probably going to be as good as it gets for Solo too now that his game has rounded out and he’s fully emerged in the #1 option role.

I see no reason for Solo to leave this year unless his stock booms into the first round. Next year is a big opportunity for a lot of these guys that may be on the fringe.

 

[HW611]

I see no reason for Solo to leave this year unless his stock booms into the first round. Next year is a big opportunity for a lot of these guys that may be on the fringe.

I can buy players wanting to avoid this draft altogether.

 

[gtcam]

Why are we having this huge discussion now about whether Mullins leaves at the end of the season and enters the NBA Draft? Relax, enjoy the season and worry about that in April.

What else would RuffRuff have to pontificate about? 😂 🙃

 

[SportsFan88]

He’ll be back

That would be awesome

 

[uconn_jack]

I think its pretty simple:

If he is a projected lottery, he's gone.

If he is first round but out of the lottery, there is a good or even likely chance he's gone.

If he drops to 2nd round, he'll stay.

What's not simple is where he ends up. Some have him projected lottery still based on reputation and potential since he hasn't shown or not shown anything to refute that. Now that he's playing regularly, he will start to be compared directly to the other draftees. If he out performs most of them, he'll go lottery. If not, it will depend on what he hears from teams that may want to take him and where. If he doesn't get a strong indication that he will be taken first round and/or to a team that is a good situation, I think it would be just as likely that he returns.

I think what we are all really arguing is whether he will perform well enough and better than other draftees to keep his presumed lottery position.

I personally don't think lottery will be guaranteed for him by the end of the season, but will be on the cusp and will likely go first round shortly after lottery, and unless it looks like a bad situation shaping up and he widthdraws, I think he ultimately will go pro. But of course, that's just a guess and gut feeling, and anyone that claims more certainty what will happen really doesn't know either.

 

[Husky68]

Based on recent events, can he go into draft and if doesn't like where he goes not sign and come back to UConn?

 

[RuffRuff]

I think its pretty simple:

If he is a projected lottery, he's gone.

If he is first round but out of the lottery, there is a good or even likely chance he's gone.

If he drops to 2nd round, he'll stay.

What's not simple is where he ends up. Some have him projected lottery still based on reputation and potential since he hasn't shown or not shown anything to refute that. Now that he's playing regularly, he will start to be compared directly to the other draftees. If he out performs most of them, he'll go lottery. If not, it will depend on what he hears from teams that may want to take him and where. If he doesn't get a strong indication that he will be taken first round and/or to a team that is a good situation, I think it would be just as likely that he returns.

I think what we are all really arguing is whether he will perform well enough and better than other draftees to keep his presumed lottery position.

I personally don't think lottery will be guaranteed for him by the end of the season, but will be on the cusp and will likely go first round shortly after lottery, and unless it looks like a bad situation shaping up and he widthdraws, I think he ultimately will go pro. But of course, that's just a guess and gut feeling, and anyone that claims more certainty what will happen really doesn't know either.

Well said. Agree he is in his current spot of around 16 due to reputation as he hasn't show enough to move up or down. There are three months to see how it all plays out, against a flock of other very talented players this year.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I’m trying to think of the last UConn player in Mullins’ situation that didn’t go pro. Guys that the whole NBA draft community (analysts, mock drafts, etc.) pretty much agreed was going pro and then ended up coming back. For every single one of those guys, you can find numerous posts on here saying they should return for another year, but I’m honestly blanking on a single surprise returner in recent memory.

 

[RuffRuff]

I’m trying to think of the last UConn player in Mullins’ situation that didn’t go pro. Guys that the whole NBA draft community (analysts, mock drafts, etc.) pretty much agreed was going pro and then ended up coming back. For every single one of those guys, you can find numerous posts on here saying they should return for another year, but I’m honestly blanking at a single surprise returner in recent memory.

Clingan?

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Clingan?

Most thought Clingan would return. He was being talked about as a potential late first rounder but it would have been a surprise if he had gone on the draft after his freshman year.