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Moreno: How much in NIL vs. NBA late first round $$$?

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Haggin_Hall_1983

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Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers from Penn State) made $2,743,800 in salary during the 2025-26 NBA season (his rookie year).

How much are we paying Malachi to play for us next year...? No one really knows, of course. I am thinking around 2.5 Million.

spotrac.com +1
This is the standard amount for the 30th pick under the NBA's 2025-26 rookie scale at 120% (the maximum most first-rounders sign for; the base 100% scale slot was $2,286,500).

basketball.realgm.com
  • His full four-year rookie contract (with team options on years 3–4) is worth about $14.09 million total if all options are exercised.

    sports.yahoo.com +1
  • NBA rookie contracts for first-round picks are predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement and tied to the salary cap (set at $154.647 million for 2025-26). Picks can sign for 80–120% of the scale value.

    sportico.com
 
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theBlues

theBlues

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I think you've got MM's UK number for next year exactly right from what I've heard. If he stayed in the draft and went in the first round he'd make a little more staying. But if he goes 2nd round he makes a lot less for the next several years and if he stays in college and moves up in the draft he makes a lot more.
 
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UKBB4Ever

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There’s far more to consider than the first year though. 1 round picks get a guaranteed 3 year contract.

Plus 1 year closer to the 2nd contract which is the big bucks.

If only looking at next season he would most certainly make more at UK.

We have already seen players take less to not play for Pope.

Even Travis Perry took less to get away.
 
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James Arington

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Haggin_Hall_1983 said:
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers from Penn State) made $2,743,800 in salary during the 2025-26 NBA season (his rookie year).

How much are we paying Malachi to play for us next year...? No one really knows, of course. I am thinking around 2.5 Million.

spotrac.com +1
This is the standard amount for the 30th pick under the NBA's 2025-26 rookie scale at 120% (the maximum most first-rounders sign for; the base 100% scale slot was $2,286,500).

basketball.realgm.com
  • His full four-year rookie contract (with team options on years 3–4) is worth about $14.09 million total if all options are exercised.

    sports.yahoo.com +1
  • NBA rookie contracts for first-round picks are predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement and tied to the salary cap (set at $154.647 million for 2025-26). Picks can sign for 80–120% of the scale value.

    sportico.com
Click to expand...
Who cares. With or without him we will bea much better team at the end.
 
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Haggin_Hall_1983

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theBlues said:
I think you've got MM's UK number for next year exactly right from what I've heard. If he stayed in the draft and went in the first round he'd make a little more staying. But if he goes 2nd round he makes a lot less for the next several years and if he stays in college and moves up in the draft he makes a lot more.
Click to expand...
And more upside still if he goes in a much better spot next year.....I think it is quite a $$$ gamble for him to leave this year.
 
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Haggin_Hall_1983

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UKCowboys said:
Pay him $3.5, cement it. We need him. From everything I have heard we are sitting under $10M spent right now so we should still have enough for Momcilovic unless Kentucky Basketball is now a tier 3 budget program
Click to expand...

LarryLegend9 said:
If Moreno stays in the draft, I may have to take a few days off from the board. I’ll be really sad about it. We need him back or we will be in a bind.
Click to expand...
Could not agree more.
 
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JonathanW2

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Haggin_Hall_1983 said:
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers from Penn State) made $2,743,800 in salary during the 2025-26 NBA season (his rookie year).

How much are we paying Malachi to play for us next year...? No one really knows, of course. I am thinking around 2.5 Million.

spotrac.com +1
This is the standard amount for the 30th pick under the NBA's 2025-26 rookie scale at 120% (the maximum most first-rounders sign for; the base 100% scale slot was $2,286,500).

basketball.realgm.com
  • His full four-year rookie contract (with team options on years 3–4) is worth about $14.09 million total if all options are exercised.

    sports.yahoo.com +1
  • NBA rookie contracts for first-round picks are predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement and tied to the salary cap (set at $154.647 million for 2025-26). Picks can sign for 80–120% of the scale value.

    sportico.com
Click to expand...
To fully evaluate this, you also have to consider what would his rookie salary be if he waited a year and went 5/10/15 picks earlier (he likely to improve, and next years draft not expected to be as deep).

I don’t think you should consider getting to that 2nd contract a year sooner, because getting thst is not guaranteed.
 
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TeamAmerica

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JonathanW2 said:
To fully evaluate this, you also have to consider what would his rookie salary be if he waited a year and went 5/10/15 picks earlier (he likely to improve, and next years draft not expected to be as deep).

I don’t think you should consider getting to that 2nd contract a year sooner, because getting thst is not guaranteed.
Click to expand...
Guys rarely return and improve their draft stock.
 
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JASUN74

JASUN74

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Haggin_Hall_1983 said:
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers from Penn State) made $2,743,800 in salary during the 2025-26 NBA season (his rookie year).

How much are we paying Malachi to play for us next year...? No one really knows, of course. I am thinking around 2.5 Million.

spotrac.com +1
This is the standard amount for the 30th pick under the NBA's 2025-26 rookie scale at 120% (the maximum most first-rounders sign for; the base 100% scale slot was $2,286,500).

basketball.realgm.com
  • His full four-year rookie contract (with team options on years 3–4) is worth about $14.09 million total if all options are exercised.

    sports.yahoo.com +1
  • NBA rookie contracts for first-round picks are predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement and tied to the salary cap (set at $154.647 million for 2025-26). Picks can sign for 80–120% of the scale value.

    sportico.com
Click to expand...
3 million dollars, seems like I’ve read/heard that to be the universal answer from anyone with any knowledge about the situation. Thats life changing money for anyone on earth? Especially a 20 year old kid. We won’t need to wait to much longer.
 
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anot

anot

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Do y'all ever think that these players who are millionaires after one season are worried about losing a few million this year or the next. Sure he might can make more money next year at UK vs going pro.

But in their minds I would imagine they are looking at it like one more year closer to getting that second contract in the NBA.

You don't have to be an all star to make a ton of money. There's role players that make hundreds of millions in their NBA career

Moreno isn't worried about 2 3 4 5 6 million at UK next year. If he can get drafted I think he goes.
 
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CoffeeCat

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Amazing how much fuss is made for a guy that’s not that good, anyway at least last year. Now this site acts like he’s going to be the next Wilt for this coming year.
 
BookofMormon

BookofMormon

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If that's all being offered and he's getting a first round grade, he's gone. He should be getting at least 3.5mm, as that is going rate floor for top center transfers. Saw that Hines to UConn was 3.8mm. Bidunga was somewhere between 4-5mm.
 
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JakeKx

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Yea but if you stay in college you waste a year that could be knocked off the rookie contract. It’s that second contract that gets you paid.
 
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Skyguyb27

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Haggin_Hall_1983 said:
And more upside still if he goes in a much better spot next year.....I think it is quite a $$$ gamble for him to leave this year.
Click to expand...
No he won’t. His big money will always be in the 2nd contract in the league. While he waits for that he will have far better training in the NBA. I’d like him back as well, but your kidding yourself if you think he is better off at UK for 1 more year if he can actually stay in the league.
 
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Bluegrasskingreboot

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CoffeeCat said:
Amazing how much fuss is made for a guy that’s not that good, anyway at least last year. Now this site acts like he’s going to be the next Wilt for this coming year.
Click to expand...
You are comparing him to Wilt and others are comparing him to the field and still others are comparing him to the possible options in the field.

Wilt nor Russell nor Shaq are likely to be walking through any doors anywhere this coming season and even one pops up they won't be growing on trees, never did.
 
T

TeamAmerica

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JASUN74 said:
That’s about to change dramatically during the NIL era. Everyone is making soo much money staying and most players will definitely improve. It’s going to catch up when they must leave because of eligibility. Great for college basketball, on the court anyway.
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You don't see many lottery picks staying. NBA will still draft on potential- that isn't going to change.
 
PastorofMuppets82

PastorofMuppets82

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I lean on the side of him returning. Probably 60/40 if I had to put a number on it. It's been said that Moreno took less NIL to stay with UK so the staff could build a solid roster. Several sites rumored Moreno's NIL value (had he went portaling) at $4 million. Of course, he didn't even put his name in the portal which helps our case for his return. If the reports are true that Moreno took less in NIL to return, then I think he does, in fact return. If those rumors are false AND the Knicks make him assurances and are willing to take him in the first round, he could be gone.
 
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gtown965

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Yardeth

Yardeth

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UKBB4Ever said:
There’s far more to consider than the first year though. 1 round picks get a guaranteed 3 year contract.

Plus 1 year closer to the 2nd contract which is the big bucks.

If only looking at next season he would most certainly make more at UK.

We have already seen players take less to not play for Pope.

Even Travis Perry took less to get away.
Click to expand...
And look where Perry is now?
 
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JASUN74

JASUN74

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TeamAmerica said:
You don't see many lottery picks staying. NBA will still draft on potential- that isn't going to change.
Click to expand...
Maybe if they start paying more. They way it looks like it’s heading, college will be just as much or more in some cases. I’m sure the top ten picks will but it wouldn’t surprise me to see some come back and make more. It’s just a different world now. It’s just whatever they want to do I suppose. Team America f—k yeah! 👍. Love it.
 
T

TeamAmerica

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JASUN74 said:
Maybe if they start paying more. They way it looks like it’s heading, college will be just as much or more in some cases. I’m sure the top ten picks will but it wouldn’t surprise me to see some come back and make more. It’s just a different world now. It’s just whatever they want to do I suppose. Team America f—k yeah! 👍. Love it.
Click to expand...
if they are thinking short term they might.
 
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sefus12

sefus12

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JonathanW2

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TeamAmerica said:
Guys rarely return and improve their draft stock.
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That is because guys rarely returned in the past (who could go in the 1st round). NIL has completely changed that! So what you think you know from pre-2023 is much less relevant.

Plus, you are ignoring a big factor, that this draft may be one of the deepest in history, certainly in this century. So that alone would likely improve his draft spot next year by 5 spots, and it's not unreasonable at all that by getting stronger and showing a better offensive game he improves 5 more spots, which totals 10.
 
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JonathanW2

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anot said:
Do y'all ever think that these players who are millionaires after one season are worried about losing a few million this year or the next. Sure he might can make more money next year at UK vs going pro.

But in their minds I would imagine they are looking at it like one more year closer to getting that second contract in the NBA.

You don't have to be an all star to make a ton of money. There's role players that make hundreds of millions in their NBA career

Moreno isn't worried about 2 3 4 5 6 million at UK next year. If he can get drafted I think he goes.
Click to expand...
Many never see that 2nd contract, or a big 2nd contract.
 
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UKVACats0107

UKVACats0107

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Supposedly had offers of 4mil plus to transfer to other schools.
( Not happening )
Not participating in 5 v 5 scrimmages @ combine this week.
(Reported) smart move imo.
Get solid feed back 💪 💯 and come back plus you got the better NIL @ UK
 
UKVACats0107

UKVACats0107

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Jan 19, 2026
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UKVACats0107 said:
Supposedly had offers of 4mil plus to transfer to other schools.
( Not happening )
Not participating in 5 v 5 scrimmages @ combine this week.
(Reported) smart move imo.
Get solid feed back 💪 💯 and come back plus you got the better NIL @ UK
Click to expand...
And while you there put in some good words to Mo!! 👍
 
Blue Jesus

Blue Jesus

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Haggin_Hall_1983 said:
Yanic Konan Niederhauser (30th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selected by the Los Angeles Clippers from Penn State) made $2,743,800 in salary during the 2025-26 NBA season (his rookie year).

How much are we paying Malachi to play for us next year...? No one really knows, of course. I am thinking around 2.5 Million.

spotrac.com +1
This is the standard amount for the 30th pick under the NBA's 2025-26 rookie scale at 120% (the maximum most first-rounders sign for; the base 100% scale slot was $2,286,500).

basketball.realgm.com
  • His full four-year rookie contract (with team options on years 3–4) is worth about $14.09 million total if all options are exercised.

    sports.yahoo.com +1
  • NBA rookie contracts for first-round picks are predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement and tied to the salary cap (set at $154.647 million for 2025-26). Picks can sign for 80–120% of the scale value.

    sportico.com
Click to expand...
This is why I think the NIL deals may have finally stabilized, and could possibly even drop a little. The NBA draft rookie deal is the closest thing we have to a stable measurement of value on these high end players. The exception is the super-freshmen who could play in the NBA year one if not for the one-year NBA eligibility rule. They can and probably will continue to command NIL deals well above the rest. That should give CBB teams an idea how much money they need every year to field a competitive team, if most of the best college players are getting roughly late-1st/early-2nd round NBA draft salaries.
 
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rivercatinfl

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LarryLegend9 said:
If Moreno stays in the draft, I may have to take a few days off from the board. I’ll be really sad about it. We need him back or we will be in a bind.
Click to expand...
He's not in many if any mocks in the first two rounds from what I've seen.
He would be better financially to play at UK and raise his draft status for next years draft.
I just don't see him leaving.
 
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