Yawn. I come to UK's site to talk to UK fans that want us to succeed, not fake fans that dominate the board with anything negative that occurs and fall all over themselves to be the first that report it. Put me on ignore instead of crying about what you call crying, hypocrite.
Keldon declares for NBA Draft (with agent)
- Thread starter RoyKent
- Start date
Yawn. I come to UK's site to talk to UK fans that want us to succeed, not fake fans that dominate the board with anything negative that occurs and fall all over themselves to be the first that report it. Put me on ignore instead of crying about what you call crying, hypocrite.
I like that he lists what his goal here is.
In the end, I worry that even if he's top 20 he'll still go.
KSR did a post a few days ago with each player's mock draft projections:
Here's Keldon:
ESPN: 15th – Orlando Magic
NBC Sports: 20th – Indiana Pacers
Sporting News: 15th – Miami Heat
Tankathon: 21st – Indiana Pacers
The Athletic: 18th
In the end, I worry that even if he's top 20 he'll still go.
KSR did a post a few days ago with each player's mock draft projections:
Here's Keldon:
ESPN: 15th – Orlando Magic
NBC Sports: 20th – Indiana Pacers
Sporting News: 15th – Miami Heat
Tankathon: 21st – Indiana Pacers
The Athletic: 18th
I’m pretty confident he’s not a lottery pick, kid faded pretty bad down the stretch. He’s one I never dreamed of coming back for a 2nd year and I still wonder if his ego would allow it.
You're probably right. I'm sure it will be tomorrow and have similar wording. Sucks to have to wait this long for decisions every year.
I don't know how to read it.
I'll say I'm surprised that he left the door open. I thought he was the 2nd player along with PJ that would just outright go.
I think he'll be close in the drafts. He may fall just outside the lottery. I worry that he hears he's top 20 and decides he can live with that--and we lose him anyway in the end. Maybe that's 10 years of conditioning of 18-19 year old kids say one thing and do something completely different. Maybe Keldon's different
Short of May 29th, I guess we wait and see if he decides to do a signing tour haha
He didn't seem to me to have much of an ego. Seemed like a genuinely nice and humble kid, and seemed to REALLY enjoy playing at UK. I could see it.
I mean anyone in this thread would be the same way.
If I get guaranteed MILLIONS, I’m gone. If not. I’ll be back to try again. Can’t blame him one bit.
And unfortunately I think he gone.
He’s a good kid. I like him a lot. But he will probably be drafted on potential alone.
Just have to wait and see.
If I get guaranteed MILLIONS, I’m gone. If not. I’ll be back to try again. Can’t blame him one bit.
And unfortunately I think he gone.
He’s a good kid. I like him a lot. But he will probably be drafted on potential alone.
Just have to wait and see.
I like the kid but was never that impressed with him as a player.. Really not sure how he'll translate to the NBA level. Wish him well though.
If he is projected or a team tells him he is going to be picked 17-20 range that would be really hard to come back to try to improve on. Is going from 17/18 to 11/12 worth it? I'm not sure. You lose a year of earning money, are one year further away from free agency, etc... Tough decision to make.
I think if he hears he is 20ish or beyond he will really consider returning.
Honestly Cardstink is in quite a few threads trying his hardest to start a back-and-forth with someone. He’s actually the definition of a troll.
I do like the thought of a four-our offense with KJ/Whitney at the forwards and Hagans/Maxey at the guards.
That's a title level group. It's crazy how one decision can change everything.
@JFCats22
What are your thoughts on Hagans returning? We haven't heard one single peep from you on that good news for UK. You've been first to report all the negatives but not a peep on Hagans?
I'm still laughing at you calling me "little man", Mr. 5'9 tall by your own admission. I'd be looking down at you. [roll]
Not sure what that really does for the kid. Obviously its a little more money, but you go to a potentially worse team where you'll be expected to perform at a high level more quickly.
If he was taken #20 he'll get about 6.1 million on the first contract, if he is taken #14 he'd earn about 8.1. Sure that's a good chunk of change, but 6.1 million to an 18-19 year old is still a massive payday.
Point I'm getting at is the difference between lottery and first round is NOT that different in the grand scheme. He'd have to jump to top 10 for a big boost. If he could go #8 he'd get about 12 million from the first contract.
I guess it depends on how high he thinks he could go with another year, but its a slippery slope with the NBA drafting so heavily on potential. There will be some shiny new faces next year someone will want to take a gamble on.
EDIT: Just saying I don't think because he says he wants to be lotto, that it rules out him leaving if he isn't. His agent will try to get him to go for the payday, and he'll see the differences aren't that drastic. I think he takes a gamble as long as he feels solidly in round 1.
I don't know what the cut off is. If he's told he's like 28-30, sure I can buy he'll come back.
If he's told he's 15-20, I'll be surprised if he turns that down. If he's early 20's, I think he still goes.
But again, I think a lot of that is 10 years of:
Recruit says he wants to play in a town named Lexington and wear Blue--Chooses school that wears Magenta in town not named Lexington.
player says he's going to get all the info and make the smartest decision--gets 2nd round feedback and goes.
Watching the Hunter kid run the 4 for UVA a lot this year and in the Final Four, I could definitely see us doing that with how deep and athletic we could be next year on the wing
Lots of things go into it.
If he doesn't go in the lottery, he's being drafted by a playoff team. How many playoff teams are going to change up their rotation a lot next season and give KJ 20+ MPG.
On the flip side, a team that uses a lottery pick on him will almost certainly invest the time and resources to try to make him successful, including playing time, etc.
I think Cal has chilled on the "You better have a great reason to come back."
Lots of guys were 1st rounders and now in the G-league.
If Keldon can come back and improve his longevity, I think Cal will support that.
Whatever step is below " he's not ready yet" thats where KJ is . But in todays world you get paid , you get paid , money makes the world go round' . He's a d league guy for a few years
The issue becomes the agent and others in the circle of influence pushing and convincing. Many of them only get paid when he starts getting paid and may not have his true best interest at heart.
Edit- much like me as I am putting my own/KY’a best interest first by hopng he comes back. It could possibly be win/win but I’m only thinking of myself
I love KJ. I would love to have him back. That being said, he’s not ready for NBA ball. This is my opinion from watching him. He’s athletic, but can’t get to the rim without getting pushed or stuffed often. Gets distracted easily. Shooting is good and then not. Drifts too much. Rebounds well when he chooses to, but forgets to do it.
I guess it's because he thinks he has that level talent, even if not displayed yet.
I agree. Despite what he says, I think he stays in if he's lotto or near lotto
I expect him to fall considerably after workouts.
I like KJ as a college player, but he's not a great athlete (just look at his problems finishing around the rim) and doesn't have any skill that is elite or projects to be elite down the road. I expect him to slide to the fringe first round/second round range.
He’s 18th or so and that’s before the 3-4 euro players that get selected in he top 15 picks that were never on these mock drafts .
But even if he’s going around 22nd..... it’s just hard to fathom a guy coming back here to U.K. because every first round guy here has gone the past 10 years
But even if he’s going around 22nd..... it’s just hard to fathom a guy coming back here to U.K. because every first round guy here has gone the past 10 years
Just saying. I’d take $6.1 million for a year and you’d never see my happy butt again. Invest it and have a little fun. Easy choice.
Yeah, if you just consider him and Herro what does he do better than Herro, he may be a half inch taller, jump a couple of inches higher and have a couple of inches on him in wing span. I really think KJ maybe the one that comes back, Herro has shown such good flashes on offense I think he goes around 20, I could see KJ falling to 25-30 range.
That's true, but Keldon is the same kid who stubbornly forced his way to Kentucky. Dad and those around him wanted Maryland, but Keldon wanted to come to Kentucky and fight and be pushed by other great players.
Now, that same mindset might mean he also thinks he's ready to fight grown men for minutes in the NBA and that he has extreme confidence in himself. But it undoubtedly means he'll make his own decision.