Moreno Trending First Round

[Drogon]

Honestly, Im surprised Moreno didn't transfer tbh. He's a square peg trying to be put in a round hole. He'd be better off in an offense where playing inside-out is a lot more prevelant than in Pope's system. He's not a 3pt shooter. His biggest function in Pope's offense is as a screener who rarely got the chance to screen and roll because Oweh and Aberdeen aren't very experienced running it. That's why the offense became so 1-dimensional with isolation play and some 3pt shooting sprinkled in. There wasn't nearly as much drive and kick/dish as there should have been. Maybe that changes this season, but we will see depending on where he's playing at I guess.

 

[Katscratch]

Won't he probably be making more $$$ playing for us this year, although succeeding years may factor into any decision he makes ... ???

He'd probably make about the same this year at UK as if he were the 30th overall draft pick.

The big plus of leaving is that he would get his second NBA contract one year (or more) earlier. And that's an approximate $5m payday one year earlier, whereas he'd have an extra year of $2.5m during the college year that replaced it. So it's a $2.5 million pay bonus to leave if he's a first rounder. And for a profession where a player could blow out a knee at age 25 that can be a monumental difference.

Another advantage of leaving early? He would train with and practice with grown *** men instead of whoever UK will have as their backup bigs. Yes, he'd face strong competition in games against UK, but still not as strong in aggregate as the G League.

Now, if he's not a first round pick likely none of this matters and he's staying in college.

 

[Cats_2010]

Tell me how many teams would have won the championship without their starting point guard, no backup point guard to replace him. Aberdeen was not and is not a point guard. And who also lost 2 other top 8 players. That's 3 of the top 8 out. 2 almost the entire year and the other the final 2 months. Can wait to see this long list of schools since you think injuries is just a weak excuse.

How did we win games at Arkansas and twice against TN without these injured players. Sorry but you can’t lump JQ in your equation. He was hurt when we got him and knew he would not play until January but proceeded to go 2-2 when he did play with one of the wins over mighty bellarmine. And it’s 100% popes fault for not having a backup PG. still we had the pieces to be better than we were but pope can’t coach/manage a roster for ****.

 

[Drogon]

The big plus of leaving is that he would get his second NBA contract one year (or more) earlier. And that's an approximate $5m payday one year earlier, whereas he'd have an extra year of $2.5m during the college year that replaced it. So it's a $2.5 million pay bonus to leave if he's a first rounder. And for a profession where a player could blow out a knee at age 25 that can be a monumental difference.

Another advantage of leaving early? He would train with and practice with grown *** men instead of whoever UK will have as their backup bigs. Yes, he'd face strong competition in games against UK, but still not as strong in aggregate as the G League.

Now, if he's not a first round pick likely none of this matters and he's staying in college.

The team drafting him would also likely be a team drafting near the end of the 1st round and that has depth at the position, is superior at developing big men, and he'd be learning the system for the team he'd be playing for against those grown *** men. This would allow him to develop without the pressure of having to perform in the league right away. Maybe not developing at his own pace, but also not at a forced pace.

 

[mcowherd]

That will probably be close to happening regardless as of right now, unless we fill these last couple spots with NBA drop outs. The issue is only 71 entered this year so that’s only 11 without a spot really if they want to go.

Chances of getting drafted have never been better when you look at it that way.

 

[RMP82]

If he can go first round, I hope he does. I would avoid this sh show at all cost if I were him.

 

[TheResistance]

So if the rumors are true that Moreno signed a deal to return for a very fair price, it will not leave Pope much to work with if he leaves...

 

[Smeegs]

duke lacrosse did less damage to duke mbball, U6 did less damage to lullville than this offseason has done to UK mbball. You can point fingers why- idc- this offseason has tanked UK mbball.

Why would Duke lacrosse damage Duke basketball?

Especially since that ended up being just a hoax perpetrated by a crazy woman.

 

[UKFootball78]

How did we win games at Arkansas and twice against TN without these injured players. Sorry but you can’t lump JQ in your equation. He was hurt when we got him and knew he would not play until January but proceeded to go 2-2 when he did play with one of the wins over mighty bellarmine. And it’s 100% popes fault for not having a backup PG. still we had the pieces to be better than we were but pope can’t coach/manage a roster for ****.

Jq was expected to play if not start by conference play. So you have to count him. He was part of the seasons plan. They won because they played better than the other team that day. I really don't know what winning those games has to do with my point. Pope had a backup point....he decided to decommit late because of perceived competition from lowe. There may be arguments you can make, but the ones you just spewed are not them.

 

[DudahUK]

So if the rumors are true that Moreno signed a deal to return for a very fair price, it will not leave Pope much to work with if he leaves...

Like Pope would be able to get anyone even comparable. He would be headed to Syria next. Recruiting terrorist.

 

[philstat]

Mark it down, it’s our luck at this juncture, he’s gone.

 

[Blues10]

If he declares, my god will Pope be screwed.

Pope!! What about the fans!! It was going to be bad enough without Moreno. He as a bright spot on this roster!
I can't wait for this basketball debacle to be over!

 

[BlueKnight2011]

So just to recap:

Pope was in on Devin Williams but only as a 4, backed off when we landed 2 PF’s (Williams is 6’10 and averaged 2.6 blocks per game)

Pope went after Ekezie heavily but backed off when he made it clear he was going to reclass

Pope flew all the way to Israel to put the full court press on a 6’8 center that averaged 1.6 RPG and 0.3 BPG in 37 euroleague games, and couldn’t lock him down.

And now we might lose Malachi to the draft, and our only other center on roster did not start for Miami Ohio.

Another Pope masterclass

 

[Bleedin Blue in Ohio]

Moreno is a much better player than this board gives him credit for. I fully expect him to be a breakout player his sophomore season. An entire offseason to work on his body and his strength. He has the skill set. I do not see him jumping to the NBA as a late 1st early 2nd round pick. As a UK fan himself he saw the failures of past big men at UK jumping too early. Or did Cal push them too early. If he was a lottery pick, I think he would go no doubt. He is not at this juncture.

 

[Katscratch]

So if the rumors are true that Moreno signed a deal to return for a very fair price, it will not leave Pope much to work with if he leaves...

Oof. Things can change, but currently it seems that even when Pope does things well they might backfire.

In this instance, it should be a foregone conclusion that signing Moreno to come back at a hometown discount price is a good thing. But if it turns out that Moreno goes to the combine and is projected as a late first rounder? That $1.5-2.0m UK NIL deal will look especially low compared to a first year NBA contract and a path to getting the second NBA $5.0m NBA contract one year earlier.

 

[Eagles_Ball_69]

Like Pope would be able to get anyone even comparable. He would be headed to Syria next. Recruiting terrorist.

Terrorists might defend the rim better than the current front line.

 

[DudahUK]

Terrorists might defend the rim better than the current front line.

They would blow up the paint for sure.

 

[JonathanW2]

For all of you doom & gloomers, Moreno is not likely to go even if projected late 1st.
1) he would get as much $ at UK next year as a pick in the 20’s
2) he is no where close to being able to play NBA games next year, so he would spend the entire year in G league, and players moving up from the G-league has been a mixed bag of results
3) next years draft should be much less deep, and with expected improvement he could go top 15 or maybe top 10, getting a 3 year deal with twice as much

 

[DudahUK]

Oof. Things can change, but currently it seems that even when Pope does things well they might backfire.

In this instance, it should be a foregone conclusion that signing Moreno to come back at a hometown discount price is a good thing. But if it turns out that Moreno goes to the combine and is projected as a late first rounder? That $1.5-2.0m UK NIL deal will look especially low compared to a first year NBA contract and a path to getting the second NBA $5.0m NBA contract one year earlier.

I’d assume UK would come back with a counter offer. Like it would matter much but just saying.

 

[philstat]

I wouldn’t sweat it, I have no doubt Pope has factored this potentiality into his recruiting, he’ll head back to Israel this weekend.

 

[DudahUK]

For all of you doom & gloomers, Moreno is not likely to go even if projected late 1st.
1) he would get as much $ at UK next year as a pick in the 20’s
2) he is no where close to being able to play NBA games next year, so he would spend the entire year in G league, and players moving up from the G-league has been a mixed bag of results
3) next years draft should be much less deep, and with expected improvement he could go top 15 or maybe top 10, getting a 3 year deal with twice as much

Agree with some of what you said but you have no clue what he’s making this year to compare.

 

[DudahUK]

I wouldn’t sweat it, I have no doubt Pope has factored this potentiality into his recruiting, he’ll head back to Israel this weekend.

Did he ever return? Not like we would know it.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Chances of getting drafted have never been better when you look at it that way.

I know, that’s scary. I mean he will definitely make more here but who knows if he wants to go if he could get first round.

 

[battle_cats]

It will be a terrible career decision for him to go pro. He's not even remotely close to being ready for that level.

 

[Katscratch]

I wouldn’t sweat it, I have no doubt Pope has factored this potentiality into his recruiting, he’ll head back to Israel this weekend.

Pope is recruiting on the Sabbath in Israel?

Figures.

 

[jeffky]

Please do it let the program burn

You're hoping for Kentucky to implode to fire pope . Why do you bother to engage if you have that mindset . try fishing ,marbles, darts ,and take the year off .

 

[Kats meow]

Why would Duke lacrosse damage Duke basketball?

Especially since that ended up being just a hoax perpetrated by a crazy woman.

And a corrupt district attorney.

 

[anot]

Somebody go back to the first game of the season. I said Moreno is a pro. Go back to when he entered the draft. I said he gone. And he is gone. Somebody send kyjeff proof.

 

[BlueSince92]

Tell me how many teams would have won the championship without their starting point guard,

The championship????????????????????????????????????????????????????

We're pissed because we lost 14 games and were a national laughing stock most of the season.


How many upper P4 schools with our budget in the era of NIL and 15 roster spots would have lost less than 14 games with their starting PG out all season?

Probably all of 'em besides us.

 

[anot]

The championship????????????????????????????????????????????????????

We're pissed because we lost 14 games and were a national laughing stock most of the season.


How many upper P4 schools with our budget in the era of NIL and 15 roster spots would have lost less than 14 games with their starting PG out all season?

Probably all of 'em besides us.

We're not a laughing stock according to kyjeff. He seems to think all is well around UK. Do you have proof that we are a laughing stock or are you just saying the truth to be hateful?

 

[DudahUK]

Pope is recruiting on the Sabbath in Israel?

Figures.

And wondering why nobody is answering.

 

[DudahUK]

And a corrupt district attorney.

That whole situation was an entire mess.

 

[DudahUK]

The championship????????????????????????????????????????????????????

We're pissed because we lost 14 games and were a national laughing stock most of the season.


How many upper P4 schools with our budget in the era of NIL and 15 roster spots would have lost less than 14 games with their starting PG out all season?

Probably all of 'em besides us.

These people have to be related to Pope right?

 

[RedwoodHigh]

The money is better if he stays at Ky & goes in lottery next year. Plus living in LA or NYC is expensive opposed to Lexington. The difference could be as high as $6 to $10 million.

 

[UKCowboys]

For all of you doom & gloomers, Moreno is not likely to go even if projected late 1st.
1) he would get as much $ at UK next year as a pick in the 20’s
2) he is no where close to being able to play NBA games next year, so he would spend the entire year in G league, and players moving up from the G-league has been a mixed bag of results
3) next years draft should be much less deep, and with expected improvement he could go top 15 or maybe top 10, getting a 3 year deal with twice as much

I am a long way from a doom and groomer, but if Moreno were to leave, it would be a season wrecker. No other way you can spin it

 

[bgoad72]

I like Moreno and feel like he could make great strides in year 2. But if your an NBA gm that takes him in the first round based on where he is and how he performed last year, you should be fired on the spot.

 

[RedwoodHigh]

Honestly, Im surprised Moreno didn't transfer tbh. He's a square peg trying to be put in a round hole. He'd be better off in an offense where playing inside-out is a lot more prevelant than in Pope's system. He's not a 3pt shooter. His biggest function in Pope's offense is as a screener who rarely got the chance to screen and roll because Oweh and Aberdeen aren't very experienced running it. That's why the offense became so 1-dimensional with isolation play and some 3pt shooting sprinkled in. There wasn't nearly as much drive and kick/dish as there should have been. Maybe that changes this season, but we will see depending on where he's playing at I guess.

Pope will go to a twin Tower hi lo offense with lots of pics for the guards.. He will convince MM to stay by creating more specific plays designed to make him the #1 option.
Ky will play a 9 or 10 man rotation & drive us crazy with substitutions that seem odd.

 

[anot]

I am a long way from a doom and groomer, but if Moreno were to leave, it would be a season wrecker. No other way you can spin it

Season is already wrecked . I'm not understanding the people that get all upset with calling it what it is. We don't have to hate Pope to see we are about to lose close to 20 games. That's before Moreno doesn't come back. So yes you're right about season wrecker. It's already a fender bender. When Moreno leaves it will be a fatal crash. Insurance will total it.

 

[wkycatfan7]

Moreno could really benefit from another year of college imo.

 

[Major_Tom]

I think if Moreno is guaranteed by a team to go in the first round he will, imo.

This.