2025 Transfer Portal Watch

This is a situation that I thought could happen. The big boys have their starting lineups in place and have spent a lot of money. Now you have some really good players left who need to find a place that gives them two things:
1. A nice bag of NIL money
2. A feature role that positions them for the NBA.

If the Gophers have squirreled away some dough we could be in position to land a really good player.
But, in basketball especially, do you really want a mercenary on your team?
#1. Getting more money than anybody else on the team but totally ungrateful and unhappy because it's not enough.
#2. Teammates are going to resent him and his attitude.
#3 Selfless, one heartbeat, one for all, we are all sooo close, we love each other etc seems pretty unlikely to happen and it is an important ingredient to being a good basketball team..
 

This is a situation that I thought could happen. The big boys have their starting lineups in place and have spent a lot of money. Now you have some really good players left who need to find a place that gives them two things:
1. A nice bag of NIL money
2. A feature role that positions them for the NBA.

If the Gophers have squirreled away some dough we could be in position to land a really good player.
I think it's more likely he is going to get nowhere near what his ego thinks he is worth.
 

But, in basketball especially, do you really want a mercenary on your team?
#1. Getting more money than anybody else on the team but totally ungrateful and unhappy because it's not enough.
#2. Teammates are going to resent him and his attitude.
#3 Selfless, one heartbeat, one for all, we are all sooo close, we love each other etc seems pretty unlikely to happen and it is an important ingredient to being a good basketball team..
Good points. I think a lot of coaches will have to deal with resentment over who gets paid more than others. With Garcia it made sense that he was the highest paid because of his experience and stature on the team.
 

I think it's more likely he is going to get nowhere near what his ego thinks he is worth.
Oh I agree with that. I am not really referring to him but to the situation where a number of good players may be still looking for a home and we could still get one. I have no idea who that could be and this kid is almost assuredly not the one we get.
 






Yaxel Lendeborg withdraws from the NBA Draft and will play for MI this season. Another example of a guy that can make more in college than as a later NBA 1st Round Pick.

It's difficult to compare our transfer class with that of MI without seeing the huge disparity in talent...and cash being spent.
 




Yaxel Lendeborg withdraws from the NBA Draft and will play for MI this season. Another example of a guy that can make more in college than as a later NBA 1st Round Pick.

It's difficult to compare our transfer class with that of MI without seeing the huge disparity in talent...and cash being spent.
This is what Dicky V was referencing when he mentioned the NIL and how out of control it is. Before NIL it was all about getting to the "League" Now not so much, even for those who might be drafted in the first round. SAD!!!
 

This is what Dicky V was referencing when he mentioned the NIL and how out of control it is. Before NIL it was all about getting to the "League" Now not so much, even for those who might be drafted in the first round. SAD!!!
I mean at this point if you are a fringe NBA guy you can probably make more staying college as opposed to trying to make it in the NBA or G League.

If you are not a lottery pick may as well just stay in college as long as you can as you will probably be able to command a decent chunk of pay for play money until your eligibility runs out. And the way things are going who knows how long eligibility will even be a thing anymore....might be able to stay in college forever :)
 




This is what Dicky V was referencing when he mentioned the NIL and how out of control it is. Before NIL it was all about getting to the "League" Now not so much, even for those who might be drafted in the first round. SAD!!!
According to "reports", Lendeborg is getting $4M from MI for one (1) year of service.
 

But, in basketball especially, do you really want a mercenary on your team?
#1. Getting more money than anybody else on the team but totally ungrateful and unhappy because it's not enough.
#2. Teammates are going to resent him and his attitude.
#3 Selfless, one heartbeat, one for all, we are all sooo close, we love each other etc seems pretty unlikely to happen and it is an important ingredient to being a good basketball team..
I think this can be the case if you bring in the wrong guys but if you bring in the right guys, I think the teammates will want that mercenary. They want to win. They want to showcase their abilities.

I'm thinking Max Brosmer probably got paid more than most people and he is sort of the definition of a mercenary. He came to the U for a handful of months and took the job of a player who many of our players probably had a bond since HS recruiting (Athan) but he was embraced because he helped us win.

I think of a guy like Vincent Grier that changed that team. He was sort of a portal type of guy before the portal existed.
 

Wanna know how to become a millionaire as a restaurant owner?

Start with $2 million.
I think there was a 30 for 30 about athletes and how they get sucked into these bad business investments. It's usually a buddy that know nothing about running a business and the athlete is the money person. I think Jim Kelly lost a bunch back in the day.
 

Alex Condon opting out of the Draft and returning to the Gators. They'll miss Clayton Jr but they could be even stronger this year.
 

I think there was a 30 for 30 about athletes and how they get sucked into these bad business investments. It's usually a buddy that know nothing about running a business and the athlete is the money person. I think Jim Kelly lost a bunch back in the day.
That was a fantastic 30 for 30. Athletes were open and honest. Some royally ripped off and others super irresponsible.
 

I think this can be the case if you bring in the wrong guys but if you bring in the right guys, I think the teammates will want that mercenary. They want to win. They want to showcase their abilities.

I'm thinking Max Brosmer probably got paid more than most people and he is sort of the definition of a mercenary. He came to the U for a handful of months and took the job of a player who many of our players probably had a bond since HS recruiting (Athan) but he was embraced because he helped us win.

I think of a guy like Vincent Grier that changed that team. He was sort of a portal type of guy before the portal existed.
I agree with all that...my thoughts were pretty much focused on one guy whose Dad and his agents were asking for $4 million dollars. I didn't;t think he'd be a good fit at say $2 million.
 

I mean at this point if you are a fringe NBA guy you can probably make more staying college as opposed to trying to make it in the NBA or G League.

If you are not a lottery pick may as well just stay in college as long as you can as you will probably be able to command a decent chunk of pay for play money until your eligibility runs out. And the way things are going who knows how long eligibility will even be a thing anymore....might be able to stay in college forever :)
Totally agree. If you’re not a lottery pick the NIL earnings are almost certainly better
 


Totally agree. If you’re not a lottery pick the NIL earnings are almost certainly better
It really depends on the player.

If you're going to be picked at #20, that's essentially 3 years at $9 million dollars (4th year is team option) and you're also a year closer to hitting free agency.

If you take the $4 million from Michigan and then drop you have now made $8 million dollars over that same 3 years. You are also one year further from getting your 4th year option and hitting free agency.

There is also a chance you could improve your stock, but the NBA has punished players who are older for their age. Edey likely improved his stock and made the right move. The other seniors drafted last year kind of came out of nowhere (Dalton Knecht).
 



It really depends on the player.

If you're going to be picked at #20, that's essentially 3 years at $9 million dollars (4th year is team option) and you're also a year closer to hitting free agency.

If you take the $4 million from Michigan and then drop you have now made $8 million dollars over that same 3 years. You are also one year further from getting your 4th year option and hitting free agency.

There is also a chance you could improve your stock, but the NBA has punished players who are older for their age. Edey likely improved his stock and made the right move. The other seniors drafted last year kind of came out of nowhere (Dalton Knecht).
In general it would seem like if you are certain to be a first round pick (especially top 20) it is probably in your best interests to go pro as I would assume most of those guys find their way onto active NBA rosters (but have no proof to back that up just guessing). Obviously there are always exceptions.

But if you are a late first round or 2nd round talent then staying in college is probably more lucrative as those guys are still likely among the best at the college level even if they are fringe NBA guys (Dawson Garcia would be an example of this).

Just depends on how quickly you are looking to start your pro career but would guess we will see more and more guys opting to stay in college as long as things remain very unregulated in the college game.
 



That has to be the most frustrating part in recruiting, "yeah I want to be a (insert team mascot)....until a better offer comes in".
 






Top Bottom