AH1971

Don't sign Bailey for $1.5 million (allegedly) or Jason Drake for $600k (allegedly) and you now all of the sudden have $2.1 million to spend on a 5 that better fills the team perceived weaknesses, if in fact IU is at the top of their budget. Not sure what's hard to understand about that? And you probably could have signed whoever you wanted. Were the other P5 teams sniffing around Reed as poor overall defensively on paper as next years IU team? Were they offering $1.5 million (allegedly) plus? I like Reed Bailey's game, I just don't believe it pairs well with the remaining personnel. Nothing more, nothing less.

We spent (allegedly) $2.5 million between Bailey and Alexis. For that kind of money I believe we could have spent more on quality P5 big at the expense of one of those two and perhaps one of the 8 guard/wings we brought in. Not expecting the staff to be perfect in year 1 and that's fine. But with the way the roster is constructed, I just don't feel Bailey's skillset and subsequent weaknesses was an area of need. Again an opinion of course.

Yes, a merit-based opinion based on Bailey's three year body of work that suggests he's anything but a good defender.

Miller, Federiko, any of the numerous defensive-minded 5's in the portal we could have gotten in the same price-range that addressed the one glaring weakness on the roster. Take your pick.

Yes back to the basket bigs is a cause for concern, but equally important, I don't think a combination of Wilkerson, Miles/Dorn, and DeVries 2-4 inspires a great deal of confidence guarding out on the perimeter either. That's why, in my opinion, the need for a true rim protector is so great. I think Conerway is a good on-ball defender who should be able to hold his own at this level and Enright will certainly scrap his way to making some stands, but overall this roster on paper seems like a rather poor defensive team as a whole. A solid rebounding rim protector alleviates some of those issues.

PJ Haggerty was an All-American last year...one of the best scorers in the country, and likely one of the top 2-3 returning players in college basketball. Of course there is going to be a premium for his services, he's literally the one setting the market. He's the best player in the portal. I don't have a problem with paying $1.5-2mil for a starting center in the B10 as that is likely the going rate. I just don't value Bailey as a 5. He's a wing/point forward type player who grew several inches towards the end of high school which defensively made him a "5" at the collegiate level. He was recruited to a program/coach that has historically played a 5 out offense that's tailored to his skillset. If we're paying market rate for a 5, I would have hoped it addressed our one glaring need...nothing more, nothing less. All an opinion of course.

Ah

Maybe? Is Fears gone too?

We really think Miss St or Vanderbilt was offering anywhere close to $1.25 mil for Conerway? And I like Conerway.

Apparently it is if we’re paying Alexis a million dollars. Quinten Post is on a two-way making $430k for the Warriors as a part time starter.

Would have gladly negotiated Federiko down to as close to $2mil as possible at the expense of Bailey and someone like Deuce Drake…if it were me. Understand that the timelines don’t always work like that, but with Bailey being one of the first additions, I personally would have looked for more two-way caliber players out on the perimeter…again if it were me. I do think with a legitimate rim protector and/or a couple of really good wing defenders this is a team that isn’t sweating it out on Selection Sunday.

I know he’s a 5. Just would have expected a lot more bang for my buck for that price range. I liked the addition last week when it was announced…but I also thought he was just a 10-12 mpg depth piece who could play his way into a bigger role in 26-27.

Never mentioned height. Shocked Florida wouldn’t entertain the idea of bringing back Alexis if he’s as good as advertised, especially considering there’s a possibility they might lose both Condon and Chinyelu.

With the way the roster is constructed, there’s one glaring weakness: a 5 who can protect the rim and rebound on both ends of the floor. If there was ever a time to overpay for a position of need, this would have been the time. Nothing against Reed Bailey, I like what he brings to the table offensively, but he just seems like a redundant piece given the remaining personnel. There’s plenty of firepower 1-4 to where a higher usage 5 who is a big defensive liability doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

I mean Baba Miller has 30+ starts in a P5 conference, something Bailey nor Alexis can claim. Miller’s numbers at FAU were pretty comparable to Alexis’ numbers at Chattanooga. Paying $1.5 mil for Bailey to be a starting 5 in the B10 who was a massive defensive liability in the A10 just seems like a gross overpay in my opinion.

What was Miller’s asking price?

Don’t subscribe to Trilly so wouldn’t know. If true, disappointing that’s all we could muster in the front court for that price range. But I get it, first year coach building an entirely new roster doesn’t give you much leverage.

I think it’s totally possible IU spent at or near $10million for this roster. Also totally possible to say we overpaid for the roster. But none of that matters, results will dictate that sentiment one way or the other. But I also don’t think it’s out of line to suggest a moneyball approach was taken either. Neither is a right or wrong belief as it pertains to year 1.

Ok? He was the 10th-11th man last year. What do you think IU’s 10th-11th man is going to make this year? Probably very similar. I believe Tucker DeVries and Wilkerson are the two players pushing $2million, as they are probably the only two with all-conference potential. Wilkerson is the only transfer I recall where IU was in somewhat of a bidding war with other brand name programs. I wouldn’t be surprised if those are the only 2 making seven+ figures.

I understand the layout. DeVries and Wilkerson look about right. I think everyone from Bailey to Dorn is exaggerated anywhere from a couple hundred thousand to a half million.

We've signed 11 guys, there is always going to be the end of the bench...on every team. I don't think we're paying Drake, Enright, etc anywhere close to the perceived "market value" based on a rumor of what Cupps is making.

Perhaps the original poster was asking about former Washington Huskie Nikola Bundalo who just de-committed?

Mullins...probably news that Karaban is coming back

And we very well could have overpaid to fill an entire roster which brings us back to the original point: it's much easier to spend top dollar when you have a pretty well established roster.

I don't think guys like Miles, Dorn, Enright, Drake, etc went from making virtually $0 last year to making close to $600k overnight. I also don't buy that Gabe Cupps is making $600k next year. I would guess that end of rotation/bench guys at P5 schools are making between $150-300k. Most of this NIL valuation talk is perpetuated by agents to try and prop up their other clients.