The Official Keeping Up With Calipari Thread

[KentuckyWild2020]

Seems there also been enough former Cal players to underperform their draft position—and paycheck—they would scout and pay attention to the flaws rather than listen to a former unsuccessful NBA coach to tell them who is good. For every good surprise (supreme example being SGA) there are 3 or 4 Kevin Knox’s. Those guys have a business to run, correct?

I can agree with this, players such as Hagans and a few others simply were not good enough to be at the next level yet Cal managed to bamboozle GM's into FOMO..

With NIL now, many of those players would have made more staying in college and getting paid.

Now the flip side of all that is the players who have been successful are not only in the league, but many have or still are franchise players, NBA teams build the whole thing around them with another star. AD, Booker, Wall, Cousins, KAT, SGA, Maxey, Fox, Murray, few others.

Still, it's debatable that some of the FRANCHISE players would have been FRANCHISE players at the next level had they played for BELLARMINE college or straight out of high school, they where that good from the get go. Perhaps the only benefit of playing under Cal was that he was good at preparing a young kids mind for the next level, the business side and mental preparation, not so much the on court development in my opinion.

Cal faked it til he made it.

[Catsrock]

I can agree with this, players such as Hagans and a few others simply were not good enough to be at the next level yet Cal managed to bamboozle GM's into FOMO..

With NIL now, many of those players would have made more staying in college and getting paid.

Now the flip side of all that is the players who have been successful are not only in the league, but many have or still are franchise players, NBA teams build the whole thing around them with another star. AD, Booker, Wall, Cousins, KAT, SGA, Maxey, Fox, Murray, few others.

Still, it's debatable that some of the FRANCHISE players would have been FRANCHISE players at the next level had they played for BELLARMINE college or straight out of high school, they where that good from the get go. Perhaps the only benefit of playing under Cal was that he was good at preparing a young kids mind for the next level, the business side and mental preparation, not so much the on court development in my opinion.

Cal faked it til he made it.

I suppose THIS is a possibility. I just don’t see why so many teams put so much stock into Cal’s sales pitch. Please don’t get me wrong…I love Reed Sheppard. But to go from where he was rated out of HS, to a backup on a UK team that was bounced in round 1…to the 3rd pick of the draft??? Wild. And not a guy who’s going to wind up 6’7.” He’s NOT the next Luka.
Hope he has a great career and life.

[Joneslab]

I suppose THIS is a possibility. I just don’t see why so many teams put so much stock into Cal’s sales pitch. Please don’t get me wrong…I love Reed Sheppard. But to go from where he was rated out of HS, to a backup on a UK team that was bounced in round 1…to the 3rd pick of the draft??? Wild. And not a guy who’s going to wind up 6’7.” He’s NOT the next Luka.
Hope he has a great career and life.

I think the draw with Sheppard is that he has extremely uncommon instincts and about the best fundamentals you'll see from a player that young.

The Rockets likely knew he wasn't going to be a factor on this team. They're stacked. They draft these players most of the time for the future.

Reed Sheppard is still 20 years old. He's considerably younger than a lot of guys we just saw in the SEC. I thought the #3 pick was completely warranted and I think he can have a strong career. He may not be quite as good as Shai because not many are, but he certainly has some of the same tools Shai has.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Serious question.

You saw Reed Sheppard play his freshman year at Kentucky, you just saw Oweh play a full year at Kentucky.

If you are a GM of a NBA team and had to choose between one or the other, who you taking?

Reed can shoot better, plays a from a point/shooting guard mentality but is he really hands down that much better than Oweh?

Reed is 20,he will get better. Oweh needs work on his shots but it can get better.

In a physical man's league, I take Oweh but Calipari has these GMs on some FOMO.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I suppose THIS is a possibility. I just don’t see why so many teams put so much stock into Cal’s sales pitch. Please don’t get me wrong…I love Reed Sheppard. But to go from where he was rated out of HS, to a backup on a UK team that was bounced in round 1…to the 3rd pick of the draft??? Wild. And not a guy who’s going to wind up 6’7.” He’s NOT the next Luka.
Hope he has a great career and life.

Interestingly enough, my Celtics team that was led by Ainge now Brad Stevens never fell into the Calipari trap and FOMO. They did give it a shot with James Young but after 2 years it was over. They were taking Hero but Miami took him the pick before they were up,that's it.

There was times they tried to get AD from New Orleans and KAT from Minnesota but they were never ready to sell the future for either or.

As a UK and Boston fan I hate it but there's a reason why Boston is now a Super team looking like another dynasty in the making.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Boogie Fland back on the market

[EKYCat]

Interestingly enough, my Celtics team that was led by Ainge now Brad Stevens never fell into the Calipari trap and FOMO. They did give it a shot with James Young but after 2 years it was over. They were taking Hero but Miami took him the pick before they were up,that's it.

There was times they tried to get AD from New Orleans and KAT from Minnesota but they were never ready to sell the future for either or.

As a UK and Boston fan I hate it but there's a reason why Boston is now a Super team looking like another dynasty in the making.

Celtics didn't draft Calipari guys but they're heavily reliant on the one and done dudes. Tatum, Brown, Holiday are all one and done college players. I expect the NBA to be better over the next few years because they league is going to get older simply because kids are staying in school longer than they did just 3 or 4 years ago. Sucked to see Tatum go down like that the other night. I'd have to think that pretty much dashes their playoff hopes?

[KentuckyWild2020]

Celtics didn't draft Calipari guys but they're heavily reliant on the one and done dudes. Tatum, Brown, Holiday are all one and done college players. I expect the NBA to be better over the next few years because they league is going to get older simply because kids are staying in school longer than they did just 3 or 4 years ago. Sucked to see Tatum go down like that the other night. I'd have to think that pretty much dashes their playoff hopes?

I feel like either through Stevens or Ainge they had some kind of personal beef with Calipari, I don't know.

I think the C's are done this year and next.

They need to get money off the books or pay the luxury tax, I wonder if Brown gets traded?

I felt the team was on the verge of a mini dynasty but that's gone down hill real fast now..

Still, they deserve to lose. Blowing two 20 point games Over Confident showing up when they want too doesn't get it done..

[EKYCat]

I have a buddy who is a big Cleveland fan (all things Cleveland, his family is from there). He's blamed a lot of the Pacers stuff on injuries and officiating. Still, they lost 2 at home and blew big leads. Doesn't matter who is hurt or not. You can't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Joneslab]

Cal to the Knicks?

https://x.com/AdamZagoria/status/1933152733785161762

[KCKUKFan]

Cal to the Knicks?

https://x.com/AdamZagoria/status/1933152733785161762

If the Knicks keep getting told "no" by various organizations to even interview their coaches, then they might not have a choice.

[40bill]

I'm sure Cal would love a redemption shot.
the way these things play out I'm not even going to hazard a guess.

I WILL say it's a pleasure to have a year where rumors of our head basketball coach leaving do not appear.

[George]

From Thibs to Cal. What a downgrade that would be.

[EKYCat]

From Thibs to Cal. What a downgrade that would be.

I wonder if Cal would last past season 1 there. Brunson and Towns are good enough to overcome a lot of coaching deficiencies but no way Cal succeeds there long term.

[George]

I wonder if Cal would last past season 1 there. Brunson and Towns are good enough to overcome a lot of coaching deficiencies but no way Cal succeeds there long term.

I hope we get to find out. It would be hilarious.