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Some people post just to keep the topic controversial. It is a message board so we have to take the good with the smh.😊Comment
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Not at all, I would expect nothing less.
If it was about the money for OWEH, he would have already announced he's coming back to Kentucky. Pope isn't waiting around and hinging success winning Kentucky basketball games by waiting on OWEH, he found his replacement.
But let's recap and establish from page 1.
#3 Jodie Meeks 2.0.
He comes back good chance we hang a banner
#9 I don't know if it's about the money or more about the status of playing in the NBA?
You make a NBA team, boom or bust, playing in the NBA is something no one can ever take away from you...
The fact he excelled under Pope in perhaps the toughest conference in history was great for us on the court but bad for us now that the season is over.
Maybe the plan was to test waters all along but I don't think anyone expected him to have the type of season he just had.
Before the season started last year there was a thread here in regards to who to watch, I actually predicted OWEH was the sleeper on the team. Thtat's all good but now here we are wondering if we will eve see him in BLUE again.
Calipari rubbed folks the wrong way with his one and done mentality but if any of these players break out and have success, they are all subject to leave for the pro's or get a offer they can't refuse from another school. To realistically think Pope or any other coach is going to develop someone over a 3 to 4 year period of time and have them ready down the road is delusional these days, it's a year to year thing these days with players, old ways are history...
#19 It's not about the contract at this point for Oweh Imo.
If it was about the money, he wouldn't even be at the combine.
Unless we just assume he's flat out stupid, he's smart enough know that he will make much more coming back to Kentucky than going for the NBA.
The NBA is most kids dream, opportunity, it's a status prestige thing...
#32 Otega Oweh on testing the NBA Draft waters: “I’m all in.â€
While still having the chance to return to Kentucky, he said, “My goal is to play in the NBA. I’m not doing this process with one foot in and one foot out. I’m all in for sure.â€
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#35Tax write off. Plus highly doubt he needs charity to attend the NBA camp, interviews are done at camp for the most part..
And based off what you have been chirping that past 3 months, "IT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG"
Why would they waste money or do a interview at all if he was set in stone coming back????
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but OWEH #00 if more than likely outta here if one out of 30 tells him what he wants to hear..
#40 As good as OWEH has been at Kentucky, if he comes back it's not like everything will run through him, Pope doesn't operate that way.
I hope he comes back, just depends on what kind of combine he has....
#45 What are they going to tell him,he needs to work on his jump shot?
He can go undrafted and sign as a free agent, all it takes is one team.
Average salary last year for a undrafted player was roughly 1.8 million.
This is about the opportunity to play in the NBA,not about first round guaranteed money 💰.
If it was about money, he would have already confirmed his return to Kentucky.
Mock drafts about as trustworthy as a 5 star rating. You have a few cant miss then there's the rest..
#53 ​So now it's gone from "he's coming back" to "if it's a first round guarantee"?
It's not about the money. You me my dead momma and everybody in there right mind knows that OWEH will make much more by coming back to Kentucky. Forget NIL, local off the books and endorsements alone is a great income if you play for the University of Kentucky..
Do you know of how many young freshman and sophomore players have been drafted that needed to work on a handful of things??
Do you think a NBA team would rather teach a player these skills or leave it up to a college coach or assistant?
Again, average no drafted players last year was paid 1.8 million as a free agent, not even drafted....​
#55 I don't need you or anyone else to tell me nothing.
With all due respect, all of a sudden we have a bunch of NBA experts when 99.9% of Kentucky fans don't even watch the NBA...
OWEH is a athlete first and foremost, still can't teach that. In a watered down NBA league, OWEH is more than capable of playing in the league right now compared to some of the other role players on some of these teams.
Question is, what ROLE can OWEH bring to the table for a NBA team? Is it defense, shooting, attacking the rim, passing, IQ?
Is some team going to draft him give him the ball and the keys to the city and say the greenlight is all yours? H TO T HE No, he's not a superstar, at least not at this point in his career.
He can't shoot the 3 consistenly?
Bridges of NEW YORK makes a living shooting mid range shots, the mid range shot isn't totally dead, it still gets buckets...
I wish people would actually watch a NBA game with some of the players that are on these teams and then honestly compare them to OWEH.
What about all the foreign players in the draft??? Can make more money by staying overseas in most cases.
I wan't OWEH back at KENTUCKY because I am selfish and greedy, I want KENTUCKY to be that TEAM .
Reality I am preparing myself mentally for a team without him..
All those SEC games and things he did was great for us but now it's coming back to bite us...
How many players have we seen in the past do very little except for a outburst here and there just enough to warrant them on to the next level??
#56 Look at what undrafted free agents are getting on a rookie deal. Still a great salary and the prestige of being on a NBA squad.
Very few may grow up and dream of playing at Kentucky but the all dream of playing in the NBA.
#58 No..
It's league average minimum for UNDRAFTED college players who went through the system undrafted then the team that really wanted them signed them..
Yall do understand that if a TEAM really wants a player that it's very possible to put out NEGATIVE information on that player too defer other teams from taking that player right?
To think that it's all straight laced is crazy, it's the wild wild west..
#59 Or one wrong step ACHILLES torn basketball career over or set back a few years.
Or, passed over in the draft head overseas and get paid, develop all the things they said i sucked at and come back to the NBA.
College, Gleague is not the only option...
# 61 And I will throw this out there just to watch heads spin.
As much as I like Oweh and hope he returns, started relying on him a little too much at times last year while everyone else just stood around and watched.
Pope wants a team moving the ball taking the open 3 shot. not dependent on ONE player.
If he comes back, does he have a deal with POPE that says you are the man, we are going to run everything through you so you can get your 1st round status up for the draft??
There is a reason why Pope landed a NATIONAL Champion guard from Florida...
THEN POPE DOES HIS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AND TALKS ABOUT SHOOTING MORE THREES AND KEEPING THE BALL MOVING!!!
#66 I want OWEH back as much as anyone but there is a real chance he hears what he wants to hear.
We should know one way or another on the 28th..
#68 Undrafted players are not subject to the rookie wage scale that drafted players are.
#69 I honestly don't know but my gut is some team is going to tell him what he wants to hear and he's gone, hope I am wrong.
Even if he goes undrafted he can sign and the rookie pay scale does not apply.
Maybe he's a lower cost stash and develop, maybe he's a off the bench players right now.
Cavaliers, Mavericks,Pistons, Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Milwaukee, Knicks, Orlando, 76ers, Phoenix, Kings,Spurs,Jazz, Wizards,..
Oweh could carve minutes with any of those teams but depends on who is or is coming off the books.
#80 Well basketball is weird from the college level to pro level.
Great college players flop in the pro's while slightly above average college players excel in the Pro's.
The system, the maturity, the missed evaluations and rankings, hard to say..
At the end, i think it's about the opportunity.
How does OWEH play when the ball isn't in his hands and he doesn't have the freedom to do what he wants to do because he hasn't earned that right?
How do you earn that right if you never get to play meaningful minutes?
It's not like NBA practices are a stage set to earn a starting spot, that's already been determined via contracts etc. for the most part..
Oweh could be a Marcus Smart type of player if he had the defense but he will need to be able to handle the ball which i think he can, not sure about his passing..
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#89 Comparison is perfect..
As I have said repeatedly, it's not about the money.
A blind man can see it it's about the money then OWEH would have already announced. I think if he believes he can make a NBA roster he may be gone 1st second or undrafted, he's looking for a team that believes in him.
Evaluation, what are they going to tell him that he doesn't already know?
Pope played in the NBA, I am sure he knows what he needs to work on moving forward.
I think OWEH wants to play in the NBA now if possible..
Anyways, Johnson is about 500k short, not 1.8.
I read a bs piece that said the average was about 1.8 but it's a little lower.
Still, if you go back, Mozgof and a few others got paid going undrafted..​
Of course.
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#102 Problem is (which is why I have brought this up for two months) I think he's good and close enough that he may just hear what he needs to hear and goes now even if it's not in the first round.
He has the physical tools , the strength, the athleticism, it really stands out.
Don't think he will get the respect of the 5 star's but if Moses Moody can have success, so can OWEH...
I have clearly stated that Oweh will make much more by coming back to Kentucky.
Undrafted Contracts??
#125 Not sure why this is even a issue or debate?
I simply stated that if a player goes undrafted there is a possibility they can still sign a NBA deal and make a decent amount of money, more than the two way $500k or league minimum 1.1, it's fact...
Does this happen often, no. but it's still a possibility. Still a possibility to earn more as a undrafted free agent, that is a fact.
Still, if it's about the money, he makes more be coming back to Kentucky.
In my opinion, it's about the opportunity to play in the NBA and if that window opens, I think he will take it even if it means less money.
NIL numbers I posted??
I remember someone chiming in and saying it was off, look at it now.
#126 Why, because it's FACT that a player can go undrafted and sign as a free agent and still make more than $500k or league minimum?
Again, if it's about money he stays at Kentucky, PERIOD!!!
#127 I agree that there is no need to look up every undrafted players contract when it is FACT a undrafted unsigned played can still sign on for more than the two way $500k or the league minimum.
#131 It doesn't matter what the league overall average on contracts have been over the years.
If Oweh is good enough and a team really wants him then they will pay him.
If not, he needs to come back to Kentucky and not only make alot of money, but also develop his game more..
If he is dead set on playing in the NBA and the window opens, he more than likely will make less money, that's on him...
I mentioned a few pages back the 1.8 was off, google AI screwed me on that but it don't matter anyways.
Maybe I missed the memo. Are we all standing on a cliff pissing in the wind to see who can pee the farthest?
This isn't that serious.
I hope OWEH is back if he wants to earn money and most importantly be part of something special.
If he's made up his mind he's ready to make it to the league, I am afraid that he's ACTUALLY good enough that one team may just tell him what he wants to hear and he's gone..
#174 Chance to be a top 5 team and hang a banner, makes perfect sense.
Somebody call the PO PO, I am heading down to the second street bridge to take a leap into the Ohio....
#183 There's a reason why Pope went out and grabbed a 6'5 National Champion guard. Kid desperately wanted to come to Kentucky sit on the bench and watch Oweh play.(SARCASM)
#187 " I told you so", that's funny. Again, potential for top 5 team who could win it all just to say I told you so, makes perfect sense. I don't need validation or approval at all, im good.
Don't leave out the fact that if OWEH does return, Pope is going to to change his entire philosophy on offense so that OWEH can work on his game and possibly put himself into 1st round consideration....
Lighthouse made a great point. If OWEH comes back to work on his game and we get a different version of what we saw last year, is that really what we want???
I will just say this to you or anyone else who refuses to listen.
How many times does MARK POPE need to tell you that if you are not all in and all about KENTUCKY winning championships, he has no time for it? If you start pushing that NBA envelope and prioritizing that over winning basketball games at Kentucky, you got's to go!!!!! Pope is moving on, he aint got time for all that!!! Pope still brings that old school mentality that was taught to him by Pitino, it's about winning games, ask RJ Luis...
Maybe Oweh comes back maybe he doesn't. To think he has entertained the NBA for feedback or money is dillusional. It is and has always been about the NBA opportunity for him. If he gets some kind of commitment from a team via draft or unsigned undrafted free agent, he's gone in my opinion. If it was about the money he would be at KENTUCKY, this wouldn't even be a conversation at all.
I keep hearing " this has been talked about for a while" in regards to OWEH putting his name in the draft just so he can get feedback.
Who was talking about and who are they, people on a internet chat board??
THEN YOU HAVE TODAY'S POST....
Post 12, 13, 41, 64, 65, 75, 77, 78, 84, 92, 94, 99, 104, 107, 114, 116, 121, 132, 137 Irrelevant unless everyone wants to read the CBA agreement for the NBA.
Since we have NBA experts who never watch the NBA, or follow off season contracts PLAYER ROSTER movements etc, I guess it makes sense the blind leading the blind.
Still post 92 was about the New York Knicks playing great basketball against the Celtics before the Tatum Injury and if someone can't agree with that, they are just a flat out HATER PERIOD!!!!
Good Luck, Go Cats!!!!!
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It's been asked before JWORLD, but what does OWEH need to hear to stay in the draft?Comment
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Drugs are bad, kids.Comment
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Thank you JWORLD, that is a far more concise way for me to follow your coverage of the Offseason of OWEH 2025.Comment
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This might be the most ridiculous statement you've made in all your ramblings, by the way. Mark Pope is going to shove a kid out the door for exploring the opportunity to achieve his dream of playing in the NBA. Absolutely ludicrous. So, if OWEH announces he intends to return to school Pope is going to say "Nah, kid. You blew that opportunity. Good luck on your 2 way contract?" And you say we're delusional.
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Tl;drComment
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Where did I ever say that POPE would just "shove a kid out the door" because they want to play in the NBA, why would you or anyone just assume that??
Please show me the post that is said MARK POPE would SHAME you if you ever think about putting your name in the draft and leaving Kentucky.
Common sense will tell you that if a player who just happened to excel in the one of the toughest conferences in basketball history, there may be a good chance he gets drafted. Do you not think POPE doesn't see this or acknowledge this could be a reality? Someone here just said they witnessed perhaps one of the greatest second half season of basketball they have ever seen as a Kentucky fan.
Oweh's stock is probably as high as it will ever be. He's 21 years old, he may not have the opportunity he had last year at Kentucky with a healthy roster, he could get injured tear a achilles and be done for good.
So again I ask you, why would Mark Pope wait on OWEH to make a decision?
Somehow Pope went out and actually landed a pretty good up and coming guard off the radar from National Championship Florida that no one saw coming?
Do you think that if POPE was 100% sure Oweh was coming back he could have actually convinced and sold the kid from Florida to come to Kentucky for limited or bench role?
Bottomline, POPE went out and found a 6'5 replacement, he didn't wait on Oweh to say yah or nay.
Now if Oweh comes back, AS I SAID, Pope will have to convince all these new guys to buy in, lots of mouths to feed.
Where is Wilmer M. Jackson Spencer when you need him ??
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This is what you posted in the post where I quoted you:
"if you are not all in and all about KENTUCKY winning championships, he has no time for it? If you start pushing that NBA envelope and prioritizing that over winning basketball games at Kentucky, you got's to go!!!!! Pope is moving on, he aint got time for all that!!! "
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I have said this time and time again, a opportunity now. Doesn't matter 1st 2nd or undrafted, Oweh wants to play in the NBA right now if at all possible.
Again, we all know the MONEY is at Kentucky, how many times or how clear do I need to explain this to your or anyone else who just wants to not face reality that OWEH played so good last year (better than most expected) that it actually hurts us now.
People took notice, the NBA and all the leaches come crawling out telling him he should be in the league right now....
Of all the fan bases in the world, especially us KENTUCKY fans. We should know better than anyone because we have seen plenty of players leave Kentucky and get drafted when we all knew they was no where close to being NBA ready.
We have watched Goodwin's Briscoe, many other leave that can't hold OWEH"s jock strap.
Whey would OWEH be any different?Comment
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