2026-2027 Roster discussion thread

[KentuckyWild2020]

Better hope Steve Kerr retires from GS (can't stand the prick) and Golden State lures Golden from Florida, could be some cherry picking from Florida's roster to fill out ours. Just get the checkbook out and be done with it....

[KentuckyWild2020]

Uk is still a NIKE school until 2035...

[KentuckyWild2020]

I sense Pope and AJ just didn't get along. From AJ running steps to sitting out most of December, that relationship just didn't develop. Maybe AJ was a problem, who knows?? Still a veteran experienced player who seems to fit Pope's system is a hard pill to swallow watching him walk to Ohio State....

[UKHoops01]

Better hope Steve Kerr retires from GS (can't stand the prick) and Golden State lures Golden from Florida, could be some cherry picking from Florida's roster to fill out ours. Just get the checkbook out and be done with it....

It's seriously looking like it's going to come down to players returning from the draft process, coaches leaving or being fired opening up potential players entering the portal, or international/overseas recruiting.

I did see that Niko Bundalo entered the portal late last night, but after his limited action and results last year at Ole Miss, I'm not sure I have the same interest that I had when he was a high school senior. Actually, he still looks like he should be entering his senior year in high school. What's up with these kids and their inability to fill out and look like young adults?

[Rondo#9]

It's seriously looking like it's going to come down to players returning from the draft process, coaches leaving or being fired opening up potential players entering the portal, or international/overseas recruiting.

I did see that Niko Bundalo entered the portal late last night, but after his limited action and results last year at Ole Miss, I'm not sure I have the same interest that I had when he was a high school senior. Actually, he still looks like he should be entering his senior year in high school. What's up with these kids and their inability to fill out and look like young adults?

Is Bundalo skilled but frail or something?

I don't know anything about him. Maybe grab him for the cheap & hope he turns into a serviceable player sooner rather than later. But if he can't shoot the 3 at all. Pass.

[bucsrule8872]

Looking like it might be Stokes or bust. PF spot looks pretty bleak. Maybe we get McBride, but he’s a backup.

Stokes and K. Will might be our starters at the 3 and 4. Could be worse. At this point I’ll take it.

Really need Stokes and then fill in the blanks with McBride, Morton, and Dynes.

Not the best roster, but if Stokes is really all he is cracked up to be, we should be able to field a competitive team.

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Morton
F K. Williams/Hawthorne/Noah
F Stokes/McBride
C Moreno/Dynes/Potter

[Rondo#9]

Pope better turn in one hell of a salesman to sell that, but you're right though. We just watched all the PF options dry up and didn't hear a word about Pope going for any of them except for the 2 he missed on. But hey, maybe he wants to get fired, or have an excuse when he gets fired. I can't call it anymore.

Maybe he should pivot and jump into the Mustapha Thiam sweepstakes. Start some twin towers. Only problem there is if by some miracle you paid an arm & a leg and got Thiam, you wouldn't be able to afford Stokes.

[Pobilly]

HEck some teams are borrowing to get the money to pay players. IF Pope wanted guys enough I am sure he could pay or UK could pay and have a 40 million dollar roster. It is not a problem paying to get the players at this point.

It is more, be it personality, be it negotiations or be it gullibility of believing everything someone says to him. He has to have a tougher, thicker skin.

[UKHoops01]

Pope better turn in one hell of a salesman to sell that, but you're right though. We just watched all the PF options dry up and didn't hear a word about Pope going for any of them except for the 2 he missed on. But hey, maybe he wants to get fired, or have an excuse when he gets fired. I can't call it anymore.

I think you're saying that jokingly....but I can't help but seriously wonder if maybe the stress and pressure is or has gotten to him. He's already made what, close to 10 million for two years? And he's pretty much guaranteed a third year PLUS a buyout! He'll be sitting pretty financially if he gets fired after this upcoming year....he can take a year off...and then, if he wants to continue coaching, probably return to Utah and get a head coaching job anywhere in the state (except for BYU).

[UKHoops01]

Is Bundalo skilled but frail or something?

I don't know anything about him. Maybe grab him for the cheap & hope he turns into a serviceable player sooner rather than later. But if he can't shoot the 3 at all. Pass.

I had forgotten, but after reading up a little it kind of came back to me.

He was rated close to the top 15 among HS seniors early in the summer heading into his senior year, but by the time his senior year started he had dropped to the late 30s, close to 40. I remember hearing rumblings about "how difficult" he was, and then he committed to Washington. BUT....he decommited, opened his recruitment back up, and ended up going to Ole Miss. But this past year I'd forgotten all about him because he basically wasn't playing! His stats show something like 11 games played with him averaging about 3 minutes a game and half a point and half a rebound per game. So he was just seeing mop up time. And I was reading an article earlier that talked about him being "troubled". So there's a lot of red flags... I guess that's where coaching staffs come into play researching all of this stuff to see whether a kid is worth pursuing.