All, it’s just one more… one more… Milan, stay home baby.
**** Official 2026 MBB Spring Transfer Portal Thread ****
- Thread starter LLCoolCY
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Guys this isn’t an insult just reality. He was identified as a Mulder replacement, albeit a better version of him. That role is not going to play a lot of minutes regardless of the status of your current Cloner
Bond has the physical tools to do the same. Does he have the willpower, the drive, the 100% effort, the double or triple effort, the brains to know where to be on defense at ALL times. Probably not but he could get close to Heise. We should have an inkling by Christmas.
Even if he is a poor man's Heise on defense (which is still pretty good), there is offensive upside. His athleticism. Going from the slowest pace in college basketball to pressure defense, focus on fast break points, if Milan is gone the half court offense could be awful, so getting early best looms before defense is ready could be CRITICAL. I could see TJ saying "Leon let loose. Defensive rebound? Forget the outlet pass you go coast to coast. See any gap on offense? Attack the basket. Post up guys, we will ISO you. Early wide open 3? Take it, better than a contested 3 15 seconds later. Work on a floater and pull up game."
He is 6'5" tall with allegedly a 7 foot wingspan. If accurate, he's almost physically the same is Mikal Bridges.
Small but non-zero chance ( maybe 5%) he is ort leading scorer and the debate 12 months from today is 2nd round NBA draft pick or late first rounder. If he averages 15 pts with a 45/35/75 slash line with 3-4 3pt attempts per game on average, anyone tell me is is NOT the prototypical 3 and D player.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
TJ has built such a reputation and an identity that guys look at the program and think, I want to be a part of that. I want to be pushed, I want to improve, and I want to win.
A few things here:
1.) I don't think it is a Prather or Momcilovic type of scenario here. The financials there just do not make sense. Prather likely commands what $300K-$500K give or take? Milan is in the $3M range give or take?
2.) If I had to guess, TJ would have accepted a commitment from Prather had the other 4 not ALL commited.
3.) If Milan truly is still undecided, and we still have the $ to pay him, if he ends up going pro or transferring, I think TJ goes big game hunting for the best possible transfers left on the board.
4.) Would be surprised if Milan and TJ both dont both have a very good idea of what Milans plans are at this point.
5.) If Milan comes back this team can be just as good as last year.
1.) I don't think it is a Prather or Momcilovic type of scenario here. The financials there just do not make sense. Prather likely commands what $300K-$500K give or take? Milan is in the $3M range give or take?
2.) If I had to guess, TJ would have accepted a commitment from Prather had the other 4 not ALL commited.
3.) If Milan truly is still undecided, and we still have the $ to pay him, if he ends up going pro or transferring, I think TJ goes big game hunting for the best possible transfers left on the board.
4.) Would be surprised if Milan and TJ both dont both have a very good idea of what Milans plans are at this point.
5.) If Milan comes back this team can be just as good as last year.
If we get Prather, and Milan comes back…Bond would not be asked to leave or decide to look someplace else. TJ would tell the last guy on the bench to get ta steppin
Yes, and Bond could as well, or better. He’s more athletic than Heise and
Agree, nice analysis. I understand people’s feelings towards Heise. He gave everything he had on both ends of the floor during the tournament. But Bond can be as good or better. He was on the MVC all defensive team which Heise was not. That shows focus and a commitment to hard work. He’s also more athletic and longer than Heise and as you pointed out, better offensively.
Prather should be in by end of day
I didn't realize Taj Manning had a visit scheduled with Kansas as well. I think the guy has some serious upside as a role player.
I wouldn't go that far. The defensive positioning skill and the multi effort ability is really hard and Heise was elite, elite. I was just pointing out there might not be a major defensive dropoff.
If you really want to have fun, go tell and AI to assume the 7' foot wingspan and project Bond"s stats at Iowa State considering pace of play at UNI and ISU and UNIs pack line defense compared to Iowa State's no middle defense. But beware of the consequences of doing so.
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Prather had an AST:TO of 4.5-1 last year. I would love to pick him up. I could see a 9-10 man rotation next year that could be absolutely elite with very little drop off from starters to bench guys.
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We’re not going to have a 10 man rotation.
Lots of these guys we’re excited about have multiple years to play. Unfortunately, that likely means some folks we’re excited about now, won’t play as much as they’re hoping to and will transfer out again next offseason.
It doesn’t curb my enthusiasm too much, but does kind of suck to think we won’t see all these guys develop fully.
Lots of these guys we’re excited about have multiple years to play. Unfortunately, that likely means some folks we’re excited about now, won’t play as much as they’re hoping to and will transfer out again next offseason.
It doesn’t curb my enthusiasm too much, but does kind of suck to think we won’t see all these guys develop fully.
Some people like suspense. Some like to smash cake. Milan/Prather is still out there, so there's a little bit of something for everyone
With him and Johnson we have guys that can get to the rim
A. I’m sure if Milan finds out later he’s not gonna go where he wants and doesn’t get a guarantee from a team, he’ll come back for less than market. And I bet there’s a certain N Iowa biziness man who’d stroke a $2m? check to make that happen.
B. I really pray TJ is gonna play more than 8 for a change. How many years can you have injuries and burnout impact our conference championship hopes and NCAA Tournament hopes before you realize you’re gonna burn out with just 8 guys 9-10 times?
There’s gonna be plenty of very talented guys on this squad that shouldn’t be a liability on the court.
40 minutes of hell & some Loyola Marymount type pace would be epic.
When has ISU ever had 10-12 guys that are 4*, high level, proven college players? Not to use them would seem foolish.
B. I really pray TJ is gonna play more than 8 for a change. How many years can you have injuries and burnout impact our conference championship hopes and NCAA Tournament hopes before you realize you’re gonna burn out with just 8 guys 9-10 times?
There’s gonna be plenty of very talented guys on this squad that shouldn’t be a liability on the court.
40 minutes of hell & some Loyola Marymount type pace would be epic.
When has ISU ever had 10-12 guys that are 4*, high level, proven college players? Not to use them would seem foolish.
Even if we had Kentucky or Kansas money, TJ’s approach would still never be “I’m just going to buy the five highest rated players”. Dude knows exactly what he needs to make his system run and it’s damn impressive.
I don't think he is dead set 8. He has just never had the real opportunity at Iowa State. We would even agree beyond that top 7 or 8 each year, there was a big dropoff.
We might have 5 transfers and 4 solid freshman. If Milan comes back we know we have 5 solid guys. If half of the newcomers are ready and a good fit, that dropoff happens after player 9 or 10.
Doing a quick analysis of TJs history, I wanted to see his hit rate of solid rotation players in year 1. Very subjective but I found this. Using year 1 only because I am only thinking about next year. I am also thinking in terms of whether they would have been in the rotation last year. Not if they were forced to play in their own year 1 because there was no other choice.
For transfers I went 9/20, but the 5 man learning curve is real and 4 of the 11 who struggled in year 1 were 5 men. If we get all 5, having 3 contribute makes sense.
Freshman have been 6 of 14. The only flyear one freshman who would have made this years rotation were Batemon, Toure, Pleta (duh), Hunter, Lipsey and Momcilovic. Prior to last year, the hit rate was 3 of 10. So next year, 1 of four hit in year 1. If last year is a new trend, it could be 3 of 4.
I think on the low end, Iowa State should have 8 guys before the drop off. High end is 11. Most likely is 9 or 10.
With so many possible, TJ will have his biggest team chemistry challenge yet. It seems like he has never had a toxic locker room problem with a player thinking they deserved more playing time. A lot more chances for that to turn toxic next season.
With potentially a full 15 players on the team, don't be shocked at all by a player or two leaving the team after practice starts or during the season. I have a feeling that if a players disappointment becomes toxic, that player will be off the team ASAP.
