2024 Transfer Portal Thread

[VOLINVONORE]

110%. He's only doing this to see if UT will meet or beat the high offer and to a degree, recognize the fact that Barnes has a relationship with him and his family. Like I said...courtesy visit.

If that is true, cancel the visit and recruit someone else. I believe he is ours if he comes to town.

 

[TrippieRedd]

If this has been said already then SIAP, but @Stoerner Fumbles is Dubar on campus?

I saw the main Vol pages showing Igor and Okpara on campus already. Just curious

 

[CAVPUT]

Honestly, Barnes might really stay out of the whole NIL financial aspect and I wouldn’t really be surprised. But there is no way in hell, you’d convince me that Cal or Self do not have the final, or at least a major say, in what a player gets or doesn’t get.

I can actually see that. Gives him an out with his roster if and when jealousy rears its ugly head. Being able to say he wasn't involved would be a plus I suppose. Having said that, I have a hard time believing an OG like Barnes would defer in that area to someone else. Just doesn't seem to be his style.

 

[onfocusgovols]

BYU • Kentucky • Tennessee
Only 1 has been on the radar of Chaz Lanier consistently - TN
I'm reminded of Lanier's family friend and former NBA player Dantae Jones confirming my post as well as his father who is a pastor in Nashville in mid March 16th about Lanier & the Vols strong connection.

If TN fans are worried about the BYU & KY visits - I can "speculatively guarantee" that the diehard KY & BYU fans & behind the scenes Intel are far more terrified of Lanier's TN visit to end all visits.
There's a reason TN was squeezed in there before that dead period.
Vols off season game plan with Lanier as priority 1 has led up to this moment.....
.....Lanier is still Vols to lose

Edited:
Go VOLS

 

[bicenTENNial]

Does anybody know how much Knecht made last year in NIL???

 

[CAVPUT]

Does anybody know how much Knecht made last year in NIL???

Not to be a smarty, but I'd have to say not enough.

 

[Geronimo]

Does anybody know how much Knecht made last year in NIL???

I think someone posted 400K but I can’t confirm that.

 

[Weezer]

I’m convinced you’d be upset if it starting raining titties.

Raining body parts would be disturbing. What good are titties if they're not connected to the rest?

 

[tev.sm]

As I’ve said, if he makes it here I like our chances.

Man, what a rollercoaster this recruitment has been.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

I can actually see that. Gives him an out with his roster if and when jealousy rears its ugly head. Being able to say he wasn't involved would be a plus I suppose. Having said that, I have a hard time believing an OG like Barnes would defer in that area to someone else. Just doesn't seem to be his style.

I imagine some staff communication of a stratified priority list to the collective takes place, but they work to sustain plausible deniability for THE coaches.

 

[turbovol]

I think you would have to be absolutely naive, to think some, if not most, coaches do not have a say in the financials of NIL.
Next these guys are gonna try to tell us that SEC players never got paid, until NIL made it legal...

Most weren't getting paid---and if some were, they weren't getting NIL Stupid Money, that's for sure.

 

[Dallasbowlin]

I think you would have to be absolutely naive, to think some, if not most, coaches do not have a say in the financials of NIL.
Next these guys are gonna try to tell us that SEC players never got paid, until NIL made it legal...

They have an idea, but I would say the majority don’t know the actual number. Do you think Barnes knew Freddie Dillione was his highest paid player?

 

[Volfan1000]

BYU’s new coach, Kevin Young was an associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns, and an assistant coach for the 76ers.

They’re practically rebuilding their roster the same way Kentucky is given the departure of Mark Pope.

But, if they have a strong NIL package and he can sell Lanier on leveraging his connections to the NBA, there’s maybe a possibility that they would be more in the mix? He’d definitely get big minutes at BYU. Still a head scratcher though.

Being a former assistant in the NBA is probably the main selling point for BYU and their new coach to Lanier.

 

[Orange.]

Lanier will be here Tuesday for his OV

Boom! That's what I was hoping for (and thought most likely), once I double-checked on the deadline yesterday. Last visit. Primo.

 

[Orange.]

I’m wearing out on being a guy with information. I kind of prefer being the quippy grump who can’t suffer idiots. I stumbled into the “insider” nonsense by having a friend who handles transactions for NIL and other contracts. I feel an obligation to share things, if they’re useful and potentially timely. That said, I don’t love spending time defending why the thing I shared can’t be true, is no longer true, or is made up. There are about 10-20 posters here who really love ball, and our team, and are knowledgeable about the sport and how it’s evolving. I end up learning a lot, and really enjoy the back and forth. I actually enjoy those I disagree with, and even the cranks like Cav or portal jihadis like Trippie. That said, the flat-earthers and heavy thinkers in this forum can really make sharing information exhausting. Poor me, I know. Just shut up, SF and there will be no witch trial. Point taken. This week, as some things took shape with Lanier, and I heard some of the table scrap information, I just sat on it, for the first time. I just didn’t have the stamina to handle the torch and pitchfork types that seem to only appear to celebrate failure, cheer on firings, and track planes. Well, It’s Saturday and I’m not dead or hungover so I’ll share some thoughts. I realize writing this many words with no pictures has already made enemies. Maybe I’ve weeded out some trolls from verbosity alone. Probably not.

First— Usually the earliest leaks come from agents, managers and handlers, not from staff or NIL. The sources of the best information, like Trilly etc. all have agent connections. Agents share information as a tactic to manipulate outcomes. Journalists and others, check that data with sources in NIL and staff. They have their own agendas and often correct the record (or intentionally don’t) to help their agendas. Staffs lie very rarely. It backfires. Agents lie sometimes. Handlers lie more. They are playing a short game, and they’re happy to cause trouble. They get dumped when kids turn pro. They get one shot at some new wheels. They take it.

All this leads to one thing— The market is higher this year, but the handlers are lying to make it seem even higher. Very few of the numbers we’ve heard are real, according to those I talk to.

Lanier has a serious group of professionals around him, his family, and a couple of non-professional friends. His exploration of the pros has been thoughtful and slow, and unfolded exactly as everyone expected it would. He made every relationship he could, explored every path, and didn’t string anyone on our side along. He communicated through all of it. He also, hung a do not disturb on his door when he entered the portal like he said he would. One of his (less professional) handlers/friends has been talking to NIL groups and talked to a few teams. This ended up with Arky, UK, and BYU throwing money out to disrupt things. The numbers were big enough that it couldn’t be ignored. It was our staff’s perception that Lanier would leave the draft process and he’d be ours after having to adjust numbers up a bit due to the changes in the market. Unfortunately those changes became hysterical since he is one of the last big names among a few who might not drop from the draft. Wooga and Robinson are targets, but Lanier is getting more focus. It’s also important to understand that some of the numbers being tossed around aren’t real, even though they came from NIL reps. It’s become a tactic to toss out an absurd number to get someone to the table, and then move the goalposts in the documents.

Right now, the yahoos who stirred the deal interest up, are moving back to the kids’ table, and the actual agents who have been working the NBA will look at the actual offers and judge them with Lanier. I believe this is good for us, as they’ll be judging more than the top line. They’ll be judging all the variables that improve Lanier’s chances at a pro career.

It’s worth noting that Barnes hasn’t enjoyed how this has gone down, and others have had to keep it afloat. There are too many involved and he doesn’t usually have patience for that. On the positive side, Lanier’s top influencer is his mom. Lanier is a good kid too. Both of them like and trust Barnes. They’ve told him we’ll get the last meeting, and the last chance to offer. One monkey wrench— If the NIL numbers are way out of line, we won’t counter. We may not even take the visit. Sorry to those who want us to do “anything”. Barnes and staff have values and strategic ideas they won’t corrupt for one player. Like it or not, that’s real.

Finally, they do have options and communication channels beyond Lanier. Unlike UK, they aren’t playing everyone at once. They are holding up their end with Lanier and hope that has value when they sit down.

Sorry for the long post. I know this is more nuanced than some scorched-earthers would like. I probably won’t do a Q&A or a defense of this. I just wanted to share what I’ve heard.

I think we have a shot at the last sitdown, but it’s possible we’ll let that go.

Thank you for your posts. Be you.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

Lanier family loves their son. Lanier family has high level of integrity. Lanier family has Christian values and ethics. I have mad respect for the family. They have two stops then ....Welcome to Knoxville.

 

[Delmar]

I’m convinced you’d be upset if it starting raining titties.

Now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are. He ain’t the only one on VN that falls in that category. Plenty of them in the nega-Barnes thread.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

So who else does Barnes look to since Lanier is going to UK?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I’m convinced you’d be upset if it starting raining titties.

Have you listened to AP and Hubbs talking about Lanier? They both said if it’s all about money for Lanier then he isn’t coming here.

 

[garyp194]

They have an idea, but I would say the majority don’t know the actual number. Do you think Barnes knew Freddie Dillione was his highest paid

If Barnes doesn't have at least some idea of what the player contracts are then that would concern me. Seems like Barnes is really close with the players and should be one of the drivers in deciding who should be making the most. Then again, if what has been posted here is relatively true, what some players were making is completely out of whack. Dilione should not have been anywhere close to what was said. There has to be some sort of balance so that players that earn it are getting the most. Just randomly throwing money around with no organized hierarchy is a recipe for disaster imo. I think that will be a problem with a lot of the teams, for example Kentucky, Arkansas and maybe Kansas among others. Arkansas had a lot of locker room issues this past season and it pretty much trashed them. Not NIL related but still think your players have to be on the same page or there will be problems. As long as there is some kind of process that the players know if you earn it you will be rewarded has to be a major part of the process.

 

[garyp194]

Don't know to what extent the players are familiar with Lanier, if at all, personally, I think how he gets along with the players on the visit will go a very long way to deciding how this plays out. The players have always had a say in what new players are accepted onto the team and which ones are steered elsewhere. I think if personally he fits the team he will be here and if not, then he will go elsewhere.

 

[Tall_Vol]

Does anybody know how much Knecht made last year in NIL???

I heard a Barnes interview that stated Knecht's NIL deal was a base with incentives. He did not mention numbers but did say he hit every incentive and maxed out.

The staff really should get a ton of credit. DK averaged more points in the SEC than the Big Sky Conference. He was also 2nd team All Big Sky conference while at Northern Colorado, but SEC player of the year under Barnes.

DK mentioned several times he bet on himself. It wasn't just a figure of speech. If he goes in the top 10 of the draft, he will make over $13M guaranteed.

Whoever Tennessee's staff chooses to fill the same playmaker role for would be foolish to turn it down.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

110%. He's only doing this to see if UT will meet or beat the high offer and to a degree, recognize the fact that Barnes has a relationship with him and his family. Like I said...courtesy visit.

Got to give you credit. You must really believe you have this nailed to post in absolutes of this level. To be willing to put your credibility on the line for this one high profile situation is what it is. It does FAIRLY cause SOME to 150% question your motivations for every offering. Frequency is also a factor. Not sure “I” understand your apparent need to always counter posts of POTENTIAL for a staff victory in the portal along the lines of DK with prognosticated defeat without being in the players living room.

Love to add him, but will be able to move on quickly as a bad fit if he chooses another option. Not a bad person, especially without benefit of a complete fact set. Shared priorities and vision is what made DK a success. THANKFULLY we should know soon. Then get to measure his real value wherever he lands. Bargain or bust is on the table regardless of location.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

Good to hear that we have backup plans beyond just standing pat.

Agree it is nice as a fan to hear confirmation but should anyone have really doubted the staff didn't have a plan B, or C or beyond? This isn't their first rodeo and they have clearly demonstrated the ability to find talent year-in and year-out.

 

[MinisterofDef#92]

This is probably the most important and frustrating point. We aren’t going public about any guard options until Lanier is done.

Although I am never surprised, I can never quite reconcile how so many supposed adults make the most childish assumptions on here about our coaches as if they are completely naive and unable to plan for contingencies despite doing just that for literally years now.