Purdue Rumor

[BaxterIU]

I don't claim to be an insider or have access to those in the know. But I can share that I had lunch today with a regular group that typically gets together once a month, or so. Today we were joined by a "friend of a friend." This guy appeared to be very well connected to recruiting in IN/IL/MI/OH/KY. He did not come off as a blowhard, someone looking for attention. With most of what he did share, he was very measured with his comments. There was one topic, however, where he was very confident. He said that there's a 90% chance that Braden Smith will leave Purdue for major NIL dollars. Smith realizes that he doesn't have much (or any) future in the NBA. He plans to play overseas but doesn't think that he'll want to do that for more than five years. He realizes that his one opportunity for a major financial windfall is right now. He'll never have this opportunity again. He, or his agent, have been approached with offers of mind-numbing amounts of NIL bucks.

Take it for what it's worth...

 

[Tammany Hall]

That would be funny, and that logic makes sense, but I can’t help but think he stays at PU. The fit is too good.

 

[jacksback]

Makes total sense and if he was my kid, I'd advise him to chase the money while he can.

 

[wawasee]

My Girl friends family are big Purdue donors. She told me a week ago that His dad and agent want him to hit the portal. To see how much he can get. I trust her intel. One of her family members flies with the team to away games..

 

[kurt cloverdales]

Purdue will step up, I'm sure his agent is getting offers. they found a way to pay Edey they will find a way to pay him

 

[IUNorth]

I don't claim to be an insider or have access to those in the know. But I can share that I had lunch today with a regular group that typically gets together once a month, or so. Today we were joined by a "friend of a friend." This guy appeared to be very well connected to recruiting in IN/IL/MI/OH/KY. He did not come off as a blowhard, someone looking for attention. With most of what he did share, he was very measured with his comments. There was one topic, however, where he was very confident. He said that there's a 90% chance that Braden Smith will leave Purdue for major NIL dollars. Smith realizes that he doesn't have much (or any) future in the NBA. He plans to play overseas but doesn't think that he'll want to do that for more than five years. He realizes that his one opportunity for a major financial windfall is right now. He'll never have this opportunity again. He, or his agent, have been approached with offers of mind-numbing amounts of NIL bucks.

Take it for what it's worth...

I don't "know" this...but the guy I know that works directly with Purdue collectives...says that Braden Smith is "setup for life", basically. Very wide ranging, and large, NIL compensation package, and multiple large companies that are jockeying for him to join their company, with very lucrative jobs, after his playing days are over. Obviously he could have things like that cooking, and if Kentucky, or whoever, offers him 5 mill or something, he could jump at it? But it would take a very large number, or the math wouldn't make sense, if my buddies info is correct (it very likely is).

The other hole in your buddies reasoning...Braden Smith playing in the NBA is still a very real possibility, if not the actual plan for him.

 

[Middawg]

There's a style of play problem for Smith at Purdue as well.


Basketball players, guards especially, want to play in a creative, free flowing, and up tempo system. Which is also the appeal of Pro Basketball, Church Leagues, pickup games at the Hyper, and the old Loyola Marymount teams.

Purdue employs an offensive coordinator to tell Smith to slow it down and what play to run, what 80% or more of the time?

It's very robotic and while an ultra system based generates wins, it's also an impedance to basketball creativity.

Waiting on a Big, like Edey, TKR, or their new portal commit Kluff to jog up the court on offense has to be so so frustrating for open court players who want to run and gun, get shots up, and find players in the open court. All of which is the fun part of basketball.

 

[BA47591]

This would be a Bobby Hurley moment for sure.

 

[hookyIU1990]

Was just on a call with one of my guys who is a Spartan alum and said the rumor being passed around amongst people up there is that Duke has a blank check in front him to play with the Boozers.

 

[BaxterIU]

The other hole in your buddies reasoning...Braden Smith playing in the NBA is still a very real possibility, if not the actual plan for him.

You may be right, but I would guess otherwise. At 6'0' 170 lbs., I don't think that Smith has much of an NBA future.

 

[All4You]

I was at the livestock auction the other day with a buddy of mine who is a Purdue grad and overheard a similar story. When I asked my buddy about it, he said "don't believe a word that comes out of that sheep's mouth".

 

[Hoosier Hacker]

Especially given what IUNorth's friend said about Smith's side income up in WL, I don't think there's any real truth to him looking elsewhere. He'd be on a solid team that he clearly likes playing for, he'd be finishing his career as one of the all-time guards there (which would be tarnished if he bolted), he'll have plenty enough money through whatever NIL finds PU ships his way and his side hustle, and he most certainly is aiming at the NBA, where even if he only sticks for a year or two at the end of someone's bench, he's going to be set up just as well as if he had chased something now that's slightly more than what he's making.

And, that number would have to be absurd from someone else to even overcome staying put at Purdue. Let's face it, he's not the second coming of Lebron or even John Stockton (thinking of PGs), and certainly not what others in college like Cooper Flagg would command. 5m or more, or something like that? No one's going fork over that much for him.

 

[abraxis]

That would be funny, and that logic makes sense, but I can’t help but think he stays at PU. The fit is too good.

They have too much coming back with better added and remember, at Purdue they’re “family” (cough, cough). I’ll worry about them when the time comes, it’s football season now.

 

[HoosierJimbo89]

You may be right, but I would guess otherwise. At 6'0' 170 lbs., I don't think that Smith has much of an NBA future.

If he's good enough, he will enter the draft.

 

[RegionHoosiers]

There's a style of play problem for Smith at Purdue as well.


Basketball players, guards especially, want to play in a creative, free flowing, and up tempo system. Which is also the appeal of Pro Basketball, Church Leagues, pickup games at the Hyper, and the old Loyola Marymount teams.

Purdue employs an offensive coordinator to tell Smith to slow it down and what play to run, what 80% or more of the time?

It's very robotic and while an ultra system based generates wins, it's also an impedance to basketball creativity.

Waiting on a Big, like Edey, TKR, or their new portal commit Kluff to jog up the court on offense has to be so so frustrating for open court players who want to run and gun, get shots up, and find players in the open court. All of which is the fun part of basketball.

I hate PU but Painter adapts his offense to his personnel better than most. Most years it's a lot more interesting and fun to watch than what IU has been running...probably since Knight walked away.

 

[MTBRider22]

Was just on a call with one of my guys who is a Spartan alum and said the rumor being passed around amongst people up there is that Duke has a blank check in front him to play with the Boozers.

While the check isn't blank, the majority of this is true. From what I'm told, Duke is the only school he's willing to leave for. This comes from a drinking buddy of a PU coach.

 

[BobbyKnightsGhost]

While the check isn't blank, the majority of this is true. From what I'm told, Duke is the only school he's willing to leave for. This comes from a drinking buddy of a PU coach.

Disgusting if true

 

[BaxterIU]

If he's good enough, he will enter the draft.

If I was good enough, I too would enter the draft.

While I'll concede that Smith's NBA future is more promising than mine, I still don't think that he has the physical stature to play/stay in the league. While they don't do it often enough, NBA players are expected to guard someone. Smith would be overmatched, big time.

 

[MTBRider22]

Disgusting if true

While I don't necessarily like it, I'm not sure what's disgusting about it? If anything, it's almost noble by today's standards. The kid isn't whoring himself out like most and he's saying I'm only going to consider the top program in the country and only if they basically double my pay.

 

[Courtsensetwo]

One thing that has to concern Purdue is that much of Moze's NIL is portable.

deals with Stanley cups and a shoe seller, plus a minor input from the NIL store that sells tee shirts. This allows a small budget program like Purdue to keep he and TKR but it also means they can walk to a big buget team and keep the portable revenue.

 

[edub72]

It will be interesting if Duke offers 3.5 or more

 

[Courtsensetwo]

If he's good enough, he will enter the draft.

After he makes as much $$ as possible he should enter the draft and see if he can make a roster.

Yogi was a significantly better NBA prospect and played I think five seasons before moving overseas.

If Moze does not make a roster but wants to play overseas I suspect he will do well.

 

[freeboardescapee]

After he makes as much $$ as possible he should enter the draft and see if he can make a roster.

Yogi was a significantly better NBA prospect and played I think five seasons before moving overseas.

If Moze does not make a roster but wants to play overseas I suspect he will do well.

Moze?

 

[nichlee]

Moze?

 

[wi_hoosier]

If I was good enough, I too would enter the draft.

While I'll concede that Smith's NBA future is more promising than mine, I still don't think that he has the physical stature to play/stay in the league. While they don't do it often enough, NBA players are expected to guard someone. Smith would be overmatched, big time.

I could see Smith cutting out a role like TJ McConnel or Monte Morris with the right team.

 

[Hoosier Hacker]

I could see Smith cutting out a role like TJ McConnel or Monte Morris with the right team.

I do think there are guys in the NBA recently that might lend credence to the potential for Smith to land with an NBA team. But, McConnell, just simply because he's shorter than most guards (certainly shorter than Smith) and white, is not a good comp. TJ is insanely quick, and has an uncanny knack for finishing inside over bigs. Smith isn't near as quick, and still struggles shooting with guys in his face.

He's a better assist guy and would probably be a bigger three-point threat, but cannot remotely D up an NBA guard the way TJ does. That will limit his opportunities at the next level more than anything, IMO. But, I do think he can land on a roster, maybe being on a 2-way contract for a while on his way to getting established.

 

[T.M.P.]

I could see Smith cutting out a role like TJ McConnel or Monte Morris with the right team.

Better yet, he could be the Celtics mascot ...

 

[kurt cloverdales]

I do think there are guys in the NBA recently that might lend credence to the potential for Smith to land with an NBA team. But, McConnell, just simply because he's shorter than most guards (certainly shorter than Smith) and white, is not a good comp. TJ is insanely quick, and has an uncanny knack for finishing inside over bigs. Smith isn't near as quick, and still struggles shooting with guys in his face.

He's a better assist guy and would probably be a bigger three-point threat, but cannot remotely D up an NBA guard the way TJ does. That will limit his opportunities at the next level more than anything, IMO. But, I do think he can land on a roster, maybe being on a 2-way contract for a while on his way to getting established.

I'd bet McConnel is 2 or 3 inches taller than smith, no idea what both are listed at

 

[Hoopsdoc1978]

This has been rumored for weeks, if not months.

I don’t doubt that he will see what he can get. It’s only common sense.

 

[T.M.P.]

certainly shorter than Smith

Incorrect.

 

[edub72]

He won’t make it in the NBA. Barely 6’0 and not a super athlete

 

[IUbball_lifer]

R

I'd bet McConnel is 2 or 3 inches taller than smith, no idea what both are listed at

TJ is 6’1” and 190 lbs. That’s 20 lbs on Smith.

 

[Bligedy]

Hi

I don't "know" this...but the guy I know that works directly with Purdue collectives...says that Braden Smith is "setup for life", basically. Very wide ranging, and large, NIL compensation package, and multiple large companies that are jockeying for him to join their company, with very lucrative jobs, after his playing days are over. Obviously he could have things like that cooking, and if Kentucky, or whoever, offers him 5 mill or something, he could jump at it? But it would take a very large number, or the math wouldn't make sense, if my buddies info is correct (it very likely is).

The other hole in your buddies reasoning...Braden Smith playing in the NBA is still a very real possibility, if not the actual plan for him.

His lifetime earnings as a Purdue legend will far exceed whatever he gets even with a historic one year NIL deal.

 

[snarlcakes]

I don't claim to be an insider or have access to those in the know. But I can share that I had lunch today with a regular group that typically gets together once a month, or so. Today we were joined by a "friend of a friend." This guy appeared to be very well connected to recruiting in IN/IL/MI/OH/KY. He did not come off as a blowhard, someone looking for attention. With most of what he did share, he was very measured with his comments. There was one topic, however, where he was very confident. He said that there's a 90% chance that Braden Smith will leave Purdue for major NIL dollars. Smith realizes that he doesn't have much (or any) future in the NBA. He plans to play overseas but doesn't think that he'll want to do that for more than five years. He realizes that his one opportunity for a major financial windfall is right now. He'll never have this opportunity again. He, or his agent, have been approached with offers of mind-numbing amounts of NIL bucks.

Take it for what it's worth...

I heard a similar rumor from a former player, but they made it sound like Purdue would probably step up and match the price (4-5 mil was the number thrown out).

 

[snarlcakes]

I don't "know" this...but the guy I know that works directly with Purdue collectives...says that Braden Smith is "setup for life", basically. Very wide ranging, and large, NIL compensation package, and multiple large companies that are jockeying for him to join their company, with very lucrative jobs, after his playing days are over. Obviously he could have things like that cooking, and if Kentucky, or whoever, offers him 5 mill or something, he could jump at it? But it would take a very large number, or the math wouldn't make sense, if my buddies info is correct (it very likely is).

The other hole in your buddies reasoning...Braden Smith playing in the NBA is still a very real possibility, if not the actual plan for him.

How many players are in the NBA under 6 foot tall? Also, Braden isn't that quick and he's an average shooter in comparison to NBA guards. Not to mention he would have to guard people like Luka, Trae, Ja, and etc.

 

[Hoosier Hacker]

Incorrect.

I'll be damned. Could have sworn Smith was listed at 6'2" and McConnell was 6'0". Huh. Guess BS has even more odds stacked against him for an NBA career. And for sure, the thing that has kept TJ so valuable is his speed, which BS definitely does not possess.

 

[hozo4ultimate]

I don't claim to be an insider or have access to those in the know. But I can share that I had lunch today with a regular group that typically gets together once a month, or so. Today we were joined by a "friend of a friend." This guy appeared to be very well connected to recruiting in IN/IL/MI/OH/KY. He did not come off as a blowhard, someone looking for attention. With most of what he did share, he was very measured with his comments. There was one topic, however, where he was very confident. He said that there's a 90% chance that Braden Smith will leave Purdue for major NIL dollars. Smith realizes that he doesn't have much (or any) future in the NBA. He plans to play overseas but doesn't think that he'll want to do that for more than five years. He realizes that his one opportunity for a major financial windfall is right now. He'll never have this opportunity again. He, or his agent, have been approached with offers of mind-numbing amounts of NIL bucks.

Take it for what it's worth...

Fun post. It's not true. I'm not going down the hole of what PU insider I know, but that's not happening. The new, and late to the game, PU collective figured out how to keep Edey. They will secure Smith for another year. Ffs.

 

[sobester]

If he's good enough, he will enter the draft.

They’re two different games with overlapping skill sets.

 

[CriticArisen]

At Duke he would have access to the secret collective OVFF whose minimum entrance fee for a booster is $1,000,000 (and credit cards not accepted-too much of a digital trail).

Wall Street Journal asks: Is Cooper Flagg receiving 'Dark Money'? | Sporting News

College athletes receiving money has been prominent for the past few years, but a look into Duke's basketball-exclusive collective has raised questions about the money that star Blue Devils are receiving.

www.sportingnews.com

Maybe this is the last recruiting cycle we will have post after post claiming IU’s NIL conquers all.

 

[CriticArisen]

They’re two different games with overlapping skill sets.

I like this characterization.