Reed assigned to G League

[Blue_2_the_bone]

The Rockets did the same with their #4 pick last year. But I think they’re looking at using Reed for the trading block. I couldn’t believe they picked him in the first place with their core of guards. Rumor is they want DeAaron Fox and are looking for possible trades.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

I don’t watch the nba , who all is he backed up behind ?

Fred Vanvleet, Jalen Green, and Aaron Holiday. The starters play heavy minutes.

 

[kennyskywalker34]

Best for him for now. He will get playing time against quality guards. Either Houston needs to trade him or trade some guards or there isn't going to be minutes for him.

 

[yes_takeaside]

Had he returned and slipped from 3rd to 10th it would have cost him roughly 13 million dollars. What parent here would tell their kid to take that kind of risk?

How much money is enough?

 

[BarefootBeach]

If the timeline is career, how do people know he made the right move financially by jumping last year? Another year in college and preparation would have done him a lot of good. Maybe his 2nd or 3rd contract would be much higher had he been better prepared. I crack up when people are speaking with certainty about his decision.

 

[SkyPrince1]

If the timeline is career, how do people know he made the right move financially by jumping last year? Another year in college and preparation would have done him a lot of good. Maybe his 2nd or 3rd contract would be much higher had he been better prepared. I crack up when people are speaking with certainty about his decision.

You either adapt to the pro game or you don't.
Reed is already 21 yrs old and there's nothing he would learn at UK that would make him a better pro.
If Reed makes it to a second or third contract then he's obviously figured it out.

 

[SkyPrince1]

He was drafted higher than he ever would have been coming back. He made more money, at least initially, and probably overall, than he could ever catch up with after another year, especially as he was truly over-valued in a weak draft.

But here's the thing: How much will it matter to him when he's 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 that his lasting image as a Kentucky Wildcat is of being totally outplayed by a Horizon League stiff, looking scared and intimidated, and bowing out in one of the worst losses in Kentucky Basketball History?

Assuming he is going to have all the money anyone could ever spend from playing basketball, is the difference between lifetime earnings of $50 million and $60 million enough to compensate for taking another shot at feeling good about his legacy as a Wildcat?

Some will laugh and say that'll never cross his mind. I disagree, given his background, his family legacy and what was clearly his love of the Kentucky basketball program.

I don't think Reed needs to worry about legacy.
Reed is his generations Rex Chapman.
He is and will remain more popular than players who actually helped hang a banner.

 

[Myth Buster51]

I posted the comment in the Reed thread about a week ago, that a G-League stint would be beneficial to him. Nothing beats live game reps to improve shooting and other areas needing work.

That’s true. But there’s a flip side to getting assigned to the G League: Nothing shortens your NBA career more than getting cooked in the G League. Every cat Sheppard faces in the G League will be aiming to rip him a new one. Time for Sheppard to become a man.

 

[know1]

From a financial standpoint, he absolutely did the right thing. From a basketball standpoint, it's not as clear cut.

I still think that Oscar made a financial mistake by not going pro after his NPOY year.

 

[SkyPrince1]

From a financial standpoint, he absolutely did the right thing. From a basketball standpoint, it's not as clear cut.

I still think that Oscar made a financial mistake by not going pro after his NPOY year.

His feedback was pretty clear cut.
As far as I know, no one said pump the breaks on Reed Sheppard.
It was all systems go as far as the NBA was concerned.
He entered the season as the Vegas favorite for ROY.
When you have the combination of a huge sum of money plus being told by those supposedly in the know that you're the best guard coming out, it's a no brainier

 

[Creed Bratton]

And going too early costs him a second/third etc. nba contract?

Maybe it could but he could also have a career ending injury during his 2nd year of college and get nothing but a small, comparatively speaking, amount from insurance. So it's all pure conjecture and about what will happen down the road and a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush.

 

[ThunderCat98]

Let's be honest here, the ability to even get a 2nd or 3rd NBA deal for a 6'2 guard that is a poor on-the-ball defender in the League isn't a guarantee. He did the right thing by maximizing his return on the front end. Chances he's in the NBA after 5 years with his limited upside are slim.

 

[BarefootBeach]

You either adapt to the pro game or you don't.
Reed is already 21 yrs old and there's nothing he would learn at UK that would make him a better pro.
If Reed makes it to a second or third contract then he's obviously figured it out.

So it is your belief he would not have improved coming back to school and been more ready for the nba. Okay.

 

[BarefootBeach]

I don't think Reed needs to worry about legacy.
Reed is his generations Rex Chapman.
He is and will remain more popular than players who actually helped hang a banner.

Ummm, I think the world of Sheppard and his whole family, but part of his legacy is winning no postseason games, and his performance in those games.

 

[Zissou87]

How much money is enough?

You would be a horrible sports agent.

 

[littlecreek]

Who knows if it would helped or hurt Reed by coming back. Just imagine if he had come back and played this year. Kentucky has a coach that actually runs an offense and that puts a premium on shooting. The previous coach didn't even start Reed in an outdated offense. It's very possible that Reed could have averaged 20+ points and been the centerpiece of Kentucky's offense and even a 1st team AA. He may even have been national player of the year and possibly the number 1 pick. It certainly would have been better for him to return then. But it was an unknown situation with a new coach how it would have went. I'm certainly happy with Pope and Kentucky's situation, I've not been like this for a very long time.

 

[SkyPrince1]

So it is your belief he would not have improved coming back to school and been more ready for the nba. Okay.

I guess we have a difference in opinion on the G-league.
Their main objective is development for their NBA affiliate.
They could care less about winning for the city they reside in.
All the G league coaches are trying to get to the NBA and they will attempt to develop Reed the way the Rockets organization wants while he's there.
I guarantee you no former player who played in the NBA would put college over the G league for developing for the pro game.

 

[ukcatz12]

How much money is enough?

I know your main point, but the risk with Reed is there was really no lower limit on what his contract would be if he came back a year and entered the 2025 draft. He could have fallen completely out of the first round, which means his contract is not guaranteed and he legitimately could have cost himself around $40 million dollars.

If his options were between being drafted last year and making $45 million, or coming back to UK with a good NIL package and having a guaranteed $30 million contract waiting for him in the NBA then maybe he considers it. But once he came back absolutely nothing would have been guaranteed for him going forward and it would have been a huge risk.

Remember in 2021 when Juzang had a really good year, particularly in the tournament, and carried UCLA to a Final Four? His draft stock was pretty damn high after that. He came back to school, his stock dropped dramatically, and he ended up not being drafted. He has since played his way into an NBA deal with that Jazz, but it's barely above league minimum.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Ummm, I think the world of Sheppard and his whole family, but part of his legacy is winning no postseason games, and his performance in those games.

You underestimate his popularity especially among his peer group.
He's hands down THE most popular former player across the fan base at this current time.

 

[ccukuk]

Had he returned and slipped from 3rd to 10th it would have cost him roughly 13 million dollars. What parent here would tell their kid to take that kind of risk?

Only the dumb ones or, in reality, none.

 

[ccukuk]

I still believe I was correct in saying last spring/summer that financially (long-term) he would have been better off coming back this season. That he needed a year of being the go-to guy (the one that gets a bucket when you need one), and to get stronger and maybe even quicker, and to become a better defender. That his goal shouldn’t be limited to getting as big a 1st contract as he can, but instead to get as big a 2nd contract as he can by being ready to play/contribute in year 1.

The only reason to go last year was if he was ready to contribute (clearly isn’t) or if afraid a 2nd year may expose his weaknesses more.

He gets to play against better competition while being solely dedicated to basketball, even if in the g league. It’s not as if he’s a 2nd rounder trying to make a team. He would not have been better coming back in his scenario. It’s simply not true.

 

[BarefootBeach]

You underestimate his popularity especially among his peer group.
He's hands down THE most popular former player across the fan base at this current time.

I only speak for my own microcosm of fandom. I go to a sports bar with lots of uk fans and I interact with them. Atleast a half dozen of them have shared similar comments about Sheppard to me. He'll always be a fan favorite but nothing close to what he could have been, in my opinion of course.

 

[Wildcats1st]

He made the right decision, he got drafted by the wrong team

Then he made a questionable decision. If he had 50% chance to get picked by the wrong team he shouldn’t have left. A 3rd pick in the draft should be playing in the nba not the reject or developmental league. He could have stayed in lex and broke the bank on nil earnings and been a legend but Grand Rapids or whatever look out!

 

[Zissou87]

By some of the comments, it's obvious that many have zero understanding of how modern professional basketball works.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Then he made a questionable decision. If he had 50% chance to get picked by the wrong team he shouldn’t have left. A 3rd pick in the draft should be playing in the nba not the reject or developmental league. He could have stayed in lex and broke the bank on nil earnings and been a legend but Grand Rapids or whatever look out!

40% of the '23 first round was sent down to the G league.
He was never going to be in a position to pick his team.
He really didn't go to a bad situation.
No one saw the kind of year VanVleet is having.
He's the biggest reason for their turnaround.
If you expect a kid to listen to negative feedback from the NBA when he declares then you have to expect their going to listen to the positive feedback and Reed's was all positive.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Then he made a questionable decision. If he had 50% chance to get picked by the wrong team he shouldn’t have left. A 3rd pick in the draft should be playing in the nba not the reject or developmental league. He could have stayed in lex and broke the bank on nil earnings and been a legend but Grand Rapids or whatever look out!

He made the correct decision, he can’t fix the lottery to go to whatever teams he wants. He was a top 3 pick and that’s a chance you don’t pass up, especially at sheppards size.

 

[truebluewildcat]

I’m not sure returning would have significantly affected his draft stock.

I feel like Pope and this team/style would have allowed him to shine even brighter.

Obviously the money is what is in the league, but he would’ve done very well with NIL here. I know it’s not league money but it is life changing. Not like he would have gone destitute in the slim chance of injury. League drafts injured players all the time anyway.

Oh well. Hope he ends up getting run and doing fine.

Glad we don’t really have to worry about such high rates of turnover anymore.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I’m not sure returning would have significantly affected his draft stock.

I feel like Pope and this team/style would have allowed him to shine even brighter.

Obviously the money is what is in the league, but he would’ve done very well with NIL here. I know it’s not league money but it is life changing. Not like he would have gone destitute in the slim chance of injury. League drafts injured players all the time anyway.

Oh well. Hope he ends up getting run and doing fine.

Glad we don’t really have to worry about such high rates of turnover anymore.

And really, the ultimate goal is to land that 2nd and 3rd NBA contract. The problem is, that 1st NBA contract is no slouch either, and it's hard to pass that up if it's staring you in the face. He will make more in that first NBA contract as the 3rd overall pick, than he'd ever make in NIL. But on the flip side, if he jumped for that 1st contract too quickly, and isn't ready (as we're seeing now), that 2nd contract might never materialize.

So it's tough to say. Reed just made a cool $45mil over 4 years. But the final two years are a team option... so, if things don't turn around for Reed, I could see Houston potentially declining that, he becomes an unrestricted FA, and lets just say for arguments sake, he earns that first $20mil. That's still $20million, but it remains to be seen what he will be able to do for the 2nd contract. It's certainly, at least not at this point, going to be a contract like what Brandon Miller will eventually get.

 

[docholiday51]

Too bad he couldn't have been assigned to Lexington for 3 months

 

[Wildcats1st]

He made the correct decision, he can’t fix the lottery to go to whatever teams he wants. He was a top 3 pick and that’s a chance you don’t pass up, especially at sheppards size.

What happens if he blows out a knee bc his body wasn’t ready for the rigors of the nba? If he ends up being a bust his relationship with bbn is non existent. The nba route was a massive dice roll

 

[LineSkiCat14]

What happens if he blows out a knee bc his body wasn’t ready for the rigors of the nba? If he ends up being a bust his relationship with bbn is non existent. The nba route was a massive dice roll

What if he comes back for $1mil NIL deal, after declining that $45m deal as the 3rd pick, and still blows out his knee?

 

[truebluewildcat]

And really, the ultimate goal is to land that 2nd and 3rd NBA contract. The problem is, that 1st NBA contract is no slouch either. He will make more in that first NBA contract as the 3rd overall pick, than he'd ever make in NIL. But on the flip side, if he jumped for that 1st contract too quickly, and isn't ready (as we're seeing now), that 2nd contract might never materialize.

So it's tough to say. Reed just made a cool $45mil over 4 years. But the final two years are a team option... so, if things don't turn around for Reed, I could see Houston potentially declining that, he becomes an unrestricted FA, and lets just say for arguments sake, he earns that first $20mil. That's still $20million, but it remains to be seen what he will be able to do for the 2nd contract. It's certainly, at least not at this point, going to be a contract like what Brandon Miller will eventually get.

Yeah football players do just fine hanging around 3 years. In a more physical wear and tear game.

Catastrophic injuries are rare. Again, NFL like NBA drafts injured and injury prone players all the time.

Now that NIL is a thing the risk of great loss to pro potential players isn’t really a thing anymore.

Also, NBA screws itself by drafting OADs as it f’s up what is a natural incubator and farm system.

NBA is struggling with ratings because it has no stars. You know who has stars galore?! NFL! Why?! Because after 3 years people know and love the NFL players before they ever take a snap.

But I digress, that’s a discussion for another thread and time.

 

[Zissou87]

What happens if he blows out a knee bc his body wasn’t ready for the rigors of the nba? If he ends up being a bust his relationship with bbn is non existent. The nba route was a massive dice roll

I think you're overestimating a player's opinion of college basketball fans.

 

[SkyPrince1]

What happens if he blows out a knee bc his body wasn’t ready for the rigors of the nba? If he ends up being a bust his relationship with bbn is non existent. The nba route was a massive dice roll

Not even remotely true.

 

[SkyPrince1]

Yeah football players do just fine hanging around 3 years. In a more physical wear and tear game.

Catastrophic injuries are rare. Again, NFL like NBA drafts injured and injury prone players all the time.

Now that NIL is a thing the risk of great loss to pro potential players isn’t really a thing anymore.

Also, NBA screws itself by drafting OADs as it f’s up what is a natural incubator and farm system.

NBA is struggling with ratings because it has no stars. You know who has stars galore?! NFL! Why?! Because after 3 years people know and love the NFL players before they ever take a snap.

But I digress, that’s a discussion for another thread and time.

Not the players responsibility to manage the league.
The NBA literally rolled out the red carpet for Reed and said come on down.
People are upset because they thought with Reed being a KY boy and a double legacy that multi years of being a Cat were in the bag.

 

[Eccain01]

I still believe I was correct in saying last spring/summer that financially (long-term) he would have been better off coming back this season. That he needed a year of being the go-to guy (the one that gets a bucket when you need one), and to get stronger and maybe even quicker, and to become a better defender. That his goal shouldn’t be limited to getting as big a 1st contract as he can, but instead to get as big a 2nd contract as he can by being ready to play/contribute in year 1.

The only reason to go last year was if he was ready to contribute (clearly isn’t) or if afraid a 2nd year may expose his weaknesses more.

The reason to go is he was going top 5 at worst. Reed will be fine. Houston has some older player at his spot for now that won’t be there long term.

 

[FtWorthCat]

He will be playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Edinburg, Texas. I hope he has a bodyguard(s). A white guy with a $45 million contract, could easily be kidnapped and taken 50 miles into Mexico. Not really kidding.

 

[Brassow2Wall]

I think the question is, what is the height of UK "lore/legacy" worth?


If we were to scale Kentucky basketball legacy, 1-10, with a 10 being Rupp/Riley/Unforgettables/Pitino/Issel/Givens etc and a 1 being someone/something like Ryan Harrow/Cameron Fletcher/NIT teams etc where would Reed rank?


I would have him max at around a 5, and only that high because of his being born and bred in the state, being the son of two former UK basketball players, and for having a great freshmen year individually. If he has a great NBA career, maybe a 6-7, but no higher because of no team success. I think a Maxey would be a player with a similar score based on their actual time at UK, a 5.


If Reed comes back and plays 3-4 years total at UK, then to the NBA, i think even without a title he's likely an 8-9. If he comes back and wins a title, even without any kind of NBA career he's a 10.


So the question becomes, what's that worth? To be a 10 in UK basketball lore/legacy vs a 5? I'm not sure. He has $20 million guaranteed right now, but not the significant Kentucky basketball legacy of say someone like his father. I would give his father a 10 based on being a two-time champion, and a Final Four MVP. But, what has that gotten him? Is that value greater than big money early in a so far undetermined NBA future?

 

[sefus12]

Got a ton of money but he was not ready for the league. His parents really should have known this! Another year of college playing under Pope (who Jeff played with) would have been helpful. Now he is playing in the G league and may well get recruited over

I 100% disagree. The chance of Reed shooting as well as he did last year again was small. Take the money and then go work on bball full time in the league. Staying would have almost guaranteed he would have been drafted lower than he was last year.

 

[Lionel_Hutz]

People are upset because they thought with Reed being a KY boy and a double legacy that multi years of being a Cat were in the bag.

With Calipari at the helm…we were never certain Reed ( or anyone) would stay multiple years.