🏀 KuBuckets Archive

@BShark Nebraska is losing a sophomore big man.

@Blown Hopefully Stanford keeps playing well too.

Chiefs also need to find a way to get another NT to anchor the 3-4. Stopping the run has been a problem for too long. If Vita Vea falls to the 20s in the 1st Round, Chiefs need to find a way to trade up for him.

My top priorities in order:
- DE - Weak draft class - Would like to see us just sign a vet FA. Aldon Smith, Connor Barwin or Ziggy Ansah could be potential adds.
- NT - Would love to draft a guy here. However, Poe is a FA again this offseason and I wouldn't hate to see him back. Strong free agent class here. Probably makes most sense to really invest in the D-Line through free agency.
- ILB - A few free agents available. Wouldn't be opposed. But should probably spend one of our first 3 picks here. However, if the price is right...
- CB - Draft one. CB free agent signings usually do not go well, IMO. And I'm sure Reid still has nightmares about signing Nnamdi Asomugha
- OL - One of the 1st 3 picks every season should be an OL IMO.
- WR - Free agent class is rough. Look for another underrated guy in the draft who can really work the slot.

@mayjay So many players have moved from positions to play first base, especially as they aged. Pujos, Cabrera, Carpenter, Sweeney, Piazza, Garciaparra, Hanley Ramirez, Konerko and Mauer are guys that I can think of just off the top of my head.

@mayjay What makes you think he would be a poor defensive 1B? I just don't understand where you are coming from with that. If it is his height, and height alone, I find that to be a weak argument. 1st base is the easiest infield position to play, no question about it. So if he can defend 3rd at a professional level, I would think he could defend 1st with no issues.

@BShark Should get Ware back next season. Should make a pretty good 1-2 punch. I'd sign a practice squad guy as my 3rd string. A 3rd down specific type of guy.

@justanotherfan I don't think West comes back. You can sign a 3rd stringer and save $1M right there. I'd let Bailey go to keep Benny Logan and then draft another DLineman. Bailey was injured or ineffective all season. Not really worth $6M.

Parker was overpaid from the start because of a weak FA class. I'd let him go. Not that he was horrible or is a liability. But he also isn't a playmaker over the top.

Dee Ford is not a Chief next season.

I think DJ will probably be cut. I just like his presence.

Schwartz is fine. I'm not mad if we trade or keep him.

Harris is not worth $2M. The man is a drop machine.

This team really needs to acquire some draft picks some way, some how. The defense needs to get younger, and fast.

@BeddieKU23 It definitley was. But even still, not groundbreaking information. If KU wasn't Romeo's lean, he would already be committed to one of the other two schools.

As of this second, they are $7M over for next season.

Possible players who will be Cut/Traded:

Pre June-1
- Alex Smith: $17M in Cap Savings Pre- June 1
- Derrick Johnson: $8M Pre- june 1
- Tamba Hali : $8M pre-June 1
- Dee Ford: $9M Pre-June1
- Darelle Revis: $4.5M Pre-June 1
- Demetrius Harris: $2M Pre- June 1
- Charcandrick West: $1.75M Pre - June 1

Post June-1
- Justin Houston: $15M in Cap savings Post - June 1
- Eric Fisher: $10M in Cap Savings Post - June 1
- Ron Parker: $6M Post-June 1
- Mitchell Schwartz - $6M
- Allen Bailey - $6M

You obviously can't get rid of everyone. But here is what I would do.

• Trade Smith for a high 2nd round pick.
• Cut Harris, West, Ford, Bailey and Hali Pre-june 1
• Keep Johnson and Revis.
• Trade fisher for a 2nd or a 3rd and a 4th round pick.
• Trade Schwarts for a 3rd or a 4th and a 5th round pick.
• Trade Parker for a 5th round pick.
• Keep Houston.

That would shed nearly $66M in cap space. I would take that and resign Fulton, Pierre-Louis, Wilson, and Benny Logan who are all pending free agents. That would eat up about $25M of the savings. Combined with the rookie signings, $7M in Cap debt and the $25M of resignings, the Chiefs would have about $24M in Cap Room for this season.

Next season, after our Dead money is all off the books, we would get an extra $14.4M in Cap Space as well. If the Chiefs draft well, and can find a way to get 3 or 4 picks in the first 64, that would be huge. We will hopefully have some big contracts to sign coming up with Hill, (I know some of you don't want him) Peters, Jones and Mahomes. So keeping cap space is important. We don't want to get put in the Dorsey position again where we are cutting players that would have been vital to this season. Adding Maclin to this past teams offense would have made them that much scarier.

@HighEliteMajor There was another video I saw earlier this year that showed Alex struggling when teams show cover 2 but then roll cover 3. He picks out his first read, and when it wasn't there he just tried to run.

Alex was great for KC, and as far as I'm concerned he should go in the Chiefs HOF. But it is time to hand the reigns over.

@JayHawkFanToo Cavs have been playing a 3rd string 36 year old PG all season, or fitting a square peg in a round hole just to buy time until IT and Rose are back. Now that IT is back, and Rose will be back soon, this team could really go on a tear soon.

Cavs will also, more likely than not, make a trade before the deadline as well. They will shed Shumpert and give up their late 1st Round pick to go get a rental player to finish out the season.

@BeddieKU23 Found it. Yea really no insight, other than we would continue to pursue adding him all the way to March if we had to.

@BeddieKU23 what site?

@mayjay And his horrible 3rd down conversion rate.

@Ralster You don't pay a backup QB $15M. We could trade him and help to bolster an aging, struggling defense.

@JayHawkFanToo Exactly. They aren't expecting a lot of volume of things right now. So when one comes in, it is probably pretty important to the school and the athlete. If they aren't getting a lot, then they should also probably be able to process this faster than usual. And finally this isn't just some application. This is presenting a case. Not just some standard form they sent over. This is they type of thing that goes all the way to the top, and when you take a position overseeing an organization like the NCAA, you have to make sacrifices, like maybe not having an entire week off between Christmas and New Years. With that being said, most of the frustration, from everyone, is the lack of transparency. The NCAA could easily be giving status updates as these things go on.

Examples: Tweet: Received KU's findings. They are 12 pages long. Will take all day to review. Will be verifying facts starting tomorrow.

Tweet: Received KU's findings, but are closed for Winter Break. Will be a top priority as soon as the office reopens.

Tweet: Received KU's findings, will be reviewed by upper management this week, but won't be able to start investigation until after break.

Tweet: Regarding KU's case. Sent out documents for fact finding purposes through mail, usually takes 7 days for information to be returned.

Tweet: Regarding KU's case. Nearing end of investigation, simply waiting on last few items to be returned to us. Will have decision soon.

My point isn't to crucify the NCAA or saying that they aren't doing what they are supposed to from an investigation standpoint. It is just that they need to have better PR than they do.

@JayHawkFanToo In all fairness, the type of NCAA higher-ups making this decision should have been working on this over Christmas Break. Even if the office is closed. They get paid well enough that when something this important is going on they don't get a week off over Christmas.

The NCAA's lack of PR skills is what is going to do them in, in the long run. All it takes is a similar situation happening to a football player at a school like UT or ND.

@KirkIsMyHinrich ask again later.

You’re welcome everyone for predicting the future.

@mayjay I do think Moose could play first base at a gold glove level.

@mayjay And assuming that Moose giving up 3 inches has a major effect is a joke. It may effect a game once or twice the entire season. And if it does, it may not even cost us that game.

Teams put ogres at 1st because they don't have to move. Billy Butler, Albert Pujols in his old age, David Ortiz, mark mcgwire, Frank Thomas, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Bour, etc. etc.

Do you think those guys play 1st because they are tall? Or because they can hit. None of those guys could play another position on the field the last 10 years of their careers, if ever. Size had nothing to do with it. Simply the fact that they could hit the ball really far.

Best defensive first baseman of all-time, Keith Hernandez was only 6'.

Another Andy Reid disciple gets a job. And people want him gone...

I expect a 2-0 week. One of the games Newman finally gets some mojo back, canning a 3 ball early.

@mayjay having a good defensive 1st baseman is one of the most overrated things in baseball. Why? There are only 25% left handers in the game. Many of whom are not pull hitters. There is rarely a situation where the 1st baseman has to turn 2. A 1B's range is limited anytime someone is on 1B anyways. Throws are rarely arrant by 6 feet to the left or right. They are rarely arrant the extra height that would be the difference between hosmer and moose.

I want Hosmer more than Moose too. But if we don't sign Hosmer, it only makes sense to sign Moose to fill that gap.

This is that same perfect period the Seahawks had with Wilson. If we can hit on 3 or 4 defenders, either in the draft or free agency, Chiefs can have an amazing 3 or 4 year run.

Reid with a defense that doesn't give up points is a Superbowl recipe. His problem is he never lets his defense get too good because he is so damn offensive-minded.

Have to give Alex up. Takes up too much cap when the rest of the roster is such a joke. Need to revamp our LBs and we need a NT if we are going to stay in the 3-4.

Chiefs were a flawed team and the Titans were the worst matchup of the potential wildcard matchups. Run defense needs to get sured up. Mahoney will put up points. Defense is the problem.

I'd rather have no leadership and let the role be up for grabs than I would want someone who is clearly not an Alpha take on the role just because he is a Senior.

@BShark I'm not sure I want Vick to be the leader of a team. That's what worries me the most.

Teams take on a personality. Vick doesn't have a winning personality.

Give me a guy in Langford who can get to, and finish, at the rim.

@BShark I don't want any softness coming back. If you asked me a month ago, absolutely give me SR. Vick.

But not anymore. He is as soft as anyone. Svi has more steals per game than him. He is the most athletic player on the team and yet and average defender and a streaky offensive player that can't create his own shot.

Bring on a new group. I watched Creighton the other night, and Mitchell Ballock would be getting time on this team just because he plays so damn tough.

This team is soft, move on from everyone we possibly can.

@HighEliteMajor Moose should be resigned if Hosmer isn't. Makes perfect sense to move him to 1B next season. A guy who can hit 30+ HRs out at Kauffman is a guy you need to have on this roster. It would also allow you to play Moss at 1B, Bonifacio in RF and Soler at DH.

@HighEliteMajor Agreed on all points. I just don't know if the front office likes Bonifacio. However, he is a 24 year old who did seem to earn a spot. Most likely as the 4th outfielder though, IMO. If this team starts to struggle, I'd play him in LF and just release Gordon.

Soler needs to see pitching at the MLB level every day though. Even if he struggles, we have to turn him into a player. Otherwise, last season looks really bad when we could have had Wade closing out games and barely missed the playoffs.

@AsadZ Royals are in a strange spot if Hosmer resigns. If he does, we are probably only a couple of pieces away from a Wildcard bid. Providing Soler and Gordon can actually hit the ball next season.

Potential Lineup:
- Whit - 2B
- ? - CF
- Hosmer - 1B
- Soler - RF
- Salvy - C
- Moss - DH
- Gordon - LF
- Mondesi - SS
- Cuthbert - 3B

A lot of questions about what to do with CF. But IMO, that team could potentially swing the bat well enough to make a run. If 3 of Moss, Mondesi, Gordon or Soler can swing the bat like they are capable of, look out. That would give us a legitimate 7 bats in the lineup. The only problem is that this team would still be incredibly slow.

I would like us to look for a shortstop or 2B who we can move to 3B, like Eduardo Nunez or Brandon Phillips. That would give us some extra speed to mix in the lineup around all of these slow power guys.

That and we need to find a speedy CF. Preferably a leadoff guy. Ben Revere would be a great fit.

Hope he picks Clemson.

@AsadZ nobody has better chemistry with Salvy than Cain.

@BShark BUT KENPOM STILL SAYS WE ARE #7!!!!!!!!

HOW DARE YOU SAY WE SUCK WHEN THE COMPUTER MODELS STILL LOVE US AND THE BIG XII !!!!

Lol this team is not fun to watch. At all. It is like watching 4 Junior year Tyshawn's play together at once.

I think I would rather have Moose and Cain back instead of 1 Hosmer. Especially because it doesn't look like either of those two guys will fetch the $50M contract it will take to get a 1st round pick.

The question is, what is best for the future of the Franchise? And there are a lot of factors at play here. Honestly, Hosmer staying could actually be a longer term benefit simply because the Royals staying relevant through 2020 is EXTREMELY important. That is when they will be getting a new TV deal. And if KC keeps up the ratings it has been putting up, that TV deal is going to be monstrous. That alone could make it worth signing Hosmer. However, if we sign him and still run our an 90+ loss team, and ratings fall, it could be a complete disaster for the Franchise that sets us back 4 or 5 more seasons than if we let him walk and had just a monster draft this season.

Best solution, Hosmer to the Royals with an opt out after 3 seasons. Get KC to 2020 and keep TV ratings up. Then give him a chance to Opt out if we suck or he can go fetch more money.

I still come back to the thought that a Moose and Cain for the same price as 1 Hosmer might be the better deal here. Really depends on how Cuthbert, Gordon and Cain's replacement plays. But I always felt that you could slide Moose to 1B and then DH when his mobility started to be an issue.

No matter what, I'm just happy Dayton and Glass have put us in a Win-Win position no matter how all of this shakes out.

@Blown He did. But Cliff also played all the way to the end of February. Just feel like they are two completely different scenarios.

We never heard Self say he was optimistic Cliff would be back. As soon as he was benched, everyone knew that was it for Cliff.

If twitter didn't exist nobody would even hear about he displeasure. This is not a big deal. I do feel the same way though. If Billy was not going to be able to play he wouldn't still be here.

@mayjay just at the worst points in the game too. We’d be down 6 and one score away from the Fieldhouse going crazy and then we would hand them the ball and let them get a layup to push it back to 8. Happened 3 or 4 times just like that.

@mayjay I’d be more than happy with a hire like that. His first couple of classes would be solid and that would buy him time to lay some pipelines in other areas.

Just as long as everyone agrees to give the expirement 4 full seasons.

Bright side was we saw some guys attack the basket and see some success. I think that was huge.

26 points off of turnovers was the dagger, imo. If we limit turnovers to 10, that cuts that number in half and probably gives us another 6-8 points. That’s a 19 point swing.

Sure the D was bad. Sure we were streaky. Sure we rebound poorly. Those are all the same thing we have been dealing with all season. But turning the ball over as many times as we did, and the way we turned them over, was what was knew. And that is why we lost that game.

@JayHawkFanToo yep. Any football hire needs to be given 4 Years a a school like KU.

Patience is the only answer.

Self told the team before the game to shoot at least 35 3s. Said he was going to tell them 40, but didn't want to get in their heads. I think the comfidenc from coach that no 3 is a bad 3 has really taken the lid off the bucket. Guys catch it and go up with no hesitation and I love it.

@BShark Weber taking his team to the Finals and then claiming he deserves 100% of the credit for it pissed Self off for sure. I know it would piss me off.

Computer rankings are so flawed. Halfway into a season so it could still change a ton. and it doesn't take into account injuries, off nights or how schedules are built. Just the opponent. The big 12 being the "best" conference 5 years in a row buy 0 Championships is proof that these rankings are flawed.

@dylans Alex is only 33, will be 34. His game isn't a great arm so he can play another 6 years I'm sure.

I personally would franchise tag him and then trade him. That would be the move that benefits the Franchise long-term the most. He would fetch at least a 2nd round pick with how poor this draft class is. Perhaps even a 1st rounder from a desperate team like the Broncos or Jets. I'd even take the Browns #33 overall.

We just can't afford to pay Alex $25M a season when our team is so flawed elsewhere. We have too many aging players and we have a couple of guys we will want to keep who will demand some large contracts. Mahomes in year 2 was always the plan. In the words of our beloved JoJo, trust the process

@HighEliteMajor Or maybe that says something about Diallo...

Diallo also was on a team with Perry, Landen, Jamari, Mickelson and Bragg so depth wasn't near the issue it is currently.

Or, maybe. Just maybe. Bill might be conceding the Big XII in an effort for March. I doubt that. But, Bill needs another Championship and he might think that this team has what it takes outside of post play. So, he might be willing to lose 3 or 4 early in Conference play if he believes it means we can really hit our stride come the time the Tournament starts.

There are a lot of differences between the Diallo and De Sousa situation. And a lot more reasons to play De Sousa now. I'm hoping he was prepped well at IMG. He looks physically able to play the game at the P5 level. If that is true, it will just take a month before he can really be a contributor. Especially because I'm sure Bill has a plan in place to bring him along quicker than the average freshman.

De Sousa alone doesn't really raise this teams ceiling all that much, IMO. But, De Sousa makes the Billy decision that much bigger because he allows us to play big. The Billy and De Sousa combo is huge.

@mayjay well now that you looked at that, read up on the AD, Kentucky and World Wide Wes connection...