Donnie Freeman injures foot

[Dmcnabbrules]

This is insane. Freeman’s upside is a three level scoring small forward that happens to be 6’10 and pulls down 10 rebounds a game.

His defense might be solved by good coaching, but even in his 14 games here, his defensive instincts got better. He has potential as a shotblocker as well although no natural instincts for it.

If he reaches his potential, he’s the difference between being a bubble team and a 4 seed in the Tournament. Or a 4 seed and a 1 seed…

That’s part of what you’re paying for. Even if you ignore his potential, and assume Freeman never gets better, what is a 14 and 8 guy who can hit a three worth in the market?

Of course I want Freeman back. But let’s say Syracuse has a budget of 10 million. There has to be a point where Syracuse can’t afford to match what a Big10 or SEC school play. We are the St Louis Cardinals now. We have money but not the most. If Freeman gets 2.5 million from team X can Syracuse really use 25% of their funds for a power forward who is not a three level scorer yet. Again how valuable were Hawkins or Townsend really. If we were the Mets or Alabama of course you pay Freemans he is already here and very talented. If you have limited funds I would rather spend them on a point guard and two way wings.

 

[PhatOrange]

Yup. Practically every P5 school in the country would love to have Freeman. They'll be salivating if he goes into the portal.

I mean, can you imagine the raucous celebration here if we acquired a sophomore who was a 13/8 player as a frosh, and was a 5 star recruit outta HS?!?! We'd be calling-a-doctor-after-4-hours excited.

If we don't retain him it is a bright, flashing warning sign that this staff is incapable.

There's going to be a raucous celebration if we get a 13/8 kid from Wagner.

 

[Scooch]

There's going to be a raucous celebration if we get a 13/8 kid from Wagner.

"Guys, the staff thinks he's gonna be the next Hakim Warrick!"

 

[Cusefan0307]

Of course I want Freeman back. But let’s say Syracuse has a budget of 10 million. There has to be a point where Syracuse can’t afford to match what a Big10 or SEC school play. We are the St Louis Cardinals now. We have money but not the most. If Freeman gets 2.5 million from team X can Syracuse really use 25% of their funds for a power forward who is not a three level scorer yet. Again how valuable were Hawkins or Townsend really. If we were the Mets or Alabama of course you pay Freemans he is already here and very talented. If you have limited funds I would rather spend them on a point guard and two way wings.

Hawkins never put up Freeman’s numbers at any point in his career. Townsend played at Oakland. It’s not a comparison. I want a point guard too, but we legitimately need 2-3 studs to dig ourselves out of this mess and he’s the easiest one to get.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I get what you’re saying, but he basically missed the entire conference season. There was a reasonable chance he ended up being our best player had he not been injured.

More than reasonable. I can say with 100% certainty he would have been.

 

[PauliePeppas]

He will be a stud next year wherever hes at, more refined/healthy and 15 lbs of muscle. Only player I will be pissed if he leaves

 

[Cusefan0307]

Yup, compared Donnie Freeman to Benny Williams I have seen it all now. Well done everyone, well done.

Benny Williams was held in higher regard on this board than Donnie. It was always everyone else’s fault, but him that he didn’t produce.

 

[NineOneSeven]

We need DF back. He’s the most important returnee by far. Times are crazy and I have no idea all the ins and outs these days (wild west) but he’s got to be priority #1.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We need DF back. He’s the most important returnee by far. Times are crazy and I have no idea all the ins and outs these days (wild west) but he’s got to be priority #1.

If he’s at another school get ready for the Maliq Brown treatment that he’s not very good anyway.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Well the key is to keep him from entering the portal to begin with, right?

The best-run pro sports franchises don't let their young stars go to free agency. They sign them to extensions long before the hit they market.

Of course, I'm not sure SU realizes they sponsor a pro sports team now. So we may botch it.

1,000% this. The second part of Recruiting is RETENTION.

 

[Fly Rodder]

They'll be salivating if he goes into the portal.

As Hurley stated outright: 50% of the guys on the team already know where they are going and for how much.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

Hawkins never put up Freeman’s numbers at any point in his career. Townsend played at Oakland. It’s not a comparison. I want a point guard too, but we legitimately need 2-3 studs to dig ourselves out of this mess and he’s the easiest one to get.

And look how much money they got. If we can get Donnie back for under 2 million then absolutely get him back. He would be a great building block. With every school getting to use revenue sharing SU gains no advantage financially. We will see what happens.

 

[NineOneSeven]

His per40 #s were 21/12 on .50/.33/.79. Yes his defense has to get better but the entire team was largely lost there and he had a coach that didn’t seem to understand what he was doing too much of the time.

And a freshman.

Not to mention in that period he played his 3pt shooting was higher than our shooting guard’s.

0 doubt he was going to be the best player on the team at the end by a pretty good margin.

 

[phil77]

The only bad thing with DF is I don't think his decision will be made soon. If he leaves, it will be for a big boy team in the SEC, B10 or Duke and he won't know what spots are open on those teams until those teams are eliminated from the tournament and people start declaring for the draft.

Or places like Alabama, which has to replace Nelson and was Freeman's second choice as a Freshman, and they pretty much have an unlimited checkbook.

 

[NineOneSeven]

The only bad thing with DF is I don't think his decision will be made soon. If he leaves, it will be for a big boy team in the SEC, B10 or Duke and he won't know what spots are open on those teams until those teams are eliminated from the tournament and people start declaring for the draft.

Or places like Alabama, which has to replace Nelson and was Freeman's second choice as a Freshman, and they pretty much have an unlimited checkbook.

Yeah if Alabama is in play, have a hard time seeing how he doesn’t go there. And I would understand.

 

[Scooch]

As Hurley stated outright: 50% of the guys on the team already know where they are going and for how much.

Personally, I thought Hurley was exaggerating for effect. But yeah, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Freeman's agent has been talking to other schools for the past 2 months.

Hopefully Kline has been talking to his agent as well.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The only bad thing with DF is I don't think his decision will be made soon. If he leaves, it will be for a big boy team in the SEC, B10 or Duke and he won't know what spots are open on those teams until those teams are eliminated from the tournament and people start declaring for the draft.

Or places like Alabama, which has to replace Nelson and was Freeman's second choice as a Freshman, and they pretty much have an unlimited checkbook.

Hodgson being gone helps. Duke has 2 pf’s in the top 15 coming in. They’ll likely go after role players again.

 

[phil77]

Yeah if Alabama is in play, have a hard time seeing how he doesn’t go there. And I would understand.

Some of these top SEC are really senior-heavy, so the $EC money could be crazy this off-season. I think Auburn is also crazy top heavy. Same with like Tennesse I think. So if these SEC teams really have unlimited money and entire starting lineups to fill the transfer portal, it will be a blood bath,.

 

[Cusefan0307]

And look how much money they got. If we can get Donnie back for under 2 million then absolutely get him back. He would be a great building block. With every school getting to use revenue sharing SU gains no advantage financially. We will see what happens.

Hawkins didn’t seem to enjoy that bag too much yesterday. I’m accounting for rev share and increased NIL. I guess we will see in the next 60 days.

 

[phil77]

Hodgson being gone helps. Duke has 2 pf’s in the top 15 coming in. They’ll likely go after role players again.

I only mentioned Duke because wasn't it a Duke guy on twitter that sparked this conversation back up?

 

[grepal]

Kim

As Annie said, “There will be sun tomorrow…”

Wait, you can't be in Syracuse, there is never sunshine in Syracuse.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I only mentioned Duke because wasn't it a Duke guy on twitter that sparked this conversation back up?

He did. I don’t think it makes sense for him to go there. An SEC school sure.

That said we have only done this to ourselves by not treating our better players well recently. Brown and Girard specifically. The Jesse situation is entirely different, but has contributed to this as well.

 

[cusefan88]

As I mentioned before Maryland would make sense. Losing Reese and Derik Queen. Hopefully Donnie stays at Cuse he could be a monster and 1st Team All-ACC.

 

[phil77]

As I mentioned before Maryland would make sense. Losing Reese and Derik Queen. Hopefully Donnie stays at Cuse he could be a monster and 1st Team All-ACC.

Yup Maryland has FU money as well I imagine.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Some of these top SEC are really senior-heavy, so the $EC money could be crazy this off-season. I think Auburn is also crazy top heavy. Same with like Tennesse I think. So if these SEC teams really have unlimited money and entire starting lineups to fill the transfer portal, it will be a blood bath,.

Yeah seems very fair and great for the sport!