Why I think Paul Left

[NiTeKnight]

Just a guess, but I think Paul left because he thinks of himself as a point guard and didn't think he would have that role on next year's team.
As he said in his tweet, "New Jersey's Point Guard".

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Just a guess, but I think Paul left because he thinks of himself as a point guard and didn't think he would have that role on next year's team.
As he said in his tweet, "New Jersey's Point Guard".

I truly believe this is the case…

Let’s kinda talk about postionlesa basketball …under the pretense of having the minutes of the 4 ans 5 as one group and the 1,2, and 3 as the other group…even though there is some overlap between the 3 ans 4

Let’s take our the 80 minutes at the 4 ans 5 spot minutes for cliff , wolf, aundre and mag.

Let’s also assume that mag and Hyatt don’t play any minutes at the three spot …which I doubt

So, before Cam transfer , there is 120 minutes max at the 1,2,3 spots for
Paul
Cam
Noah
Derek
Gavin
JaMichael

I really felt part of the reason cam left is with those 6…there was only a 24 minute spot for him …and he either wanted more minutes , or more NIL elsewhwee with the same minutes

So he leaves

Even with the five
If you carve out 80 minutes for Gavin , Noah, Derek, …it leaves 27 for Paul and 13 for jamichawl

So Paul has reduced playing time ….and he may not like that

But … the question is , of the 40 minutes oer game on who is the point guard, who gets them …

We didn’t bring Noah in to be a shooting guard

And Derek outplayed Paul in the last couple of weeks at the point guard and when given the opportunity

Paul was like going to have to play a hybrid roll and not be the point guard for his entire playing roll.

Fact that Noah was recruited here quickly gives insight on what pike was thinking from a basketball perspective

And that’s not , at the end , what I think paul wanted to be.

More I think about it…more I think this is a good move for both oaeties

And I think pike knew it was likely coming

 

[new jersey1]

Just a guess, but I think Paul left because he thinks of himself as a point guard and didn't think he would have that role on next year's team.
As he said in his tweet, "New Jersey's Point Guard".

Agree. I believe this was the primary factor in his decision. Once we brought in Noah, he saw the writing on the wall and realized the team was moving in a different direction and he was no longer valued as the team’s point guard. His reference to being “New Jersey’s Point Guard” is very telling as that ended with the arrival of Noah.

 

[socaldave]

Agreed as a fifth year guard he knew he was likely to have a diminished roll, that’s a lot to take in and a blow to the ego, he could not bear an off-season of living with this thought

 

[Scarlet Blind]

That is the conundrum of Paul. Paul has the mind set for a PG but the body and movements of a Wing player, at best he could be a point forward but not a 30,35 minute PG only. It puts the team in a bad spot to put two other guards on the floor defensively, which the last 4 years we haven't been able to recruit here, just so Paul can play PG full time offensively, and a rotation of Cam, Derek and Jalen Miller would have cut out tons of minutes from Caleb and Mag just so Paul could play PG. Imagine Jalen and Paul on the floor for multiple minutes offensively, it would be 3 on 5. Defensively, Paul has the physicality to guard a Wing or a 4 and help on a 5, Paul has never been able to defend 1s and maybe some 2s at times. His next team will find that out.

 

[jordkap]

Agreed as a fifth year guard he knew he was likely to have a diminished roll, that’s a lot to take in and a blow to the ego, he could not bear an off-season of living with this thought

So basically he didn’t want to be Brian Leonard

 

[Scarlet Shack]

So basically he didn’t want to be Brian Leonard

Interesting analogy…but not quite

Brian was already known to be a high nfl possibility even coming back for year 5

Paul isn’t in the same boar

 

[jordkap]

Interesting analogy…but not quite

Brian was already known to be a high nfl possibility even coming back for year 5

Paul isn’t in the same boar

Paul can easily have a long pro career, just not in the NBA. If the NBA had roster sizes of 55+ you’d probably see Paul in the same exact boat.

 

[Yeah Baby]

All I know is he loves Pike and Pike was loyal to him. This could be a mutual parting but let’s see who we up first.

 

[Salvi's Headband]

I think he left in part because he wants a more stress free season. UConn is perfect for that. Defending champs, he's a one year mercenary, not responsible for shouldering a "renaissance" and being one of the faces of the program etc.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

He left because his minutes would be reduced.

 

[Rufaninga]

Then why look at UK?

 

[RU MAN]

I truly believe this is the case…

Let’s kinda talk about postionlesa basketball …under the pretense of having the minutes of the 4 ans 5 as one group and the 1,2, and 3 as the other group…even though there is some overlap between the 3 ans 4

Let’s take our the 80 minutes at the 4 ans 5 spot minutes for cliff , wolf, aundre and mag.

Let’s also assume that mag and Hyatt don’t play any minutes at the three spot …which I doubt

So, before Cam transfer , there is 120 minutes max at the 1,2,3 spots for
Paul
Cam
Noah
Derek
Gavin
JaMichael

I really felt part of the reason cam left is with those 6…there was only a 24 minute spot for him …and he either wanted more minutes , or more NIL elsewhwee with the same minutes

So he leaves

Even with the five
If you carve out 80 minutes for Gavin , Noah, Derek, …it leaves 27 for Paul and 13 for jamichawl

So Paul has reduced playing time ….and he may not like that

But … the question is , of the 40 minutes oer game on who is the point guard, who gets them …

We didn’t bring Noah in to be a shooting guard

And Derek outplayed Paul in the last couple of weeks at the point guard and when given the opportunity

Paul was like going to have to play a hybrid roll and not be the point guard for his entire playing roll.

Fact that Noah was recruited here quickly gives insight on what pike was thinking from a basketball perspective

And that’s not , at the end , what I think paul wanted to be.

More I think about it…more I think this is a good move for both oaeties

And I think pike knew it was likely coming

Agree Shack. Very insightful post.

 

[Rokodesh]

Then why look at UK?

UK has like 7 scholarship players. They desperately need depth

 

[Rufaninga]

UK has like 7 scholarship players. They desperately need depth

I would be surprised if those 7 players weren't 4*-5* kids that would be competing for playing minutes too. I'm assuming the roster will be filled before the season with talented kids.

 

[Nycrusupporter]

I would be surprised if those 7 players weren't 4*-5* kids that would be competing for playing minutes too. I'm assuming the roster will be filled before the season with talented kids.

They are. Mostly 5 stars.

 

[Scangg]

I tend to agree. Paul sees himself as a PG

 

[NJDOVES]

He left because he saw what $pencer got.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

If I want to be a starting pitcher and the manager says we see you as a member of the bullpen it is time to find a new team.

 

[S_Janowski]

For a kid who loves Rutgers and gave NIL $ away this is the likely explanation.

His position/role was going to be different and his minutes potentially reduced…that probably didn’t sit well with him.

Despite what some on here keep saying he has the skillset to play off the ball would have still played a big role next year at the 3/4 and safety option for the PG. We are razor thin and have no depth right now. I’m skeptical that who we bring in to replace him will be an upgrade for next season - we’ll see.

 

[ru66]

Geez ,listen to the latest tkr podcast -- its consisent with what politi reported as to his reasons-- more to do with his wanting to get to nba and fact at ru he wouldn't be in a starters role at the position he aspires to

 

[RUInsanity]

If I want to be a starting pitcher and the manager says we see you as a member of the bullpen it is time to find a new team.

Will be interesting to see if he ends up being in the bullpen on his new team anyway.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Will be interesting to see if he ends up being in the bullpen on his new team anyway.

No doubt it’s a risk

 

[Shelby65]

He left because his minutes would be reduced.

Right….is why I said often Pike was straight with him and encouraged him to leave out of favoritism and loyalty, same as Myles Johnson.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

For a kid who loves Rutgers and gave NIL $ away this is the likely explanation.

His position/role was going to be different and his minutes potentially reduced…that probably didn’t sit well with him.

Despite what some on here keep saying he has the skillset to play off the ball would have still played a big role next year at the 3/4 and safety option for the PG. We are razor thin and have no depth right now. I’m skeptical that who we bring in to replace him will be an upgrade for next season - we’ll see.

Write down (in your head) what you are looking for in a 3/4. Match that up with Paul's strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

I am wondering out loud....if Paul said immediately after the season he was coming back would Noah Fernandes be here?

 

[DC8690]

Right….is why I said often Pike was straight with him and encouraged him to leave out of favoritism and loyalty, same as Myles Johnson.

So 1st Pike gave him "undeserved minutes bc of favortism" (your words) now he told him to transfer bc of favortism, after he recruited a PG over him. This makes sense. LOL

 

[Scangg]

Right….is why I said often Pike was straight with him and encouraged him to leave out of favoritism and loyalty, same as Myles Johnson.

This makes zero sense, but if Pike actually encouraged Paul to leave, he would have been gone wayyyyy before June

Use some common sense

 

[Shelby65]

So 1st Pike gave him "undeserved minutes bc of favortism" (your words) now he told him to transfer bc of favortism, after he recruited a PG over him. This makes sense. LOL

Encouraged him to explore other options, yes, due to likely less PT. Of course they had these discussions. Is not hard.

I did not say he told him to transfer.

 

[DC8690]

Geez ,listen to the latest tkr podcast -- its consisent with what politi reported as to his reasons-- more to do with his wanting to get to nba and fact at ru he wouldn't be in a starters role at the position he aspires to

So after having a whole podcast bashing him because they had a source say he was leaving because the fans were mean to him, now its because he wants to get to the NBA as a PG, and his minutes were going to be reduced. Just goes to show you, no one knows anything until it is announced publicly.

 

[DC8690]

Encouraged him to explore other options, yes, due to likely less PT. Of course they had these discussions. Is not hard.

I did not say he told him to transfer.

Pike was straight with him and encouraged him to leave out of favoritism and loyalty

Sorry I must have read this wrong.

 

[Shelby65]

This makes zero sense, but if Pike actually encouraged Paul to leave, he would have been gone wayyyyy before June

Use some common sense

Because Paul couldn’t make up his mind then, and there wasn’t much money out there for him to make his decision easier.

 

[Shelby65]

Sorry I must have read this wrong.

Ok, yes … I did not mean encouraged him to leave. Meant encouraged him to look around.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Mulcahy in the NBA as a PG is absurd.

 

[Scangg]

Because Paul couldn’t make up his mind then, and there wasn’t much money out there for him to make his decision easier.

If Paul was considering leaving already and then Pike encouraged him to leave, he would have been long gone

 

[Scarlet Blind]

21-23 Paul 5.1 ast/2.3 TOs, 3.9Reb, 8.7pts
20-23 Noah(UMass) 4.8 ast/2.3 TOs, 2.5Reb, 13.6pts

21-23 Paul, 62Gm, 32.3Min, FG 3.3-7.7 42.7%, 3pt 46-129 35.7% 0.74-(2.1 att.)
20-23 Noah, 52Gm, 32.0Min, FG 4.5-10.3 44.2%, 3pt 88-228 38.6% 1.7-(4.4 att)

Paul has great vision and passing ability but lacks that natural ability to know when to shoot, when to score for himself as a lead or PG full time. Corey Sanders knew, Geo knew, JY knew. Noah would be the more effective lead or PG even if Paul had stayed, just for being more of a 3pt threat and scorer alone. Ast. to TOs ratio is pretty even. 5 pts more a game is alot. Paul has only shown scorer mentality a few times in his career, NW 21-22 and Mich St 22-23 being the most obvious ones, which prevents you from becoming a more effective PG

 

[ImBadRU]

Wanted him to stay but his inability to guard was sooo problematic. We r moving to faster ball on o and d.

 

[mugrat86]

I truly believe this is the case…

Let’s kinda talk about postionlesa basketball …under the pretense of having the minutes of the 4 ans 5 as one group and the 1,2, and 3 as the other group…even though there is some overlap between the 3 ans 4

Let’s take our the 80 minutes at the 4 ans 5 spot minutes for cliff , wolf, aundre and mag.

Let’s also assume that mag and Hyatt don’t play any minutes at the three spot …which I doubt

So, before Cam transfer , there is 120 minutes max at the 1,2,3 spots for
Paul
Cam
Noah
Derek
Gavin
JaMichael

I really felt part of the reason cam left is with those 6…there was only a 24 minute spot for him …and he either wanted more minutes , or more NIL elsewhwee with the same minutes

So he leaves

Even with the five
If you carve out 80 minutes for Gavin , Noah, Derek, …it leaves 27 for Paul and 13 for jamichawl

So Paul has reduced playing time ….and he may not like that

But … the question is , of the 40 minutes oer game on who is the point guard, who gets them …

We didn’t bring Noah in to be a shooting guard

And Derek outplayed Paul in the last couple of weeks at the point guard and when given the opportunity

Paul was like going to have to play a hybrid roll and not be the point guard for his entire playing roll.

Fact that Noah was recruited here quickly gives insight on what pike was thinking from a basketball perspective

And that’s not , at the end , what I think paul wanted to be.

More I think about it…more I think this is a good move for both oaeties

And I think pike knew it was likely coming

Agree with you. Another thing that comes to mind is apparently Pike’s son plays at Gil St Bernard and not really getting minutes. Not sure if that created a rift between Pike and Mergin Sina. Paul is apparently very close with Mergin. Just thinking outside the box as I know nothing

 

[RUBlackout7]

Mulcahy in the NBA as a PG is absurd.

Mulcahy as a PG in B1G is absurd

 

[SleepingGiantIsAwake]

Geez ,listen to the latest tkr podcast -- its consisent with what politi reported as to his reasons-- more to do with his wanting to get to nba and fact at ru he wouldn't be in a starters role at the position he aspires to

I love Paul, thank him for coming to RU, and wish him all the best.

But any notion that he can sniff the NBA is ridiculous. He would get eaten alive on both defense and offense. C’mon!