LJ in Transfer Portal?

[quote="otis" post=388232][quote="PharmDJohnnie11" post=388223]
........I'm not thrilled with CMA and staff on this one. If he wasn't sure if LJ would be back he should have gone harder on Perez, and should have signed Salnave if LJ refused to commit for next season..........

Now he's caught with his pants down. Even though I don't think losing LJ will hurt the team much, we still lost out on at least two other good pieces because LJ and his snake advisor, Alex Arias, basically screwed us as CMA stood idly by. ......[/quote]
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You don’t know what conversations occurred between LJ and CMA

By all accounts CMA is a hands on coach who is in daily contact with his players.

In my mind it is just as likely that LJ double crossed CMA as it is that CMA naively failed to ask LJ if he would return to StJ’s.[/quote]

You know it IS ok to make a negative comment about CMA and the staff. It's not sacreligious. It doesn't mean anyone isn't firmly in their corner.

From what I'm gathering there is a bit of both at fault here and that's the nature of the beast. No staff is going to bat 1000% especially when dealing with college kids who have handlers etc.
 
Jack, you can be realistic. It's ok...really. There's being optimistic and just being ridiculous. Implying losing LJ our leading scorer and one of the only guys who can hope to make a 3 or a big play consistently is not a big loss is ridiculous. Some people want to act happy about our chances no matter what it seems. The 1927 Yankees lose Babe Ruth...no biggie! Obviously LJ is nowhere near that comparison but my point is that sometimes it's ok to admit things are bad when they are. You can't just always repress things and pretend they don't matter because they are unfortunate. Venting is natural in humans. No reason to cover your ears and yell I can't hear you lalalala. This just immediately took us out of any tourney consideration for yet another season. Excuse me if that annoys me.

LJ was no superstar, but he was a very important piece. He had a knack for heady plays in key moments. He may have regressed a bit this past season since he was not as efficient, but he was still our best all around player. Capable defender, can at worst keep you honest from 3 and at best be red hot from 3 at least a handful of games. So yes he probably now makes next year at best a repeat of this previous year instead of a season with real NCAA hope. That doesn't even annoy you a little as a big SJ fan? As Joe Biden would say....come on man. It's also the way LJ left clearly tampered with by other programs and on top of all that we lost out on 2 guys we could've had as replacements because he waited. We will see how CMA fares and he's still doing well in my book, but I hope this isn't just going to be more of the same 1 step forward 2 steps back we're all way too used to.
 
If the announcement yesterday was that LJ got signed by some team in Uzbekistan, the board would still be upset in losing him but would not nearly be as annoyed. He would have been wished well by some, and others would have said stupid move, should have stayed a year for a better season and make some more $ the following.

Reality is there was a chance he was leaving for some reason, staff was aware of this chance and it ended up happening. In either situation, staff could not sign someone during this time.

Different circumstances, same outcome.
 
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[quote="Room112" post=388234][quote="MCNPA" post=388212][quote="fordham96" post=388209]Andy is usually tapped in:

https://twitter.com/Andrew__Slater/status/1265322858357706754[/quote]

This peeves me even more as he’s apparently been shopping himself around. Shameful.[/quote]

I had that thought this morning after reading through this thread, and because of the timing of this. Seems likely teams got in his ear, so he's already aware of potential destinations he could "upgrade" to. Just shady all around.[/quote]

Shady, as are most recruitments these days. LJ’s advisor gave a bad vibe last year when LJ was in the portal and did the same thing this year.
 
You know it IS ok to make a negative comment about CMA and the staff. It's not sacreligious. It doesn't mean anyone isn't firmly in their corner.

From what I'm gathering there is a bit of both at fault here and that's the nature of the beast. No staff is going to bat 1000% especially when dealing with college kids who have handlers etc.[/quote]

Exactly. I’m sure the staff thought there was a good chance LJ was returning because of his potential options - not getting drafted, benefiting from playing another year in college v. G-league or Overseas options in the midst of a pandemic, and not transferring after electing to stay last year and with the prospect of having to sit out because of the uncertainty of a waiver. He ended the season on a relative high-note and with what’s coming in the door probably figured they could sell him on why it makes sense to return. A reasonable gamble when you consider that context and that most anyone your bring in to fill the slot won’t be better than LJ next year. Obviously it didn’t work which stinks. Now time to move forward.
 
This is way different from Owens situation.

Tariq left for better coaching and a more structured system. This LJ situation looks a bit shady and if I were Anderson I would move on. There is no I in TEAM. We need to continue developing a culture based on all-in players. That is how you develop a rock solid foundation in time. The CMA staff's move away from sit out transfers, who in most cases are other peoples problems, was the first big step.

I have never seen McGriff play one second of college ball, but I already loved that he stayed the course despite them signing Alexander. Have to think he believes in his ability and will force his way into a deep rotation, which is soooo refreshing.

And the fact that one of my all-time favorites Marcus Hatten went to bat for McGriff is an extra plus in my mind.

.
 
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Does this mean that we have a scholarship we could give to a raw but developing new to hoops (>6'9", 230 lb.) athlete from somewhere in the world who with two years of practice under CMA and a little bit of PT could be the difference between forty minutes of hell and forty minutes of purgatory in the 2022-2023 season?
 
It's all very simple: LJ has decided to make money playing somewhere next season. That's clear. Whether it's the NBA, G league, or playing abroad, that is his latest decision. The decision to enter the transfer portal is to simply have one more option to advance his career goals.

If the right paying situation doesn't develop, he can transfer to what he feels is a higher profile program or one that will better advance his career objectives. He decided that this program is not the place, for whatever reason. This doesn't mean the coach didn't care about him, or the coach doesn't care about his players. It just means LJ thought it was time to move on.

His timing was abysmal and fans have a right to be upset about that, but nothing more. To discredit his talents as he leaves, is simply not classy.
 
I will ask one question, If MA signed someone else to replace LJ and LJ then entered the portal saying he had no choice they took away my spot what would you all be saying right now. Trying to read the mind of a young adult is like trying to predict the covid death rate, you just never have enough information.
 
I'm so glad some are finally mentioning that it's okay to question CMA or any other staff member. These are all grown men who are millionaires. It's okay to suggest that CMA needs to recruit better or that maybe he wasn't proactive enough with the LJ decision. From what I see we all still solidly support the staff. Just some questions.
 
I thought LJ was going to be awesome last year - capable of an all BE season.

He wasn't.

Losing a third-year player It hurts continuity. Losing him this late hurts recruiting.

But I'm not crestfallen over this.

I think we'll be quite fine without him.

To be honest, I've been thinking a lot more about a backcourt of Dunn and Williams and how they could carry us rather than LJ.
 
If Vince Cole can come close to 14ppg and 37% shooting from 3 yes it's all much ado about nothing.
 
Losing LJ hurts. Timing was unfortunate; without knowing details, I'll leave it at that. However, I do not see the loss as fatal to our prospects for 20-21. Still believe we can finish in middle of BE pack and dance if things fall right (i.e. returnees like Champ, Earlington, Williams & Roberts continue their improvement and new guys of which there are many are ready to contribute). Obviously Cole will be key offensively but I expect good things out of Anderson, Toro and other newbies as well. We are still going to be deep as hell if everyone is healthy. As someone else posted, just having a season to watch would be a big win...
 
[quote="billthetruth" post=388264]This is way different from Owens situation.

Tariq left for better coaching and a more structured system. This LJ situation looks a bit shady and if I were Anderson I would move on. There is no I in TEAM. We need to continue developing a culture based on all-in players. That is how you develop a rock solid foundation in time. The CMA staff's move away from sit out transfers, who in most cases are other peoples problems, was the first big step.

I have never seen McGriff play one second of college ball, but I already loved that he stayed the course despite them signing Alexander. Have to think he believes in his ability and will force his way into a deep rotation, which is soooo refreshing.

And the fact that one of my all-time favorites Marcus Hatten went to bat for McGriff is an extra plus in my mind.

.[/quote]

Yup. Cant wait to see the crime dog this year. Along with the improvements of Duke, Champy, greg williams. Along with the new blood from posh, cole, moore etc.

There is so much to be excited about for this upcoming season. Good riddance LJ! You will not be missed.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=388244]Jack, you can be realistic. It's ok...really. There's being optimistic and just being ridiculous. Implying losing LJ our leading scorer and one of the only guys who can hope to make a 3 or a big play consistently is not a big loss is ridiculous. Some people want to act happy about our chances no matter what it seems. The 1927 Yankees lose Babe Ruth...no biggie! Obviously LJ is nowhere near that comparison but my point is that sometimes it's ok to admit things are bad when they are. You can't just always repress things and pretend they don't matter because they are unfortunate. Venting is natural in humans. No reason to cover your ears and yell I can't hear you lalalala. This just immediately took us out of any tourney consideration for yet another season. Excuse me if that annoys me.

LJ was no superstar, but he was a very important piece. He had a knack for heady plays in key moments. He may have regressed a bit this past season since he was not as efficient, but he was still our best all around player. Capable defender, can at worst keep you honest from 3 and at best be red hot from 3 at least a handful of games. So yes he probably now makes next year at best a repeat of this previous year instead of a season with real NCAA hope. That doesn't even annoy you a little as a big SJ fan? As Joe Biden would say....come on man. It's also the way LJ left clearly tampered with by other programs and on top of all that we lost out on 2 guys we could've had as replacements because he waited. We will see how CMA fares and he's still doing well in my book, but I hope this isn't just going to be more of the same 1 step forward 2 steps back we're all way too used to.[/quote]

Once again Zaun’s perspective is the realistic one and the opposing one isn’t. Glad we cleared that up.

My point is this, Zaun, neither of us know exactly what the impact will be on the team yet. You’ve already decided what’s gonna happen, I was just showing you not everyone thought as highly of LJ as you did.

In my opinion, with LJ we were a fringe NCAA team. Without him, we are still a fringe NCAA team.

Your guess and my guess is as good as any. So stop the Nostradamus act where you have it all figured out. You don’t have a DeLorean or a sports almanac you’re just emotional and I get it

We have no idea which players take a step forward or back next year. We have no idea what exactly we are going to get from our freshman either. We don’t know what McGriff brings.

There’s so many variables here with our team, that I think throwing our arms up and giving up because we lost a guy who did some good things and also had some glaring flaws, to me it’s not realistic at all, it’s just prematurely looking at the glass as half empty.

“This just immediately took us out of any tourney consideration for yet another season. Excuse me if that annoys me.”

And the beat goes on and on and on! Let’s go sju !! Prove the doubters wrong!
 
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[quote="MainMan" post=388272]

To be honest, I've been thinking a lot more about a backcourt of Dunn and Williams and how they could carry us rather than LJ.[/quote]

This.

We all saw a healthy Greg at the end of the year last year. I saw a guy with potential to have a breakout junior season. He has all the tools. He was even becoming a more confident shooter as we got to march.

Also Earlington. Impressed me a lot down the stretch. Has a soft touch on his jumper.

I really like our core group of guys right now. And I’m a lot higher on Posh than much of the board I think. I can’t wait for the season, if there is one. LJ isn’t changing that
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=388285][quote="MainMan" post=388272]

To be honest, I've been thinking a lot more about a backcourt of Dunn and Williams and how they could carry us rather than LJ.[/quote]

This.

We all saw a healthy Greg at the end of the year last year. I saw a guy with potential to have a breakout junior season. He has all the tools. He was even becoming a more confident shooter as we got to march.

Also Earlington. Impressed me a lot down the stretch. Has a soft touch on his jumper.

I really like our core group of guys right now. And I’m a lot higher on Posh than much of the board I think. I can’t wait for the season, if there is one. LJ isn’t changing that[/quote]

I see a backcourt of posh/Cole carrying us. Competition everywhere for playing time this summer. Who is going to earn it?
 
I know when a player decides to leave, we all try to rationalize in our heads why we are better with them, and highlight the negatives about that player. I will just say this, last year LJ took some of the worst shots that I've ever seen from any St. John's player in my 20 years following the team. And it wasn't just a few.
 
Found it interesting / positive the response from Julian/Moore/Cole in wake of LJs departure. Supporting him and positive attitude moving forward.

just in time for workouts starting Jun1 (college bball and football have issued approval to start then)
 
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