Is there politics internally affecting the team?

[Ducklett]

If I was a GM, I would probably (wrongly) put more draft stock in guys from Kentucky because they are more often than not good. Perhaps the front office likes the way Michigan recruits players because they go after high IQ players?

I find it interesting we don't have write-ups on the several NFL GMs that have said they target Bama and Georgia players and put extra stock in them over players from other schools who are higher up the their mocks statistically.

This forum has a history of people being higher on players because they played at FSU/UCF. Also a conspiracy!

[RookieStar]

Soooo... what do you call the Knicks?

Before the past 2 seasons they were all UK Wildcats. Knox, Randle , IQ, Nerlens Noel , Toppin, Reid,whoever scrubs there are for SL

Now they seem to go Villanova with Brunson , Hart, Donte with rumors of Bridges (lol)

[RookieStar]

Personally, If I graduate from ABC university and am a proud alumni of it and in the future establish a very successful and famous 123 company, I wouldn't hesitate to get my OJTs from ABC university.

However, if you said we drafted say Scoot because he is from Michigan over Wemby because he came from Duke, then yeah Ill join the pitchfork gang.. but preferring complaining preferring Houstan over who?? Wagner over who?? Jett over who??

Also, who cares who we put on our SL roster? Wasn't there a story a few years back of MIN having an owner? buddies? rap artist? playing in their SL squad?

[The Effect]

Sure Hammond has ties to the school, same with the family and thus maybe that effects their feelings towards certain players, much like how people here want to bring back Vuc and\or Fournier, why? because they are familar with them. Also seems like alot of this stuff happened with magic players that played under Howard (who has times to the magic), and weltmen even mentioned having known howard for so long that he remembers when howard wife was pregnant with Jett

Overall i think this is a HUGE reach by some people to try and hate on Jett
Franz was the right pick and from reports that have come out lately, he was going to go #9 if we didnt take him at 8, so absolutely no reach there. All the rest of the guys were scrubs\league min type FA or 2nd round picks

I mean the family has own the team for over 30 years, and before this, i dont remember too many michigan players, hell they owned the team when we had the 1st pick and could of had CHRIS WEBBER and traded him.

Now if we took Jett at 6, Bufkin at 11.......then you might of had an argument, but right now, no

[davey_wavy]

Sure Hammond has ties to the school, same with the family and thus maybe that effects their feelings towards certain players, much like how people here want to bring back Vuc and\or Fournier, why? because they are familar with them. Also seems like alot of this stuff happened with magic players that played under Howard (who has times to the magic), and weltmen even mentioned having known howard for so long that he remembers when howard wife was pregnant with Jett

Overall i think this is a HUGE reach by some people to try and hate on Jett
Franz was the right pick and from reports that have come out lately, he was going to go #9 if we didnt take him at 8, so absolutely no reach there. All the rest of the guys were scrubs\league min type FA or 2nd round picks

I mean the family has own the team for over 30 years, and before this, i dont remember too many michigan players, hell they owned the team when we had the 1st pick and could of had CHRIS WEBBER and traded him.

Now if we took Jett at 6, Bufkin at 11.......then you might of had an argument, but right now, no

Franz should have went #2

[JF5]

I mean given how Franz and Caleb have looked. I don't think Jett is much of a reach. That program has produced some solid players.

[KillMonger]

Don't really care to be honest, players have been at the very least solid

Sent from the phone in my hands

[FFBlitzace]

Players have always spoken highly of the Devos family. And they allowed a high payroll during our contending years. Given the choice of keeping them or going with an unknown entity, I keep them as owners ten times out of ten.

[RookieStar]

Sure Hammond has ties to the school, same with the family and thus maybe that effects their feelings towards certain players, much like how people here want to bring back Vuc and\or Fournier, why? because they are familar with them. Also seems like alot of this stuff happened with magic players that played under Howard (who has times to the magic), and weltmen even mentioned having known howard for so long that he remembers when howard wife was pregnant with Jett

Overall i think this is a HUGE reach by some people to try and hate on Jett
Franz was the right pick and from reports that have come out lately, he was going to go #9 if we didnt take him at 8, so absolutely no reach there. All the rest of the guys were scrubs\league min type FA or 2nd round picks

I mean the family has own the team for over 30 years, and before this, i dont remember too many michigan players, hell they owned the team when we had the 1st pick and could of had CHRIS WEBBER and traded him.

Now if we took Jett at 6, Bufkin at 11.......then you might of had an argument, but right now, no

Franz should have went #2

Theres an arguement right now that Franz should have been #1... well depends on how Mobley shapes up really.

We will see 2-3 years from now who should have been #1. Cade has been injured a lot, Green has shown no winning basketball, Barnes hasnt really improved a lot compared to.Mobley and Franz while Giddy might make a case as #3...

[The Effect]

Sure Hammond has ties to the school, same with the family and thus maybe that effects their feelings towards certain players, much like how people here want to bring back Vuc and\or Fournier, why? because they are familar with them. Also seems like alot of this stuff happened with magic players that played under Howard (who has times to the magic), and weltmen even mentioned having known howard for so long that he remembers when howard wife was pregnant with Jett

Overall i think this is a HUGE reach by some people to try and hate on Jett
Franz was the right pick and from reports that have come out lately, he was going to go #9 if we didnt take him at 8, so absolutely no reach there. All the rest of the guys were scrubs\league min type FA or 2nd round picks

I mean the family has own the team for over 30 years, and before this, i dont remember too many michigan players, hell they owned the team when we had the 1st pick and could of had CHRIS WEBBER and traded him.

Now if we took Jett at 6, Bufkin at 11.......then you might of had an argument, but right now, no

Franz should have went #2

In retrospect yes, maybe even #1, but on draft day he went 8 and it wasn't a reach for us cause he was going to go 9 if we didn't take him

[Blue_and_Whte]

It seemed purely coincidental until the Jett Howard pick. Now it seems weird.

The DeVos family has become more extreme and vocal in their activism over the years. It's no longer simply a matter of giving money to Republicans. In Michigan they have substantial financial ties to the Michigan Conservative Coalition and Michigan Freedom Fund, one of the hosts of "Operation Gridlock" in Michigan in the first month of the COVID lockdown. The DeVos family is also one of the largest donors to the Claremont Institute, a think tank that has been playing a big part in the effort to rewrite voting laws and reconfigure the election system based on the bogus claims that the 2020 election was "stolen". One of Claremont's legal team wrote memos outlining how Mike Pence could overturn the results of the 2020 election. According to one article, the DeVos family has given at least $640,000 to Claremont since 2020. They've given millions to the Michigan governor's race. According to one report, they've given more than $200 million over the years to key institutions of the "Christian Right", both in Michigan and nationally. (Incidentally, Blackwater founder Erik Prince is Betsy DeVos's brother -- go read up on that guy).

None of this means acquiring all these Michigan players is some sort of conspiracy, but it's fair to say the DeVos family is very much agenda driven. If it seems to defy logic that Jonathan Isaac was re-signed to a multi-year, $84 million contract extension while injured (and with a history of injuries), and has barely played since, and continues to collect checks even though his contract is no longer fully-guaranteed...welp. We don't ever see social media posts of him rehabbing or getting up shots, but we do see his posts about his Christian Conservative books and speaking engagements.

This could also be an impediment to the Magic signing free agents. Does it seem like we used to be able to sign free agents, and now we're persona non grata? Like not even considered? Not all athletes know or care about these things, but those who do -- Ex: LeBron James -- are vocal and let it be known. These groups the DeVos family bankrolls are some of the same groups that are most vocal against civil rights movements of various minority and marginalized groups.

In short, I wouldn't put it past the DeVos family to dictate draft choices based on their financial interests. Maybe that's why Mosley looked so pissed off in the draft room that night.

And? People are allowed to have differing ideologies and I’m glad they aren’t bullied, as well as JI, into submission.
I’m happy they’ve kept JI, and that they donate to causes I agree with. Not to mention some solid players have come out of UM and players have nothing but high praise about ownership. If people have THAT much of a problem with it they can leave.

[Black and Blue]

I think a more likely scenario is them being close to the Michigan coaching staff and being swayed into uncovering a hidden gem.

Think about it. They hear from the athletic department “you have to draft this Franz guy. He could be the steal of the draft”, and he becomes a franchise cornerstone. Are you going to stop listening to their recommendations after that or put even more stock in their suggestions?

This sort of campaigning happens every year with coaches of programs, but obviously some get more clout than others if they produced stars.

My point being: this isn’t rare and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Remember that it’s beneficial for Michigan to not lie or sugarcoat prospects so they profit long term from this relationship. For Jett to be picked that high, they must have had pretty incredible things to say about him, and if they sent us Franz I think I’d listen too.

[fendilim]

Personally, If I graduate from ABC university and am a proud alumni of it and in the future establish a very successful and famous 123 company, I wouldn't hesitate to get my OJTs from ABC university.

However, if you said we drafted say Scoot because he is from Michigan over Wemby because he came from Duke, then yeah Ill join the pitchfork gang.. but preferring complaining preferring Houstan over who?? Wagner over who?? Jett over who??

Also, who cares who we put on our SL roster? Wasn't there a story a few years back of MIN having an owner? buddies? rap artist? playing in their SL squad?

I think you’re missing the point here though.

We’ve been giving contracts to new Michigan players every year since 2020.

[RookieStar]

Personally, If I graduate from ABC university and am a proud alumni of it and in the future establish a very successful and famous 123 company, I wouldn't hesitate to get my OJTs from ABC university.

However, if you said we drafted say Scoot because he is from Michigan over Wemby because he came from Duke, then yeah Ill join the pitchfork gang.. but preferring complaining preferring Houstan over who?? Wagner over who?? Jett over who??

Also, who cares who we put on our SL roster? Wasn't there a story a few years back of MIN having an owner? buddies? rap artist? playing in their SL squad?

I think you’re missing the point here though.

We’ve been giving contracts to new Michigan players every year since 2020.

So? As i gave my example... look at the KNICKS? They drafted how many UK players and signed how many more? Noel , Randle , Knox , IQ, plus numerous scrubs

Its nothing new... big companies usually have connections to schools.

[fendilim]

Personally, If I graduate from ABC university and am a proud alumni of it and in the future establish a very successful and famous 123 company, I wouldn't hesitate to get my OJTs from ABC university.

However, if you said we drafted say Scoot because he is from Michigan over Wemby because he came from Duke, then yeah Ill join the pitchfork gang.. but preferring complaining preferring Houstan over who?? Wagner over who?? Jett over who??

Also, who cares who we put on our SL roster? Wasn't there a story a few years back of MIN having an owner? buddies? rap artist? playing in their SL squad?

I think you’re missing the point here though.

We’ve been giving contracts to new Michigan players every year since 2020.

So? As i gave my example... look at the KNICKS? They drafted how many UK players and signed how many more? Noel , Randle , Knox , IQ, plus numerous scrubs

Its nothing new... big companies usually have connections to schools.

That’s true, Knicks have acquired Kentucky players, but have they in consecutive years?

[RookieStar]

I think you’re missing the point here though.

We’ve been giving contracts to new Michigan players every year since 2020.

So? As i gave my example... look at the KNICKS? They drafted how many UK players and signed how many more? Noel , Randle , Knox , IQ, plus numerous scrubs

Its nothing new... big companies usually have connections to schools.

That’s true, Knicks have acquired Kentucky players, but have they in consecutive years?

I dunno about consecutive years but before Brunson, it was like clockwork with UK guys..