NBA Draft season has been in full swing for weeks, and many programs — Kentucky included — are still playing the waiting game before locking in their rosters. In May, patience is more than a cliché; it’s a necessity.
While fans are always vocal about what they think players should do, the opinions that truly matter come from NBA decision-makers. According to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, 10 NBA executives anonymously weighed in on several draft prospects and their stay-or-go decisions. With the May 27 withdrawal deadline fast approaching, the tension around those choices is reaching a peak.
Two names of major interest to Kentucky fans surfaced in the discussion: potential Wildcat returner Malahci Moreno and top transfer target Milan Momcilovic. The encouraging takeaway for Big Blue Nation is that NBA executives overwhelmingly believe both players would benefit from returning to college.
The feedback was striking. Only one executive suggested Moreno should remain in the draft, and not a single one recommended that Momcilovic do so. That kind of near-unanimous opinion suggests a clear consensus from the professional level.
If Moreno opts out of the draft, his path back to Lexington is already set — and this latest intel makes that outcome feel increasingly likely. Momcilovic’s situation is where things get even more interesting. With his recruitment reportedly narrowing to Kentucky and Louisville, this development feels like a green light for Mark Pope to aggressively pursue the former Iowa State wing.
In short, it’s time for Kentucky to push all its chips to the center of the table.
Kentucky’s Moment to Strike
Bringing Moreno back alone would be significant, providing continuity and stability to an already strong roster. But pairing that with the addition of Momcilovic would raise Kentucky’s ceiling to a level few envisioned earlier in the offseason.
Suddenly, the Wildcats would be adding a near 20-point-per-game scorer who knocks down threes at a 48% clip to a lineup already loaded with shot creators. Momcilovic fits seamlessly into Pope’s offensive system and looks like the final missing piece in the coach’s third-year blueprint.
The fact that Kentucky may be well-positioned — perhaps even favored — to land both players should have the fanbase buzzing. This could be the defining moment for Pope to erase any lingering recruiting doubts and assemble his most impressive roster yet in Lexington.