NCAA Basketball: 10 hypothetical college hoops trade scenarios in 2019
Auburn unloads excess while grabbing a need from Gophers
Auburn receives Marcus Carr
Minnesota receives Danjel Purifoy
After averaging 11.4 ppg and 6.7 rpg as a freshman starter for Auburn, Danjel Purifoy was supposed to be a key player for the program going forward. However, he’s missed all of last season and half of this year after sitting out due to NCAA violations. A lot has changed, with multiple frontcourt players emerging as viable assets for the Tigers.
Even after coming back, Purifoy hasn’t been used as much, scoring just a few points a game off the bench. His production has improved in recent games but ultimately Auburn could hypothetically unload him without losing much, for a future need. That said need is on the perimeter, since they’ll be losing Malik Dunbar and leading scorer Bryce Brown to graduation.
A team who could use Purifoy is Minnesota, a team on the bubble and needs to make the NCAA Tournament likely to save Coach Richard Pitino’s job. Not only would he help them this year with their push but also help soften the graduation blows of Matz Stockman and Jordan Murphy, who’s averaging nearly 12 rpg. With his NBA Draft stock at an all-time low, Purifoy likely will return for his senior season in hopes to have a big year.
The Gophers aren’t going to give up a rotation piece but they can let go of point guard Marcus Carr, who’s sitting out after transferring from Pittsburgh. The 6’2 guard averaged 10 ppg and 4.0 apg on a team with little talent around him, so he was viewed as a coveted transfer on the market.
But Minnesota may be able to afford giving him to Auburn, will both Amir Coffey and Isaiah Washington coming back next season. Both player are averaging over three assists a game and Carr isn’t a guarantee to start when he’s eligible to play.
It’s true that Jared Harper and his 6.4 apg will be back for his senior season but the Tigers have no underclassmen perimeter players on the roster. They’ll need to find some soon, so having a player of Carr’s caliber would be a great long-term piece for a player in Purifoy who they just don’t need this year.