Kentucky fans are a rare breed in basketball. They are diehards and lie in bed at night thinking about all the ways in which their team can win, players they could get, and how to win another national championship. One wild theory came out yesterday about Hannes Steinbach. According to one of the top Big Blue Nation social media accounts, there's a rumor of how Kentucky may try to get Steinbach this offseason in the portal.
The problem is that Steinbach is a projected lottery pick and has given zero indication that he will do anything but enter the draft, and yet there is one reason to believe the absurdity. Kentucky is rumored to have a roster worth somewhere between $16 and $22 million this season. Let's do some math.
Earlier on Sources Say, Jack Pilgrim discussed adding superstars like Hannes Steinbach from the transfer portal:
— Casey (@BleedBlueCasey) March 11, 2026
"If you're out on Tyran Stokes, go get Steinbach from Washington. I've heard that could be had at a price... If you're gonna spend big, spend big on studs."
The… pic.twitter.com/5fYKaOzjOc
Hannes Steinbach will have a huge choice in front of him in the next few days
Related: Danny Sprinkle subtly throws shade at former Husky following win over USC
This season has wasted Steinbach's talents; whether you want to blame the injuries or Danny Sprinkle, it was not what you would expect with the loaded roster that Washington had. Steinbach played remarkably, breaking Husky records and leading the Big Ten in double-doubles. He's a machine. Yet, it would be shocking to see him return to Washington.
If Steinbach goes to the NBA and gets in those top 14 picks, he will make around $5 million if he's drafted somewhere between 11 and 14. Which is right where he's mocked. If he believes he will slip beyond the lottery, he could be in the $3-4 million range. This is a ton of money, but Kentucky can actually pay that for a player.
While it's just a rumor right now, there's no doubt Steinbach's agent will investigate the opportunities, including the transfer portal and the NBA. It's also hard to see Washington putting that sort of money down to keep him.
Danny Sprinkle will almost certainly be rebuilding again next year with all that happened this year, and Steinbach, you have to assume, will be gone to the NBA or maybe a place like Kentucky, even if it feels absurd.