1. Adding a center and wing scoring threat from the portal
This one is dependent on the potential returns of Gabe Brown, Marcus Bingham Jr., and Joey Hauser. While it won’t be as important if any return, it’s still crucial to 2022-23 success.
Michigan State has already reached out to West Virginia small forward Jalen Bridges who is considered one of the best transfers on the market and there are other top names to keep an eye on such as Utah Valley center Fardaws Aimaq and Texas Tech wing Terrence Shannon.
Reports even surfaced on Thursday and Friday that Michigan State had reached out to LSU point guard transfer Xavier Pinson, but I don’t see that being likely as that’s not a position of need.
A rim-protecting center who can score in the post is important because Julius Marble proved to be a liability on the defensive end of the floor. Michigan State needs a starting-caliber center who can excel on both ends of the floor.
And a wing to replace potential departures of Hauser and Brown to add another scoring option would be important. Bridges is a really good option here along with Shannon.
Michigan State needs to add at least a center and probably a wing, too, from the portal. But we’ll see just how much Tom Izzo has changed his tune about transfers.