Michigan State basketball reaches out to Butler transfer Jayden Taylor

It’s not quite the offseason yet and Tom Izzo is already looking to improve next year’s Michigan State basketball roster.

The Spartans could be looking for a two-guard to replace Tyson Walker if he decides to move on and while Jaden Akins would be the likely option to slide over into that spot after playing a lot of three this season in small-ball lineups, Izzo may be looking for more wing-types.

That’s why it was no surprise to see Izzo’s first transfer contact being a 6-foot-4 guard.

According to Jake Weingarten, Izzo has reached out to Butler transfer Jayden Taylor.

Taylor just finished his second collegiate season and averaged a career-best 12.9 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 41 percent from the floor, 33 percent from deep, and 77 percent from the free throw line.

Izzo can work with those numbers and he could come off the bench to provide a spark which is something Michigan State hasn’t had a ton of this year.

Michigan State basketball’s 2023-24 roster up in the air

With a potential handful of openings on the roster for next season, Michigan State could opt to hit the transfer portal unlike it did this past year.

Izzo decided to keep some spots open on the roster which was surprising seeing as he’s utilized the portal plenty in the past — both Joey Hauser and Walker are transfers and they’re arguably the Spartans’ best players.

Malik Hall, Walker, and Hauser are all still deciding what to do with their extra year of eligibility and there could be some transfers out of the program as well (no one knows).

So an addition like Taylor would make sense.