Tom Izzo is going to have to take a look at the transfer portal this offseason, but Michigan State fans know one thing about his strategy: OKGs (our kind of guys) who won’t mess with the culture.
Izzo will never rock the boat by adding a transfer who demands millions upon millions of dollars in NIL deals, but he’s beginning to see that it’s the norm if you want to compete for national titles.
Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s going to cannonball into the pool of highly-paid transfer options, but I think he’s going to dip his toe and look at guys who are asking around maybe $1-2 million. I just don’t see Izzo ever pursuing a player who’s asking for $5 million like a couple of new transfers who Michigan State fans have been clamoring about.
John Blackwell and Flory Bidunga have been high on Michigan State fans’ wish lists, but according to reports and projections, they’re both likely going to command at least $5 million.
The pipe dream of either of them joining the green and white looks to be crushed.
Michigan State has one obvious transfer need
While Blackwell and Bidunga are likely no longer options (they probably never were for Izzo), there will be other ideal options out there for the Spartans.
Blackwell wasn’t going to be a fit as the roster currently sits because the backcourt is already pretty set, but a couple of transfers could shift the need to multiple positions. Bidunga, however, fits the exact description of what Michigan State actually needs.
Michigan State’s obvious need is center with Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper moving on.
The Spartans do have Jesse McCulloch returning and Ethan Taylor coming in, but there’s not enough proven production there to make Izzo feel good about his frontcourt as he chases a second national title. With the Final Four being in Detroit next year, you just know he feels the pressure to add the perfect piece to an already-loaded roster.
Adding some beef to that frontcourt from a guy who can average around 12-15 points and 6-8 rebounds per game would be perfect and might just make Michigan State a title favorite.
Get it done, Tom.