Michigan Basketball: What’s up with Wolverines interest in transfers?

Michigan basketball has been reported to have an interest in four different graduate transfers including Brendan Barry. What’s the deal?

The transfer portal in college basketball, especially for graduate transfers has become like free agency and for the fourth time since the season ended, Michigan basketball was mentioned as having an interest in a graduate transfer from the Ivy League.

Michigan basketball was first associated with Seth Towns of Harvard, a wing, but then the attention shifted to point guards. The Wolverines have been in on Mike Smith from Columbia and also Bryce Aiken who has been in touch with head coach Juwan Howard.

Joining that group that has received interest from Michigan on the transfer market is Dartmouth guard Brendan Barry. This is according to John Rothstein.

It’s not unusual for programs to express interest in transfers and with so much uncertainty surrounding rosters, it makes sense. But with Michigan, it’s interesting because there doesn’t seem to be much wiggle room with the roster.

If Isaiah Todd signs, he is currently just committed and Joshua Christopher commits, then Michigan basketball would be two scholarships over the limit. Jace Howard, Juwan’s Son, could possibly be counted as a walk-on his first year and then U-M could also lose Franz Wagner and Isaiah Livers.

But even in that scenario, there would be just one spot available and with the NBA draft process shrunk down, as well as the NCAA tournament getting canceled, both Livers and Wagner have limited opportunities to impress NBA scouts.

It’s easy to see both players declaring for the draft and then deciding later to stay in or come back. Honestly, unless they want to fight their way through the G-League, they should come back.

Wagner is younger and probably would be viewed as having more upside, so I could see him getting drafted. He can shoot the 3-pointer well enough and with his length, he can play multiple positions. He reminds of Duncan Robinson who has done pretty well for himself in Miami.

Livers also has the ability to shoot and is a solid defender and all-around player. He could stay in the draft because if guys like Todd and Christopher do wind up in Ann Arbor, he probably won’t be able to shine as much as he might be better taking his chance on draft night and then going through the G-League, a route a few Michigan guys have taken.

The interest in guards doesn’t shock me, because, with Zavier Simpson gone, Michigan will have only Eli Brooks and David DeJulius. Zeb Jackson will be on the team too and he can play point guard, but that’s still not a ton of depth and as this year showed, this team needs more ball handling.

Maybe Howard’s interest is a sign that Christopher may not commit or possibly that Todd won’t play for the Wolverines, instead of going to Europe to play pro ball, whenever basketball is back on again or it’s possible that Michigan will have some of its own players transfer.

Adrien Nunez seems like a prime candidate and if Christopher comes to Michigan, Cole Bajema could follow or maybe DeJulius if he feels he won’t get the chance to shine at UM.

It’s hard to say what will happen. But Howard wouldn’t pursue these graduate transfers if he didn’t envision them on the roster. We can only guess the motives but Barry, for instance, is a 44 percent 3-point shooter for his career and with that skill, he can fit on any roster in the country.