Michigan Basketball’s ideal starting lineup for next season

If we could give Michigan basketball its ideal starting lineup, one that is also realistic, here’s what it would look like going into the 2022-23 season.

So far this offseason has been nothing but wait and see for Michigan basketball fans. There have been some departures, but none that weren’t already expected.

Brandon Johns entered the transfer portal this week and it will be interesting to see if Adrien Nunez will follow. Even if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t expect him back and there have been rumblings about Isaiah Barnes transferring out, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Right now, everything hinders on the NBA draft decisions of Hunter Dickinson, Moussa Diabate, and Caleb Houstan, three Wolverines expected to declare for the draft.

It feels like Houstan is going to come back. After going through Camp Sanderson this summer and just gaining a little experience, he should have a big season and can easily play himself into being a first-round pick. Something that can be said about Diabate too.

Dickinson is another big question mark. He indicated he was going to the NBA after the season, but there has been buzz about him staying, especially with his ability to take in NIL money.

We know he loves being a Wolverine. Maybe he’ll stick it out one more year. That would be the ideal situation for Michigan basketball. And with reports about Dickinson, Diabate, and Houstan all potentially returning, it seems worth breaking down what the ideal lineup could look like next season.

So there will be part projection and we’ll offer some thoughts on the decisions of Michigan’s key players but here’s our take on what the Wolverines’ ideal starting five looks like next season.