Michigan Basketball: Reacting to Moussa Diabate’s NBA draft decision

Moussa Diabate has decided to test the NBA draft waters but will he end up leaving Michigan basketball for good? 

After last night’s deadline to enter the NBA draft came and went, we still didn’t know what Michigan basketball player Moussa Diabate was going to do.

There were rumors that he was going to enter the NBA draft and go through the process and he made that decision official on Monday morning releasing a statement that explains his decision to go through the draft process.

Jeremy Woo first reported the information according to a source and the key thing is that Diabate will maintain his Michigan basketball eligibility as he goes through the process.

What to make of Diabate’s decision

I’m not surprised at all by Diabate entering the draft. He will get evaluated by NBA scouts and all the measurables are where he will stand out. He’s going to need to show real improvement to get drafted and that’s even if he gets an invite to the NBA draft combine.

Diabate should get his chance to play in the G-league camp as Hunter Dickinson did a season ago and there’s a chance that he will return to school just as Moe Wagner, Dickinson, Isaiah Livers, and others did after their first time entering the draft.

There is also a difference between Dickinson and Diabate. Hunter is going to make huge NIL money and has already been doing that. That process has been more complicated for international players and Diabate isn’t quite as popular, so if he can make more money playing in the G-League next season, something that would be huge for his development too, it’s hard to blame him.

We are still waiting to hear on Caleb Houstan and as far as Michigan basketball is concerned, I don’t think Diabate leaving for pro ball would be the worst thing.

Michigan struggled at times with Diabate and Dickinson on the court and Moussa’s best position is center, which he rarely gets to play at U-M. If Houstan returned and Michigan was able to add Terrence Shannon from the transfer portal, the Wolverines could start Shannon, Houstan, and Dickinson in the frontcourt.

That could mean Frankie Collins and Kobe Bufkin starting the backcourt, with Jett Howard, Terrance Williams, Dug McDaniel, and potentially Isaiah Barnes or another transfer off the bench.

Dickinson was the biggest piece and Houstan is the second. I want Moussa back but more because of his pure talent and not how he fits on the roster.