Michigan Basketball: 3 thoughts on Frankie Collins transfer

Expect more attrition

Frankie entered the transfer portal on Saturday because May 1 is the deadline to enter the transfer portal and play somewhere else next season without a waiver.

Now, those waivers probably won’t be that hard to get, but still, if you are going to transfer, now is the time and there have been rumors about others leaving via the transfer portal too, as well as rumors of adding Emoni Bates.

I’ve already said I don’t see Bates coming to Ann Arbor. It just doesn’t seem like a great fit. He’s a talented player but he’s not a great shooter and unless he’s willing to play a role where he sees the ball much less, I have concerns.

However, I do think we’ll see more roster movement. I’m not optimistic that Moussa Diabate is going to return. He’s got length, athleticism, and a ton of upside. He needs to spend time in the G-League but he can do enough in the pre-draft process to get drafted or earn an NBA contract.

It might be better for his development to play as a full-time five in the G-League next season, so I’m not counting on him being back, although it would be a positive.

As of now, with Collins out and Llewellyn in, Michigan is back to having zero scholarships. Yet, the Wolverines still need to add a wing defender and if Moussa leaves, some rim protection.

So don’t expect the transfer portal pursuits to end completely even if no one else enters the portal this weekend because until Michigan knows what will happen with Diabate and Caleb Houstan, it has to look for upgrades if they can be found.