It wasn't all that surprising that Elliot Cadeau decided to officially withdraw from the 2026 NBA draft, but it's vitally important to Michigan basketball all the same.
Cadeau confirmed that he would be back shortly after the season ended. Yet, he declared for the 2026 NBA draft, with the support of Michigan, as a tool for feedback.
There was a chance that Cadeau could have played his way into the draft and might have been on the bubble to return if he really stood out during the process. He earned a G-League Invite, but ultimately decided to come back to Michigan, according to a post on X by Jon Rothstein on Saturday.
What Elliot Cadeau's return means for Michigan basketball
While Cadeau might not have the NBA draft stock of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara, that does nothing to diminish his value to the Wolverines.
Cadeau won the Most Outstanding Player award in the NCAA Tournament, but he was impactful throughout the entire six-game stretch. The pressure was on him to be nearly perfect, especially without a true backup point guard, and he did it.
There were some extra turnovers in the Arizona game, but outside of that, Cadeau was one of the best players on the floor throughout Michigan's title run. It wouldn't have happened without him. A repeat wouldn't have happened without him either.
His numbers of 10.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game don't tell the true story of his impact. Cadeau is electrifying with the ball in his hands. He's nearly impossible to keep out of the paint, and is a maestro when it comes to running the offense. After developing into a 37.6 percent 3-point shooter last season, he could expand his game and score more this season. He will almost have to, along with Trey McKenney, who scored 9.9 points per game.
Some of the passes Cadeau pulled off in the NCAA Tournament were unreal to watch. He's got a special skill set, one that fits better in college than the modern NBA, mostly because he's not a bigger point guard.
That's bad news for Cadeau, but great news for Michigan, who might have the best point guard in the Big Ten next season.
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