The Michigan Wolverines are gearing up for another busy transfer portal season, and with good reason. After a stellar 2025 class, the team is now facing a wave of departures, including some key players who are heading to the NBA. This means that head coach Dusty May is once again in the market for top talent, and he's not wasting any time. The portal opened just a day after Michigan's national championship win, and May and his staff are already hard at work building the roster for next year.
One thing that immediately stands out is the team's interest in big men. With the entire starting front court potentially departing, May will need to target some centers in the portal. One name that has already been mentioned is Kansas center Flory Bidunga, who is the top player in the portal according to 247Sports. Personally, I think this is a smart move. Bidunga is a physical and tough player who could thrive under May's system, and he would instantly slot into one of the starting spots if Mara or Johnson leave college. What makes this particularly fascinating is the potential for May to experiment with unconventional roster building, like playing two centers together or three big men at the same time.
Another name that has been linked to Michigan is Wisconsin guard John Blackwell. Blackwell is an outstanding player, but he may not be the best fit with Cadeau and Trey McKenney returning to Ann Arbor next season, along with incoming five-star freshman guard Brandon McCoy Jr. However, May has a history of being unconventional with his roster building, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see a guard-heavy roster next year if that's the hand he's dealt. Blackwell is a certified bucket-getter, and his Big Ten familiarity would make for a seamless transition. In my opinion, this is a player worth keeping an eye on.
Colorado guard Isaiah Johnson is also a possibility for Michigan. Johnson had an impressive freshman campaign, averaging a shade under 17 points per game, along with 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. His size (6-foot-1) may be redundant with Cadeau, but with L.J. Cason redshirting due to his injury, that backup role is still vital to the team. I think this is a player who could provide a solid replacement for Lendeborg at 6-foot-6 and 190 pounds.
Providence center Oswin Erhunmwunse would also make a lot of sense for Michigan. In May's first year, the duo of Danny Wolf and Vlad Goldin largely led them to the Sweet 16. With the entire starting front court potentially departing, May will certainly need to target some centers in the portal, and Erhunmwunse would be a fantastic get. While he only averaged 6.8 points per game over his first two seasons at Providence, he would be a monster defensively, averaging 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game this past season. What many people don't realize is that his defensive skills could be a game-changer for Michigan.
A few other players who have been linked to Michigan include San Diego State small forward Miles Byrd, St. Mary's power forward Paulius Murauskas, and Boise State center Drew Fielder. Byrd would be a solid replacement for Lendeborg, while Murauskas would be an awesome get with his impressive scoring and rebounding abilities. Fielder, a 6-foot-11 stretch, would also be a great addition with his ability to score and shoot from three.
In my opinion, Michigan is taking a smart approach to the transfer portal. By targeting big men and unconventional players, May is setting the team up for success in the coming years. What this really suggests is that Michigan is committed to building a strong and versatile roster, and with May's leadership, the team is poised for a bright future. If you take a step back and think about it, this is a strategy that could pay off big time for the Wolverines.
