What pieces does Will Wade still need to add?

By Hunt Palmer

In an era unlike any other in history and with an unlikely coach-scho0ol reunion, why would the portal period feel “normal?”

It certainly hasn’t.

Will Wade has taken his time assembling the 2026-27 roster, and he’s done it in an unorthodox way. That’s led to a slow drip of commitment announcements coming from all over the globe.

It started with Mouhamed Dioubate from Kentucky. Simple enough. Then there was significant buzz around Saliou Niang from Italy. Divine Ugochukwu and Abdi Bashit committed from the States. Marcio Santos is headed to LSU by way of Israel, and it appears Brice Dessert is making the move over from Europe, as well.

Let’s work from that list with the understanding that contractual buyouts have to be agreed upon. This group isn’t official to this point, but it’s a solid working list for this exercise.

The list is heavy on wing players with length and varying skillsets.

Dioubate is a strong defender, tough rebounder and limited shooter who can score by slashing. Niang is a more skilled offensive player with big time athleticism and a developing shot. Bashir Jr. is a dead eye shooter with three years of excellent marksmanship from downtown.

The only true backcourt piece is Ugochukwu who is 6-foot-3 and had a good shooting year at Michigan State in a limited sample size pre-injury. He was a very poor shooter as a freshman at Miami. He can attack off the bounce offensively, but he hasn’t been a big assist guy through two seasons. He’s also considered an average defender although his highlight tape does a good job of isolating some instinctive defensive plays. The stat sheet suggests that doesn’t happen too often.

Two international players with very different skillsets are in Wade’s first frontcourt. Santos is a pick-and-pop big with excellent shooting ability at 6-foot-9. He’s got soft hands and great touch, especially from three-point range. He does not play much defense. Dessert is a center. He’s 6-foot-11 and has attempted one three in his pro career. He’s a 23-year-old, physically mature enforcer in the paint who can alter shots and finish things up around the rim. He’s not necessarily a great back-to-the-basket player, but he shoots a very, very high percentage from the floor because most of his shots are from five feet and in.

SO, WHAT DOES WADE NEED?

Lead Guard

For starters, he badly needs a point guard with the ability to distribute. This team is already stocked with guys who can play off the ball and finish. Someone has to get it to them.

Santos and Bashir Jr. are elite catch and shoot players on the perimeter. They need to catch it from someone. Dessert is a pick-and-roll threat crashing to the rim for lobs. He needs someone to handle the ball. Niang moves exceptionally well without the basketball as a cutter. Same story.

Wade has to find a point guard with great floor vision. It needs to look more like Tremont Waters and Dedan Thomas Jr. than Javonte Smart. This player is going to have the ball much of the time and is going to have to make four other players from all sorts of different backgrounds work together within their roles. It’s a remarkably difficult job, but this roster won’t work without it.

Shot-Creating Shooting Guard

I think, ideally, Ugochukwu is the first guard off the bench. He’s a good enough ball handler at 6-foot-3 to be the backup point guard and get some minutes at the two. I don’t believe he’s a significant threat to go get 25 points with any kind of consistency as the starting two guard. His 23-point outburst as a starter against Penn State last season was a product of an unlikely 5-for-5 three-point shooting night.

It’s hard to ask for Cam Thomas to walk through that door, but that’s the role you’re looking for, a player who can isolate one-on-one and go get a shot with some consistency. Cam Carter did it two years ago for LSU with a much-improved three-point shot and a lightning quick first step. I don’t think the current crop quite has that although Niang is a very interesting offensive player. He just doesn’t have the shooting pedigree yet.

Second Post Defender

Dessert is a great start to the defensive frontcourt, but Santos appears to be very much an “offense first” player. That means you need another 6-foot-9ish long defender to hold up against big frontcourts and contest drivers in the SEC.

This team already has elite length on the wing, but it needs to come around the rim, too. Think Kavell Bigby-Williams, Emmitt Williams (though he was a touch shorter), Mike Nwoko or even Jalen Reed.

More Shooting

You can’t have enough bigs, and you can’t have enough shooters. I’ll take shooters at 5-foot-10. I’ll take them at 6-foot-10. When you put guys on the floor who can knock down shots, it changes the way teams play defense.

One thing about the European influence on this team is that those guys know how to play in space. They know how to cut. They know how to pop. They know how to roll. It’s the European game. That space is created by spreading shooters out and forcing the defense to extend.

Wade’s NC State team was top 25 in the country in threes made per game. It just makes life easier on offense.

Allen Graves certainly makes sense here. He worked out at the NBA Draft combine this week and has been tied to LSU. Another big body that can shoot would be an excellent addition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This isn’t a comprehensive list of needs. When you’ve only got six players, seven more are to follow. Wade is a tremendous roster builder, and he’ll find the pieces he’s looking for. The guy flew to Europe and has already found three or four players to fit his molds.

Point guard is the most important remaining piece at this point. We may not get all these answers for a little bit. Patience is likely to be rewarded.