What to make of Alabama basketball roster changes, and what's next?

The transfer portal giveth, and the transfer portal taketh. Sit back, and try to enjoy the ride best you can. It has the ability to be a bumpy one.

If you haven't figured it out already, there's always going to be change each offseason to the Alabama basketball roster. The question is, how much? That's the reality of college basketball in the era of the transfer portal and NIL.

Of course, it's painful when a fan favorite leaves. But open roster spots create opportunities for additions, some whom can and will be upgrades.

Departures can be the result of multitude factors: A player might see a better opportunity for playing time elsewhere, a player could see a better system fit elsewhere, there could be a better NIL opportunity elsewhere, a team might not welcome a player back or a team might not have room for a player. Each situation is different.

Alabama basketball is almost two weeks removed from the end of the season. Five scholarship players have departed in the transfer portal as of Wednesday afternoon, while the Crimson Tide has added two. Here's a look at those moves, where things stand with the roster and what could be next.

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Alabama basketball transfer portal departures

The Crimson Tide has seen Kris Parker, Rylan Griffen, Davin Cosby, Sam Walters and Nick Pringle enter their names in the portal. It was inevitable a few of those would depart. In fact, Alabama needed a few scholarship players to exit.

If everyone returned who has eligibility remaining and Alabama added the players it is set to add, the Crimson Tide would have been over the scholarship limit. Plus, that would have provided no room to acquire talent at spots Alabama needs to add talent.

Playing time isn't expected to be easy to come by in the coming season. That made non-starters such as Parker and Cosby possible candidates to transfer. Pringle entering wasn't a surprise either, even though he was vital down the stretch run to the Final Four. He had a bit of an up-and-down season prior. Walters showed some valuable shooting in flashes, but he also wasn't a starter and might not have been this upcoming season either.

Griffen is the most notable name on the list of transfers, having started most of this past season. His departure likely falls into the category of pursuing a different opportunity. Kansas has reportedly shown interest in him.

Where Alabama basketball roster stands as of April 17

As of Wednesday, the Crimson Tide has two scholarships open.

The scholarships called for right now belong to: Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Jarin Stevenson, Mo Dioubate, Mo Wague, Derrion Reid, Aiden Sherrell, Naas Cunningham, Houston Mallette and Chris Youngblood.

Mallette and Youngblood are the two transfer portal additions so far, and both are guards who have shown an ability to shoot. Each shot 41% from deep this past season.

More decisions are to be made, but that's where the scholarship list stands as of Wednesday.

Will Alabama basketball have any more departures?

I don't know of another transfer portal entry that is imminent. That doesn't mean more won't happen before the portal closes May 1. These things change daily. If someone else is going to enter, Mo Wague or Mo Dioubate could be names to watch; They might be on the outside looking in with regards to the starting lineup, so it's possible they look for opportunities at places where more playing time exists. Or, they might stick around.

The biggest question right now surrounds NBA draft decisions. Mark Sears declared Wednesday afternoon while maintaining his college eligibility. Nelson will likely do the same. There's no harm in doing that. They can still remove their names by the deadline and return to college if they so choose. I would estimate their decision will then depend on the feedback they get. If that feedback comes with a fair amount of certainty about where they will land in the draft and/or with a two-way contract, and it's good certainty, it might be tough to pass up going pro.

Their decisions will have a ripple effect. If they depart, that will open up spots for Alabama to pursue more players in the portal. Stay, and that also has ramifications for how Alabama fills out its roster.

Potential additions

A rim protector and point guard figure to be two of the top targets. Alabama needs depth at point guard no matter what Sears decides.

Former Auburn guard Aden Holloway is the top name to watch right now. He is set to visit Tuscaloosa on Thursday and if that visit goes well, a decision may soon follow.

As far as a rim protector goes, Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi would be a great get. He's the fourth-best player available in the transfer portal as of Wednesday per 247Sports, and he listed the Crimson Tide among teams for which he is interested in playing. There is plenty of competition for Omoruyi's services, though.

Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.