Why Flory Bidunga’s transfer portal and NBA Draft decision is more strategic than surprising

Why Flory Bidunga’s transfer portal and NBA Draft decision is more strategic than surprising originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At first glance, it feels like a lot. Transfer portal. NBA Draft. Multiple options on the table. But when you break it down, Bidunga’s decision makes sense.

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About leverage, not uncertainty

This isn’t a player unsure of what he wants. This is a player keeping every door open. By entering the NBA Draft process, Bidunga gets real feedback from teams. Where does he project? What does he need to improve? Is he ready now, or better off waiting?

At the same time, entering the portal ensures he’s not locked into one situation if he returns to college. It’s leverage. And in today’s game, that matters.

NEWS: Kansas big man Flory Bidunga, the Big 12 Defensive POY, is entering the @TransferPortal, source tells @On3. Will also test the NBA Draft waters.⁰⁰The 6-10 sophomore averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this season. All-Big 12 First Team. Represented… https://t.co/WLw4n9Ue1ipic.twitter.com/5TZyGulu2O

— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) April 3, 2026

Where his NBA stock actually stands

Bidunga’s resume is strong. He’s a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks. He’s athletic, active, and disruptive defensively.

But the questions are real, too. He’s slightly undersized for a traditional center at 6-foot-9. His offensive game is still developing. He doesn’t yet have a polished skill set away from the rim.

That puts him in a gray area. Intriguing enough for NBA teams. Not guaranteed enough to lock in a first-round spot.

More: Deon Thomas’ Bruce Pearl comments show Illinois still hasn’t forgotten

What this means for Kansas moving forward

For the Kansas Jayhawks and Bill Self, the situation is tricky. There’s still a timeline where Bidunga could return. But the program can’t plan around that possibility alone. It has to be prepared as if he’s gone.

That means exploring the portal. Adjusting the roster. Reworking the defense. Because even if Bidunga comes back, the waiting game itself changes how you build your team.

The bottom line

Bidunga now has three paths:

• Stay in the NBA Draft
• Transfer elsewhere
• Return to Kansas

But the biggest takeaway isn’t which path he chooses.

It’s how he’s navigating all of them at once.

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