USC Faces Tighter Transfer Portal Budget Under Musselman

After two years of major roster overhaul, Trojans coach must be more selective in the portal this offseason.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:55am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a college basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The complex challenges of roster-building in the modern transfer portal era force USC's basketball program to take a more strategic, targeted approach.Portland Today

USC basketball coach Eric Musselman faces a tighter budget for the transfer portal this offseason after spending heavily the last two years to rebuild his roster. With less NIL money to work with and a more stable core returning, Musselman must be more selective in his portal additions as he looks to build on the Trojans' strong start to the season.

Why it matters

Musselman has proven his ability to quickly rebuild rosters through the transfer portal, but the financial constraints this year will test his skills as both a coach and a general manager. How USC navigates the portal could determine whether the Trojans can build on their recent success and contend in the Big Ten.

The details

The last two springs, Musselman has had to essentially rebuild USC's entire roster from scratch after losing most of his top players to the portal. This offseason, he's starting from a more stable place, with key returnees like Rodney Rice, Jacob Cofie and Gabe Dynes. But Musselman will have a tighter budget to work with due to NIL spending restrictions, meaning he'll have to be more selective in his portal additions.

  • Two years ago, Musselman had to rebuild USC's roster in May, a month after everyone else.
  • Last spring, Musselman lost his top two scorers, Desmond Claude and Wesley Yates, on the very last day of the portal.

The players

Eric Musselman

The head coach of the USC Trojans basketball team, known for his ability to quickly rebuild rosters through the transfer portal.

Rodney Rice

A guard who was expected to be USC's best player last season and is set to return next year.

Jacob Cofie

A forward who is expected to return to USC after dipping his toes in the NBA draft waters.

Gabe Dynes

A 7-foot-5 center who is also expected to return to USC next season.

Alijah Arenas

A player who is considering whether to return to USC or declare for the NBA draft.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The moves USC makes in the transfer portal over the coming weeks will be crucial in determining how much Musselman has learned from the challenges of the past two offseasons.

The takeaway

Musselman has proven himself capable of quickly rebuilding rosters through the transfer portal, but the financial constraints he faces this offseason will test his skills as both a coach and a general manager. How USC navigates the portal could be the difference between building on their recent success or struggling to contend in the Big Ten.