DotComp: Rocket Watts enters the portal, uncomfortably but understandably

East Lansing, Mich. - The difficult side of the give-and-take of off-season roster management has hit Michigan State basketball.

Rocket Watts entered the transfer portal on Monday, two days after the Spartans welcomed a transfer from multi-talented point guard Tyson Walker of Northeastern.

Watts had a difficult transitory sophomore season in 2020-21, averaging 7.7 points per game while shooting 33 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range with a 7-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Watts had a chance to become the point guard successor to Cassius Winston at Michigan State this past season, however Watts was never able to nail down starting or finishing duties at the position, and the team struggled right along with him.

The season ended with Watts playing point guard in the final minutes of MSU’s First Four overtime loss to UCLA in the NCAA Tournament. He missed two field goal attempts from long range, early in the shot clock, late in the game, a pair of uncomfortable shot decisions that were commensurate with his season as a whole. He wasn't sure when he was supposed to step up and deliver. When he tried, the results were inconsistent.

After a missed 3-pointer in overtime at UCLA, likely Watts' last attempt as a Spartan, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo yelled out to Watts "Rocket, pass the ball!" Izzo did it without his trademark scowl. He yelled gently, if there is such a thing.

There are times when Izzo calls upon tough love to get a response from a player. But Izzo was more careful with his words when coaching Watts than has been the case with other subjects.

Izzo usually knows which psychological buttons to push with each player. Tough love works with some. Izzo rarely played the tough love card with Watts. He cared about Watts, he was careful with Watts. It never completely worked out, but I would expect the love to continue, wherever Watts lands.

The streak-shooting Watts started the season in strong fashion with 20 points at Duke on Dec. 1 and 23 points in a tight win against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 4.

He then scored 10 points against Oakland University on Dec. 6 but then failed to score in double figures for 15 of the next 16 games.

Then he erupted again with 15 points in a season-changing victory over Illinois on Feb. 23, and scored 21 in a landmark victory over Michigan on March 7 in what now appears to have been his final game in an Michigan State uniform at Breslin Center.

In the moments after that victory over Michigan, a win which virtually assured an NCAA Tournament bid for the Spartans for a 23rd straight season, Watts had a long, tearful embrace with Izzo. Watts informed Izzo at that moment that Watts’ mother attended the game, and it was the first time she had ever seen him play a college basketball game.

There's more to that story about Watts and his mother. But, like I wrote after that game, that story is none of our business. Teammates were supportive of Watts in the locker room and after the game. They loved him, too.

Watts has posted Instagram videos of himself in recent days in Michigan State gear, but seemingly foreshadowing that a big decision was pending.

Louisville is expected to be a school with interest in Watts, and vice-versa.