Will Wade’s decision to abandon NC State for a second head coaching run at LSU sparked backlash from some and was a cause for celebration for others. Now on Day 22 of Wade’s latest tenure in Baton Rouge, the Tigers have no players on the roster.
Not an exaggeration, there are literally zero players left on the roster with nine players entering the transfer portal and another five without eligibility. LSU guard Jalen Reece was the latest to enter the portal on Friday morning, which officially emptied the bench for Wade.
Like Tennessee women’s basketball last week, Wade and LSU now face the reality of starting over from scratch. This is where the two-time coach and his staff will make their money as the Tigers have hit rock bottom.
Will Wade has some work to do this offseason… 👀
LSU currently has ZERO players on their roster 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8ehrjThrR8
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 17, 2026
After spending a reported $15.3 million to buyout former coach Matt McMahon, along with releasing Wade from his NC State deal, was this all worth having an entire roster head for the exit? That will be the question for LSU officials to ask themselves in the midst of the next season. Not having a single player and needing 15 of them with the transfer portal window approaching the final days might put Wade at a serious disadvantage.
Wade signed a seven-year contract running through 2033, according to NOLA.com. The deal is worth over $30 million, starting at $4 million annually and increasing to $4.5 million in the final years, according to reports.
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LSU finished at the bottom of the SEC standings with a 15-17 record last season. Anything short of a .500 record next season will feel like the start of a disaster. Needless to say, the honeymoon period for Wade is done.
