Some NBA draft decisions are different than others. And for Elliot Cadeau, the Michigan basketball point guard, there's little concern that he won't be wearing maize and blue next season.
On a day where both Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara both declared for the 2026 NBA draft, with both retaining their eligibility to return (though it's doubtful that Mara will return, while Johnson's status remains more up in the air), Cadeau also declared for the draft with the option to return to Ann Arbor. However, unlike the others, where there's a real threat that he will be departing, according to his agent, he's looking to build momentum going into next season.
NEWS: Michigan's Elliot Cadeau will declare for the NBA Draft while maintaining his eligibility, per Drew Gross of WME Basketball.National champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player will go through the draft process with an eye on building momentum going into next year. pic.twitter.com/GXhelSkWTw
Cadeau has already stated his intention to return to Michigan basketball next season, but going through the draft process means he'll be able to participate in the NBA scouting combine and get multiple facets of feedback -- from what he needs to work on to where his stock is after he participates.
Though he was the Final Four's most outstanding player, Cadeau is not looked at as a likely NBA draft pick this upcoming year. However, it's a move that makes sense as he'll be able to hone his craft that much more before returning to Ann Arbor.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Elliot Cadeau declares for NBA draft, plans Michigan return
