Syracuse guard Joe Girard will test the NBA’s draft, while also maintaining his collegiate eligibility, he announced on Friday on social media. Girard also added he would be entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal.

There have now been five roster transactions for Syracuse basketball since the season ended, and since Jim Boeheim announced his retirement and Adrian Autry was named the head coach, and there will be more to follow.

But let’s stick with Girard for a moment.

We respect the steady career he had at SU. He bled Orange after his record-setting scholastic career in Glens Falls, and he was inserted into the starting lineup since the third game of his freshman year.

Although miscast as a point guard in the ACC for the first three years, he made many significant contributions to Syracuse on the offensive end, scoring 1,652 points in his four seasons. He also displayed hustle, grit, an edge and leadership despite the defensive deficiencies and occasional head-scratching shot selection.

It’s certainly no surprise that Girard is moving on with his career.

That’s what’s going on in this day and age of name, image, and likeness, of which Girard did pretty well the last two years.

Girard will have the ability to transfer and fit into a program where he could potentially make more of a contribution. I think that's what he'll do after testing the NBA waters and use his final year of eligibility to get ready for a professional career.

I believe he’ll end up finding a program where he fits as a two guard and the new team will lean heavily on his 3-point shooting ability.

Girard's decision also says plenty about what Autry is planning to do with his offensive scheme starting next year at Syracuse.

He's added JJ Starling from Notre Dame in the portal and is reportedly looking for more help at guard. Autry's team in 2023-24 will be a much more quick and athletic group, getting out in the open floor offensively and switching up to play more man-to-man defense.

As a result, Autry will need great athletes for those roles.

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