Butler basketball going through another reshuffle. Here's how new roster pieces so far fit.

For the second offseason in a row Butler's roster is in flux, and there are still several holes the team needs to fill.

Butler had three players transfer out of the program, brought in three players via the portal and added one freshman as part of its 2024 recruiting class. The Bulldogs have two open scholarships — three if Jahmyl Telfort decides to turn pro for good. Last season, the Bulldogs carried 12 scholarship players, so coach Thad Matta will add at least two more players to the roster.

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Last season, to the surprise of everyone outside of Butler, Matta's group of 10 new faces jelled quickly on its way to a 15-7 start and looked like a potential NCAA tournament team. The rigors of the Big East eventually took its toll and the Bulldogs finished 18-15 with a trip to the NIT.

With Posh Alexander's transfer to Dayton, Butler has to add a floor general, a lead-guard type point guard. And with Jalen Thomas gone, the Dawgs need another big body to play in the post. Easier said than done, obviously, but this roster will feel incomplete if Butler's next signees don't fill at least one of those roles.

Here's a look at how Butler's new pieces will fit on the roster as its currently constructed.

Players listed by position, back to front.

Kolby King, combo guard, Tulane

The first thing that jumps off the screen when watching King is his athleticism. Listed at 6-2, 190 pounds, King attacks the rim with vigor, finishing above the rim with dunks or using his body control to finish in traffic with a layup. Per College Scouting on YouTube, 44% of King's field goal attempts came at the rim.

Having a guard who can score at the rim will be a big boost to Butler's offense. For all of Posh Alexander's strengths, finishing at the rim was a definite weakness in his game. King is stronger and more athletic than Alexander, giving the Dawgs an offensive element they did not have last season. Look for King to attack in transition, drawing trips to the line or converting baskets at the rim.

As an outside shooter, King will be a marked improvement over Alexander as well. A career 36.5% 3-point shooter, King is comfortable shooting off the dribble, on pull-ups and especially in catch-and-shoot situations where his 66% effective field goal percentage ranked in the 95th percentile. He's most comfortable shooting from the corner, shooting 54% from the right corner and 36% from the left corner.

As a passer, King has great feel in the pick-and-roll. He can read the defense well, accelerating to the basket if he has an angle or finding an open teammate with a pass. His 1.3/1.0 assist to turnover ratio doesn't stand out, but he's capable of making plays that don't always end up as assists, finding teammates in rhythm, or making the pass before the pass that leads to an assist.

Matta showed he's not afraid to play two smaller guards together, meaning King could fit next to Landon Moore and/or Finley Bizjack in the backcourt. The trio of King, Moore and Bizjack isn't the biggest, but the three do have more size than Alexander and DJ Davis, which should lead to an overall improvement on defense, even if Alexander's defensive presence will be impossible to replace.

Jamie Kaiser Jr., forward, Maryland

Kaiser brings pure shooting to the Bulldogs, at least in theory. Of his 160 field goal attempts, 113 of them came from behind the arc (70.6%). Unfortunately, Kaiser shot just 26% from 3, but his 77.8% mark from the free-throw line suggested his shooting mechanics aren't broken and improvement should be expected.

Kaiser will have the benefit of playing alongside Pierre Brooks II, a capable three-level scorer who should draw added defensive attention after leading Butler in scoring last season. Matta's offense gives the ultimate green light to its outside shooters. Davis had the go-ahead to shoot from anywhere. Kaiser should benefit from coach Alex Barlow's ability to scheme up looks from the outside, but he has to make shots when given the opportunity.

Kaiser shot best from the right corner, shooting 49% but his lowest numbers of attempts came from that spot. More corner 3s would be one way to help Kaiser find the shooting touch that made him a four-star recruit coming out of IMG Academy by way of Virginia. Oddly, Kaiser struggled in catch-and-shoot situations, with an effective field goal percentage in the 15th percentile.

It's possible Kaiser dealt with a prolonged slump last season, likely the first time he's ever struggled in his career and simply could not find his groove. A change of scenery should to the 6-6, 205-pound forward good, adding a shooting element to replace the departed Davis.

Patrick McCaffery, forward, Iowa

McCaffery's role stands to change the most with or without Telfort. With Telfort, a great playmaker for his size, everything McCaffery does well can be emphasized. McCaffery works well without the ball, navigating screens and getting to his spots. He's especially efficient from the elbows, shooting 42.5%, curling to the paint, stopping and popping or fading away to score.

McCaffery finishes well at the rim, shooting 59%. He can finish above the rim when given the space, but most of his buckets come below the rim, where he's crafty enough to use angles and body control to get the ball in the hoop. That craftiness helps him with the ball in his hands. He's strong enough to get into the paint once he gets going downhill, using his floater and fadeaways to score if he can't get all the way to the rim.

The 6-6, 212-pound forward is a career 32% 3-point shooter, but he's much better as a spot-up shooter than off the dribble. Without Telfort, McCaffery may be asked to facilitate more, needing him to have the ball in his hands without the benefit of a true point guard. For now, Telfort seems destined to shoulder a large load as a scorer and playmaker, allowing McCaffery to play off the ball likely as a member of the second unit.

Follow IndyStar Butler Insider Akeem Glaspie on X at @THEAkeemGlaspie.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Butler basketball in transfer portal: Thad Matta reworking roster