Following Auburn’s strong postseason finish in the National Invitation Tournament, roster changes have begun to emerge as the offseason transfer window opens, signaling another wave of movement within the program.
Auburn Tigers guard has officially decided to enter the transfer portal, becoming the second player from the program to do so in recent days. The freshman guard, who arrived as a highly regarded four star recruit, appeared in 20 games during his lone season with the team under head coach Steven Pearl and the Auburn Tigers. His departure adds to a growing list of offseason changes as the program reshapes its roster.
His year began with encouraging signs. He earned a role as the primary backup point guard and even stepped into the starting lineup early in Southeastern Conference play. This opportunity came while teammate Tahaad Pettiford was temporarily removed from the starting group due to disciplinary matters. At that point, Kaden Magwood looked positioned to carve out a meaningful role in the rotation.
However, his situation shifted as the season progressed. Coach Steven Pearl later adjusted Magwood’s status, removing him from the starting lineup and citing both off court concerns and defensive inconsistency as key factors. Reports also surfaced regarding a request for Magwood to join the scout team, which was followed by social media posts from the guard that drew attention. The situation was later clarified, indicating that Magwood himself had made the request to move to the scout group rather than the coaching staff initiating the change.
Despite the midseason turbulence, Magwood returned to the court during postseason play. He participated in all five of Auburn’s NIT games and delivered one of his strongest performances in the opening round against South Alabama, where he scored a season best 14 points. That showing offered a glimpse of his potential before the season concluded.
Magwood is now the second Auburn player to enter the transfer portal this week, following freshman international forward Filip Jovic, who also announced his departure. These moves come as the transfer portal window remains open for 15 days, with a closing date set for April 21.
In addition to early departures, Auburn will also experience further roster turnover due to graduation and eligibility completion. Key contributors Keyshawn Hall and KeShawn Murphy are set to move on after exhausting their eligibility, adding to the list of players the Tigers will need to replace heading into the next season.