re: How does Wade conclude that guys just can’t play?

I guess people are more upset because he is a local kid and wouldn't be losing their minds so much if it was a kid from say, NYC, who is transferring. Everyone thinks their hometown kid is the "best they've ever seen" and can't reconcile that the hometown college may not see it that way. Hell, there isn't a lot (if any) outrage over Hyatt leaving and he was MUCH bigger contributor. And it's not like Cook is leaving to be replaced by lower ranked recruits with zero experience. LSU just brought in a guy with 3 years of proven SEC starting experience. Wade said multiple times towards the end of the season that the team needed to "get older" and he seems to be doing that.

For whatever reason Cook didn't play a lot last season. Part of it was you weren't going to take a lot of minutes away from Smart/Thomas (the highest scoring backcourt in the SEC last season). The other part was that with limited bench minutes to be had at the guard sport Wade decided to go with Gaines. While he was inconsistent, Gaines has physical attributes that probably gives him a higher ceiling. We certainly saw some "bad" from him (terrible shot late in the Michigan game for which Wade chewed his arse and benched him), but there was also very noteworthy "good" that was there as well (SECT games vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas).

Is Cook a guy that could develop into a really good 4 year player? Probably. But CBB is as much a "win now" sport as any and teams are turning over their rosters constantly to achieve that. It's just the lay of the land right now. Clearly Wade wants to bring in some instant impact guys. Unfortunately, some attrition from the current roster had to take place to accommodate that. And truth be told, this could be a really good thing for Cook. He can go elsewhere and perhaps play more minutes immediately rather than wait his turn at LSU. Say what you want about Wade, but none of the guys that have left/transferred have had big impacts elsewhere other than Brandon Rachal...who was pushed out more for disciplinary reasons.

Wade is not infallible. There are reasons for criticism. But talent acquisition isn't one of them. If he is willing to let Cook and Hyatt walk (or nudge them out) it is not because he doesn't have someone in mind who he thinks is better waiting to replace them.