I was just discussing this with a co-worker. Typically, in a rebuilding process, a coach needs to overachieve with average players before the high level recruits take notice. That is what happened with Richard Williams. But looking back, we can also infer that players themselves make the team more than anything, and much of MSU's basketball success has been based on the high-level Mississippi talent such as Erick Dampier coming in and elevating us. We have seen time and time again that if a guy has NBA talent, he will shine, no matter the team, see Marcus Beasley. Stansbury was good because of talent, bottom line.
All that to say, Ray can take a big short cut by signing Newman. However, what is to say that Ray will do anything after next year? Let's say he makes the NIT with a senior laden roster, what happens then? I do not see anything of substance lining up behind those guys (who were Stansbury signees). Do you keep Ray with only an NIT invitation? He can cement himself another few years by riding Malik Newman to the NCAA tournament, rather than just being a fringe NIT team without him.