In a perfect world, three specific NBA franchises would become the professional launch points for the latest Duke basketball early departees.
Technically, six players from the 2019-20 Duke basketball team are now entering the workforce. Sorry to break the news, though, but barring some miracle transformations during quarantine, graduated forwards Justin Robinson, Javin DeLaurier, and Jack White won’t be receiving paychecks from The Association next season.
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Meanwhile, the Blue Devils all but certain to hear their names at the 2020 NBA Draft — still on the calendar for June 25 — are underclassmen Tre Jones, Vernon Carey Jr., and Cassius Stanley. Each of the three could fall anywhere between the middle of the first round and the middle of the second.
With that in mind, come draft night, almost every war room could at one point or another have an opportunity to pick any one of the three. So which front-office eyes will be on the lookout for a safe backup point guard like Jones, a dazzling aerial performer like Stanley, or an immensely skilled behemoth like Carey Jr.? And of those in said markets, which would be the most suitable fit for each player?
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Well, after digging into current NBA rosters and then trying to envision each Dukie in different situations and jerseys, the answers are now clear. Let’s begin with the best destination for the outbound sophomore of the bunch…