Duke basketball: Michael Jordan needs Blue Devil game changer

Michael Jordan needed a Duke basketball game changer to add to his roster. 

Michael Jordan’s team was wheeling and dealing over the course of ten minutes in the NBA Draft but landed on an impactful Duke basketball game changer to help its roster.

Mark Williams was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, the second Blue Devil off the board after Paolo Banchero was taken with the top overall selection by the Orlando Magic.

Charlotte had two first round picks, No. 13 and No. 15, and the Hornets took Memphis center Jalen Duren with its first selection, which casted doubts on the Blue Devil center staying close to Durham after the two parties had been linked throughout the draft process.

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However, Charlotte flipped Duren to the New York Knicks, which was then sent to the Detroit Pistons alongside Kemba Walker, according to Stadium insider Shams Charania.

The Hornets also recouped 2025 first round pick, which originally belonged to the Milwaukee Bucks, in the trade.

Duke basketball center hoping to help out North Carolina icon

Nonetheless, the North Carolina legend Michael Jordan pairs Duke center Mark Williams with his franchise corner piece LaMelo Ball to help the franchise return to the postseason

Charlotte made the NBA Play-In Tournament in each of the last two seasons since drafting Ball but has not quantified for the postseason since the 2015-16 season.

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Williams spent two seasons at Duke and was named as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore after averaging 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game during his final season in Durham.

The 7-foot-1 center, with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, was also named to the All-ACC Third Team.

Duke still has three players available to be selected in the 2022 NBA Draft; AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore, and Trevor Keels.