Former Duke Star Lands With Lakers in NBA Mock Draft

We are a little over a month away from the 2024 NBA Draft. Duke is represented by two stars who are widely expected to be first-round picks. Big man Kyle Filipowski and dynamic guard Jared McCain will hear their names called by Commissioner Adam Silver to take the next step in their basketball journey.

Departures of McCain and Filipowski will certainly hurt the Blue Devils as they were the two best offensive players on the team last year. As much as Duke fans would have loved to keep the two stars for longer, they will still root for them in the NBA. Fortunately for them, there is a chance one of them ends up with the Lakers to play alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their latest mock draft for ESPN earlier this week. There, they projected McCain to be drafted by the Lakers with the 17th-overall pick.

Jared McCain Lands with the Lakers in Latest ESPN Mock Draft

It has to be noted that the New Orleans Pelicans have the rights to the No. 17 pick but due to the fact that next year's draft is considered a better draft class, they are expected to defer their rights to 2025.

As usual, the Lakers are involved in serious trade rumors. There is a chance they will move this pick ahead of or after the draft for a proven star.

However, if they don't, Jared McCain becomes an intriguing fit in Los Angeles. He can play both guard positions, score from all over the court, and provide spacing with his three-point shooting. He has the ability to be a D'Angelo Russell replacement for the Lakers.

This pick would be especially fascinating if the Lakers were to hire JJ Redick. The former Duke legend is considered a frontrunner for the head coaching vacancy in Los Angeles. Having McCain join him in his first gig as a head coach would be very fun to watch for Duke hopefuls.

More Duke news and rumors: