The Duke men’s basketball team must bid farewell to all five starters from last season’s roster. Each member of the lineup that brought Duke to the Final Four will take his talents to the professional level, and three are expected to become top-10 picks in the NBA Draft this June.
Cooper Flagg is expected to be the number one overall pick, while Kon Kneuppel and Khaman Maluach are projected to be selected in the top 10.
Can Khaman Maluach solve Lakers’ center woes?
The biggest issue the Los Angeles Lakers faced in their first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves was the lack of a potent big man on the court. Head coach JJ Reddick opted for “small ball” for most of the series. Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert dominated the Lakers in games four and five.
The Lakers’ center position needs urgent attention this off-season, and both Reddick and GM Rob Pelinka have admitted this. Maluach is considered the best center in this year’s draft class.
The Los Angeles Lakers are arguably the biggest franchise in the NBA and would be an exciting spot for the Sudanese center.
Don’t be shocked if multiple teams look to trade up for Maluach.
The Duke product is the exact type of athletic big man teams are looking for, especially a team like the Lakers. https://t.co/g3F7aIZN4T
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) May 1, 2025
Maluach would be the perfect fit for the Lakers, except that the Lakers do not have a first-round pick. For Maluach to land in Los Angeles, the Lakers must sacrifice a lot by trading up for a lottery pick.
The only draft pick owned by the Lakers this year is a second-round number 55 slot, meaning it would take a huge sacrifice of current players and future picks to get a lottery slot.
KEEP READING: Could the Utah Jazz Select the Superstar Duke Trio of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach in the NBA Draft?
Maluach started all 39 games for a Duke squad that finished 35-4 overall and reached the Final Four in Jon Scheyer’s third season at the helm in Durham. He averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game, shooting 71.2 percent from the field and 76.6 percent at the line.
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