The North Carolina Tar Heels have hired Mike Malone to replace Hubert Davis, after weeks of looking for a replacement following the latter’s firing in late March. Malone comes from a decade of leading the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, having won the 2023 NBA title.
North Carolina has been playing below their expected level for several seasons now. Here are some moves that could help Malone change this in 2026-27.
Top 5 Targets for Mike Malone to bring to North Carolina
5. Isaiah Johnson, Colorado (Point Guard)
The Tar Heels just lost Isaiah Johnson this Monday, as the freshman decided to join the transfer portal, likely because of Hubert Davis’ firing. Johnson could be an appropriate replacement, perhaps even an improvement. The Colorado freshman broke the school’s all-time freshman scoring record (16.9 points per game) and proved to be a dynamic playmaker. It would also be an opportunity for him to significantly improve the school where he plays.
4. Juke Harris, Wake Forest (Guard/Wing)
Harris is a solid option for North Carolina. Playing for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, he already has two seasons of experience in the ACC. This season, he earned Second-team All-ACC honors and was named the ACC Most Improved Player. He has an impressive size at 6’7″ and would become a reliable scorer for the Tar Heels. He averaged 21.4 points per game.
3. Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s (Forward)
An experienced Lithuanian player who played significant professional European basketball before joining Arizona in 2023. His first season wasn’t anything to write home about, but that changed when he transferred to Saint Mary’s in 2024-25. He has been a starter with them for two seasons, averaging 18.4 points per game in the last season. He was the WCC Newcomer of the Year in 2025 and earned First Team All-WCC in both 2025 and 2026. He also has an incredible stature of 6’8″.
2. John Blackwell, Wisconsin (Guard)
Hedging his bets, John Blackwell has decided to join the transfer portal and declare for the NBA Draft. The Wisconsin guard has one year left of eligibility and could be the kind of player who helps North Carolina pick up on the scoring that the Tar Heels are losing via Caleb Wilson’s departure. He averaged 19.1 points this season and was given Third-team All-Big Ten honors. In 2024, he was a Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
1. Flory Bidunga, Kansas (Center)
This would be a game-changer for North Carolina, as Bidunga is without a doubt one of the best players in the nation. The Jayhawks star is hedging his bets, as he declared for the NBA Draft and joined the transfer portal. In 2026, he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was named a First Team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. He would fit well in Malone’s post-play framework. He would transform the Tar Heels.
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