Paolo Banchero has lived up to expectations as the standout of the 2022 Duke basketball draft class. He was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic. However, two of his former Blue Devil teammates have experienced movement following deals made during the 2024 draft day.
Wendell Moore, who previously served as the Duke basketball captain, became the first player to be traded just hours before the onset of the second round of the NBA Draft on Thursday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves traded Moore and the No. 37 overall pick, which included Sweedish international prospect Bobi Klintman, to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for the No. 53 overall pick, which ultimately became UConn’s Cam Spencer.
Originally a first-round pick in 2022, Moore played a total of 54 games over his two seasons with the T’Wolves, but his statistics were modest, averaging only 1.1 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.
He struggled notably from the 3-point range, making just 2-of-23 attempts. Nevertheless, with the Pistons, a team in the midst of rebuilding and looking to alter its organizational culture, Moore has the opportunity to earn significantly more playing time.
Shortly after the announcement of Wendell Moore’s trade, another member of the 2021-2022 Blue Devil Final Four squad, AJ Griffin, was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Houston Rockets.
The Hawks received the No. 44 pick in the draft, eventually trading it to the Miami Heat for the No. 43 pick, acquiring Serbia’s Nikola Djurisic in the process.
Griffin, chosen as the No. 16 pick in the 2022 draft, showcased promise during his rookie season with Atlanta, participating in 72 games and averaging 8.9 points per contest while shooting 39% from 3-point range.
His second season in the league was fraught with injuries, limiting him to just 20 games and an average of 2.4 points.
Though the Rockets are aiming to progress in the upcoming season and secure a playoff spot, finding playing time for Griffin may prove challenging, particularly with the recent drafting of Kentucky sharpshooter Reed Sheppard as the No. 3 overall pick and the team’s involvement in multiple trade rumors concerning superstars.
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