As the Duke basketball program heads into the offseason, some former players are waiting to learn their future.
The Duke Blue Devils are expected to undergo major roster changes heading into next season, with several key contributors from last year’s team now pursuing professional opportunities. Among the biggest departures are Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans and Maliq Brown, three players who each played important roles in Duke’s success.
Boozer enters the 2026 NBA Draft as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the country. The freshman forward quickly established himself as a dominant two-way player thanks to his scoring ability, rebounding and advanced feel for the game. His combination of size, skill and basketball IQ has consistently placed him in projected lottery selections across multiple mock drafts.
Evans also saw his draft stock rise significantly over the course of the season. Known for his shot-making and perimeter scoring, the talented wing showcased his ability to create offense at all three levels while improving defensively throughout the year. NBA scouts remain intrigued by his athleticism and scoring upside, which is why many analysts currently project him as a first-round selection as well.
For Brown, however, the road to the NBA appears more challenging. While he developed into one of the ACC’s premier defensive players and brought tremendous versatility, energy and toughness to Duke’s frontcourt, his offensive limitations could make it difficult to secure a guaranteed NBA roster spot immediately after the draft.
Brown’s defensive instincts, rebounding and ability to guard multiple positions continue to attract attention from NBA organizations. Those strengths recently helped him earn a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings, giving him another opportunity to impress scouts ahead of draft night.
Still, unlike Boozer and Evans — who are widely viewed as players with long-term first-round value — Brown may need to fight for a role through Summer League performances, training camp opportunities or a potential G League pathway. His defensive motor and team-first mentality could still help him carve out a professional career if he continues developing offensively.
Beyond his defensive reputation, Brown’s value at the Duke Blue Devils came from how consistently he changed games without needing high usage on offense. He often took on the toughest matchups night-to-night, whether that meant guarding bigger frontcourt players in the post or switching out onto quicker wings on the perimeter. That kind of versatility allowed Duke’s coaching staff to be more flexible with their defensive schemes, knowing Brown could cover for breakdowns and disrupt opposing offenses with his anticipation and length.
Over his two seasons in Durham, he also developed into a strong rebounder and a high-energy presence in transition. Even when he wasn’t scoring, he contributed through second-chance opportunities, loose balls, and rim protection rotations that don’t always show up fully in box scores but are highly valued by NBA evaluators. His effort level and motor became defining traits of his game, especially in high-pressure ACC matchups.
Still, his offensive game remained a work in progress, which is why his NBA projection is more uncertain compared to teammates like Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans. While those players are being viewed as likely first-round selections because of their scoring versatility and upside, Brown is more dependent on carving out a specific role at the next level—likely as a defense-first forward who must prove he can consistently finish plays, make reads, and stay effective when not involved in the primary action.
That contrast is what makes his pre-draft workouts, including the one with the Sacramento Kings, especially important. Those sessions give him a chance to show teams that his defensive impact can translate immediately to the NBA and that his offensive game has progressed enough to justify a roster spot heading into training camp.
