Charlotte Hornets Earn High NBA Draft Grade After Landing Two Former Duke Blue Devils, Bolstering Their Young Core With Elite Talent

The 2025 NBA Draft was expected to be a pivotal moment for the Charlotte Hornets, a franchise desperately seeking to climb out of mediocrity and into legitimate contention in the Eastern Conference. By all accounts, they nailed it—and the basketball world is taking notice. With their bold decision to draft not one but two former Duke Blue Devils, the Hornets delivered a message that they are ready to fast-track their rebuild by infusing proven talent and championship DNA into their roster.

Charlotte entered draft night armed with lottery positioning and clear roster needs—particularly in terms of high-level perimeter playmaking, scoring consistency, and defensive versatility. But what separated their approach from other rebuilding teams was their calculated focus on collegiate pedigree and immediate impact over long-term projects. That’s where the Duke connection came into play.

First, with the No. 3 overall pick, the Hornets selected dynamic wing forward Khaman Maluach, widely regarded as one of the most polished two-way prospects to emerge from Duke’s program in recent memory. Maluach, standing 6-foot-10 with elite length, shooting touch, and defensive instincts, was a cornerstone player during his lone season with the Blue Devils. Scouts raved about his maturity, basketball IQ, and ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game.

In selecting Maluach, the Hornets addressed both a positional need and a philosophical one. Charlotte has long lacked a legitimate two-way wing capable of anchoring their defense while also spacing the floor and creating offense within the flow of the game. Maluach projects to be that player—a modern hybrid forward with shades of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s defensive impact and Michael Porter Jr.’s perimeter shooting prowess.

But the Hornets weren’t done turning heads.

With their second pick in the first round, acquired via a previous trade, Charlotte doubled down on Blue Devil brilliance by selecting point guard Tyrese Proctor at No. 15 overall. Proctor, a 6-foot-5 playmaker, carved out a reputation at Duke as one of the smartest floor generals in the college game. His combination of vision, composure, and perimeter shooting made him a coveted prospect, particularly for teams in need of backcourt stability and high-IQ leadership.

For Charlotte, the decision to bring in both Maluach and Proctor signals an aggressive intent to reshape their core around players with elite college experience, proven winning habits, and a shared developmental background. There’s also a deeper strategic logic to the Duke double-dip: by drafting two players already familiar with each other’s games, the Hornets are banking on accelerated chemistry and reduced adjustment periods—an often overlooked factor for young teams integrating multiple rookies.

NBA analysts were quick to heap praise on Charlotte’s draft haul, with several media outlets assigning them one of the night’s highest overall grades. ESPN’s draft expert Jonathan Givony awarded the Hornets an “A,” noting that “Charlotte not only addressed key roster gaps but did so with players who bring immediate impact and long-term upside.” Similarly, The Athletic ranked the Hornets’ draft among the top three in the league, applauding their willingness to prioritize polished skill sets over raw athleticism.

It’s easy to see why optimism is suddenly surging in Buzz City.

Pairing Maluach and Proctor with existing franchise cornerstones like LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams gives Charlotte one of the most intriguing young rosters in the NBA. Ball remains the offensive engine—a dynamic playmaker and scorer whose health will be critical to the team’s ceiling. Miller, last year’s No. 2 pick, flashed All-Star potential with his smooth shooting stroke and defensive versatility. Williams has blossomed into an intimidating interior presence, anchoring the defense with shot-blocking and rebounding.

But prior to the draft, the Hornets still lacked the connective tissue—a true defensive wing and a stabilizing guard—to elevate their talent into a cohesive unit. That’s precisely where Maluach and Proctor fit seamlessly.

Maluach’s defensive versatility allows Charlotte to deploy switch-heavy schemes, something head coach Steve Clifford has long favored but lacked the personnel to execute effectively. His ability to guard multiple positions, contest shots, and rotate instinctively provides the Hornets with a defensive anchor on the perimeter. Offensively, his shooting range—hovering around 38% from three at Duke—and cutting instincts make him an ideal complementary piece to Ball’s playmaking.

Proctor, meanwhile, brings calmness to a backcourt that has at times leaned too heavily on LaMelo’s creativity. His ability to initiate offense, control tempo, and stretch defenses with his shooting (he shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc in his sophomore season) gives the Hornets invaluable lineup flexibility. In dual-guard sets alongside Ball, Proctor’s unselfishness and defensive effort will ease the burden on the All-Star point guard while providing another capable initiator.

Perhaps most importantly, both Maluach and Proctor arrive with reputations as high-character, team-first players—a quality the Hornets have prioritized amid past locker room turbulence. Their shared Duke background means they understand the expectations of playing under pressure, handling scrutiny, and embracing winning cultures.

While no draft class guarantees success, Charlotte’s approach offers a blueprint that resonates with both fans and basketball purists. By investing in battle-tested collegiate stars from one of the most respected programs in the country, the Hornets have positioned themselves to expedite their development curve rather than languish in prolonged rebuilding cycles.

Hornets General Manager Mitch Kupchak, speaking to reporters post-draft, emphasized that the selections were as much about culture as they were about talent.

“We’re building something sustainable,” Kupchak explained. “Khaman and Tyrese aren’t just great basketball players—they’re competitors, workers, and leaders. We believe they can grow alongside our core and help us take that next step.”

The next step, of course, is playoff contention. Charlotte hasn’t reached the postseason since 2016, and fan frustration has been palpable during the franchise’s recent rebuild efforts. But this draft class, coupled with the steady maturation of existing young stars, has injected hope into the organization.

The upcoming NBA Summer League in Las Vegas will offer the first glimpse of the new-look Hornets, with both Maluach and Proctor expected to suit up. Early returns from training camp and preseason will further reveal how quickly this infusion of Duke talent can translate to NBA success.

One thing is certain: the Hornets’ front office isn’t shying away from bold moves, and the basketball world is paying attention.

By betting on Blue Devils, Charlotte has taken a calculated swing that blends elite talent acquisition with roster cohesion, positional versatility, and cultural alignment. If early evaluations prove accurate, the Hornets may have pulled off one of the most impactful draft nights in recent franchise history—laying the foundation for a future where Buzz City finally lives up to its name.

The grades are in, the expectations are rising, and with two former Duke standouts ready to make their mark, the Charlotte Hornets’ future suddenly looks a whole lot brighter.