As the NBA trade deadline barrels toward Thursday’s 3PM EST cutoff, front offices across the league are scrambling to finalize deals-and Wednesday brought a flurry of movement involving some familiar names, particularly for Duke basketball fans. Three former Blue Devils were on the move in a whirlwind of trades that reshuffled rosters and opened up intriguing new opportunities.
Let’s start with Marvin Bagley, whose journey continues with a fresh start in Dallas. Bagley was part of a massive eight-player trade that sent Anthony Davis to Washington.
In return, the Mavericks received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Bagley, and a haul of draft capital-two future first-round picks and three second-rounders. That’s a significant return for a team looking to build around youth and versatility.
For Bagley, the move is another chapter in a pro career that’s been derailed at times by injuries. But there’s no denying the talent that made him a standout during his lone season at Duke.
Back in 2017-18, Bagley was a force-averaging 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds while shooting over 61% from the field. He became just the third player ever to lead the ACC in scoring, rebounding, and field-goal percentage in a single season.
That kind of production doesn’t just disappear-it just needs the right setting to resurface.
In Dallas, Bagley joins a young, evolving core that includes fellow Blue Devil one-and-done Cooper Flagg and veteran star Kyrie Irving, once he returns from ACL rehab. There’s a real opportunity here for Bagley to carve out meaningful minutes and re-establish himself as a contributor on a team with playoff aspirations.
Meanwhile, another seasoned Duke product, Mason Plumlee, is on the move as well. The veteran center was traded from Charlotte to Oklahoma City in exchange for Ousmane Dieng and a second-round pick.
Plumlee brings a steady presence to a Thunder team that’s been hunting for frontcourt depth, especially with postseason ambitions heating up. Dieng, however, won’t suit up for the Hornets-he’s already been rerouted to Chicago, where he’ll join forces with Tre Jones.
But OKC wasn’t done dealing. Shortly after acquiring Plumlee, the Thunder made another Blue Devil addition, trading for Jared McCain in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick (via Houston) and three second-rounders. That’s a notable investment in a young guard who’s already shown flashes of high-ceiling potential.
McCain, the 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft, started his rookie campaign on fire-averaging 15.3 points over his first 23 games, including a record-setting run with eight straight games of 3+ made threes and seven consecutive 20-point performances. A knee injury slowed him down, and his numbers have dipped since returning (6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 16.8 minutes), but the upside is still very much there.
At Duke, McCain was a big-moment player from day one. He earned ACC All-Rookie honors, All-ACC Honorable Mention, and was named to the NCAA regional all-tournament team. He also delivered some eye-popping performances, including a 35-point outburst at Florida State that tied Zion Williamson’s Duke freshman scoring record, and a game with eight made threes-the most ever by a Duke freshman.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined, McCain should get a real shot to contribute right away in OKC. For a Thunder team that’s built a reputation for developing young talent, this could be a perfect fit.
One name that hasn’t moved-at least not yet-is Tyus Jones. The veteran guard is on a one-year deal with the Orlando Magic, and while nothing’s official, there’s been plenty of chatter about a potential move as Orlando looks to trim salary. Whether a deal materializes before the deadline remains to be seen, but it’s definitely a situation worth watching.
As the clock ticks down, teams are making their final pushes-some looking to bolster playoff runs, others eyeing the future. For the former Blue Devils involved in Wednesday’s trades, it’s a chance to reset, retool, and maybe even redefine their NBA trajectories.