Duke is coming off one of the most well-rounded rosters in the Jon Scheyer era—and arguably one of the best the program has ever seen. However, it was their inexperience that ultimately cost them in the Final Four.
This offseason, Duke has done a solid job retaining key players, though they haven’t brought in many additions from the transfer portal. One notable pickup was Cedric Coward, a top portal target, but even he may not make it to Durham.
“Obviously if it's that (I'm going to) be a lottery pick, yeah I'm going to leave. At the end of the day, I don't know if it's something specific I need to hear, I just know it's a conversation with my agent that will help me decide with the best information I have,” Coward said.
Coward has also made it clear that his primary focus is the NBA Draft, stating that unless he receives disappointing news, he plans to keep his name in.
“I’m 100-percent focused on the draft,” Coward said.
However, Duke's staff believes he’s likely to stay in the draft, and there are growing doubts within the program about his return. That uncertainty might force them to pursue another addition.
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“I think Duke feels the same way right now, that he is likely to stay in the draft right now. I like their roster, it just doesn’t overwhelm me right now. You take Cedric Coward out of there, even less so, they got some work to do, they need to find someone else who can be an impact player,” Jeff Goodman said.
The Blue Devils have players with tremendous upside, but they currently lack a true X-factor. If Coward doesn’t return, Scheyer and his staff will need to find another player who can make a significant impact.