Duke Basketball: What would you do in a Blue Devil switcharoo?

Luke Kennard 2016-17 and Cam Reddish

Both players are making a reprise in Mike’s switch and like I said before; Cam Reddish was a popular choice to be moved and Luke Kennard’s 2017 season could have helped a lot of Duke basketball teams no matter when they played. I think everyone believes as myself and Mike; that Reddish was just too talented a player and was put in a difficult situation with what transpired in 2018-19.

At first I wasn’t sure how Cam and Jayson Tatum would work together with Grayson Allen playing the point, but still leaning towards his two guard tendencies. The more I thought about it though, the more I liked it. Reddish could be more the play-maker that he was accustomed to without a true point guard on the roster and Tatum was more a half-court monster after initial action and devastator in transition in his lone Duke basketball season.

While Kennard was a better shooter, Reddish was a much better defender and Duke still had four players who shot at least 34% from 3 with at least 117 attempts. The 2017 team also had only two players who averaged over a steal a game and only three who dished out over two assists with Allen leading the way at 3.5.

Cam was a willing passer and put into a more point forward role, a la Grant Hill, he would have increased his totals most likely. Cam playing a two-man game with either Allen or Tatum would have been difficult to contend with and Cam could have been more free to show his talent.

Kennard would give the 2019 team the consistent shooting presence they sorely lacked that season. He was also such an efficient player that he could have offset, slightly, some of the turnovers that ranked them #317 that year. Luke could also have been a reliable secondary ball-handler and was proficient at setting the table for others and making the right play.

His smarts and leadership through his play would have been invaluable to that group of freshmen as talented as they were. He could have also played off the ball as a lethal catch-and-shoot guy because he was so adept at playing a variety of roles.