Khaman Maluach is without doubt one of the extra intriguing prospects as a result of there’s no telling what his ceiling might be. His protection is already glorious, however there’s lots of room to develop on offense. The crew that takes him will financial institution on him turning into a two-way power down the road.
Minus a leap shot, Maluach does have all of the makings of a contemporary NBA heart. He’s a rim-runner, shot-blocker, and a lob menace. Plus, the offensive potential is tantalizing sufficient for a crew that missed on the next choose
5 NBA Groups That Might Draft Khaman Maluach
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are nonetheless attempting to infuse veteran assist with promising youth. Maluach provides them a very good mission to develop whereas additionally giving him a bar to clear with Jakob Poeltl as their beginning heart. Poeltl is 29 years previous, so he’s proper in his prime. In case Maluach isn’t prepared for the large time but, 4 years might be all he wants earlier than supplanting Poeltl.
Maluach may be taught the ropes of turning into a successful participant alongside a crew that just about is doing the identical factor. The Raptors have loads of playmakers with dimension. Including a uncooked heart with NBA-ready defensive instincts may make their subsequent contender in due time.
San Antonio Spurs
Of all of the groups that would draft Maluach, the Spurs are undoubtedly the scariest. Whereas Victor Wembanyama is already sufficient of a menace on each side of the ground, Maluach would give them a twin towers scenario that would make San Antonio downright not possible to attain on within the publish.
The Spurs weren’t even meant to be on this place, as they signaled they deliberate to win as quickly as potential with Wembanyama. Nonetheless, Maluach provides them a fair greater signal of hope. It might be drastic to place this on the market, but when he lives as much as his potential, he and Wembanyama may make the most effective big-man duo they’ve had since Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls proceed to be a thriller. Even after buying and selling Zach LaVine, Chicago has began to look promising post-trade deadline. Granted, they’ll seemingly find yourself with a lottery choose anyway, and Maluach provides them a promising heart if and after they half methods with Nikola Vučević.
Chicago’s flip to its youth motion has gone at a snail’s tempo. Nonetheless, Maluach suits higher with their timeline with Josh Giddey and Coby White. Time will inform if Chicago will get out of no-man’s land, however Maluach not less than provides them a promising massive man, which is one thing they haven’t had since Lauri Markkanen.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks will seemingly flip away from Clint Capela this offseason, and embrace Onyeka Okongwu, as he’s coming into his personal with a much bigger function.
Maluach would give Okongwu a partner-in-crime. Extra importantly, his defensive presence may make the Hawks extra cowl for Trae Younger’s shortcomings on that finish of the ground.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets don’t essentially want extra youth as they, one, have already got loads they’re attempting to develop and, two, are within the midst of their most profitable season for the reason that James Harden days. Nonetheless, in the event that they need to play double-big, there may not be a participant who suits higher subsequent to Alperen Şengün, figuring out how these would complement each other.
Şengün is without doubt one of the most well-rounded offensive facilities within the league already whereas displaying enchancment on protection. Maluach would assist cowl for his shortcomings on protection, and his rim safety provides Houston one thing Şengün doesn’t. Even when he doesn’t pan out nice, being Şengün’s backup is nothing to be ashamed of.
As a result of Maluach’s outlook is as a mission, it makes it arduous to find out the place he’ll land within the draft. The upper he goes, the extra seemingly it’s his first NBA crew will imagine in his ceiling. The decrease he goes, the extra seemingly it’s his first NBA crew will take it slowly with him.