2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Kobblehead]

I'm really starting to think Essengue is gonna be that "LOL why did so many teams pass on him?" prospect.

I could see it. Here's how he compares to the two big french Fs in last year's class.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=noa-essengue--zaccharie-risacher--tidjane-salaun

Argument can be made that he's the best prospect of the three. The huge knock is the low 3PA, though.

[ProcessDoctor]

I'm really starting to think Essengue is gonna be that "LOL why did so many teams pass on him?" prospect.

I could see it. Here's how he compares to the two big french Fs in last year's class.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=noa-essengue--zaccharie-risacher--tidjane-salaun

Argument can be made that he's the best prospect of the three. The huge knock is the low 3PA, though.

Thanks for sharing. When I first saw his FTA rate I thought it was an error. Granted it's a smaller sample size than the other two, but still impressive across the board.

If his wingspan is over 6'10", then I think you have to take a swing at him at 5/6 or in a trade back.

[mjkvol]

I wouldn’t say there’s a single clip that got me hyped. I’ve tried to watch everything, his pre-Duke highlights, Twitter clips, even during that FIBA year when he played in my country.

I know you don’t have a lot of time, but this video gives a solid summary of his pre-Duke offensive highlights:

Watch on YouTube

This video is after his season with Duke

Watch on YouTube

This other clip shows his defensive upside at Duke. What impressed me is how he didn’t just play in a deep drop like most bigs his size, he showed versatility by playing at the level of the screen, and even switching out to shooters:

Watch on YouTube

He’s not going to come out and look like rookie Joel, Joel was about four years older than Maluach when he debuted. In the short term, Maluach will be more of a high-floor rim runner and defensive anchor. But over time, he’ll steadily expand his game through disciplined offseason work. He’s mature enough not to fall into the Christian Wood or Mo Bamba mold.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bJcUtOCSwzTqqyZgysWpbQ[/x]

Thanks for all of that. There are going to be some teams that might regret not picking this kid in 2-3 years, especially if he lands in the right spot.

[Negrodamus]

Spoiler:

What’s your best video that reminds you of Porzingis when watching him? Not being facetious, I honestly want to see one video that inspires “top 10” for me while watching him.

I wouldn’t say there’s a single clip that got me hyped. I’ve tried to watch everything, his pre-Duke highlights, Twitter clips, even during that FIBA year when he played in my country.

I know you don’t have a lot of time, but this video gives a solid summary of his pre-Duke offensive highlights:

Watch on YouTube

This video is after his season with Duke

Watch on YouTube

This other clip shows his defensive upside at Duke. What impressed me is how he didn’t just play in a deep drop like most bigs his size, he showed versatility by playing at the level of the screen, and even switching out to shooters:

Watch on YouTube

He’s not going to come out and look like rookie Joel, Joel was about four years older than Maluach when he debuted. In the short term, Maluach will be more of a high-floor rim runner and defensive anchor. But over time, he’ll steadily expand his game through disciplined offseason work. He’s mature enough not to fall into the Christian Wood or Mo Bamba mold.

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bJcUtOCSwzTqqyZgysWpbQ[/x]

Here's what I'll say (and I'll preface this that I haven't watched all these videos totally): I understand the thought process of putting him in the top 10 and even top 5. He's a 7'2, clearly massively long 18 year old who shot 70+% from FT and FG. He's a fluid athlete and has an insane range to finish alley oops. There's untapped potential, clearly. And when you're drafting from 1-10, you want to swing for the fences for an all-NBA player.

That said, he's firmly in the Ace Bailey tier as a prospect to me. There was so much in a full NCAA season, statistically and eye test, to suggest that both are not ready to come in to an NBA team and begin the process of showing out, in my opinion. So you're really betting on some exponential growth over the next two years that they will figure out the holes in their game restricting them from being an all star. I absolutely don't fault anyone for believing in him as a prospect, but there is way too large of uncertainty in his game right now that I can't pick him top 10.

Whenever I consider if a prospect is a future all star, I do a stroll down all of the ASG of the past 5 years and try to do college statistical comparisons. Not a fool proof comparison, but I haven't really seen many Maluach statistical comparisons for any Cs or PF. Just my two cents. I'll continue watching the videos though, thanks for that!

https://www.nba.com/allstar/2025/roster

[Kobblehead]

Maluach's per-36 minute block numbers are comparable to DeAndre Ayton's coming out of Arizona. I'm not buying him as a defensive anchor. He's huge and has great length, but he simply did not have the defensive production to back that up.

[Negrodamus]

Norchad Omier feels destined to be picked up by us if he goes undrafted. Morey said rebounding is a priority and he’s pretty elite at it while showing ability to do other things on offense.

[76ciology]

Maluach's per-36 minute block numbers are comparable to DeAndre Ayton's coming out of Arizona. I'm not buying him as a defensive anchor. He's huge and has great length, but he simply did not have the defensive production to back that up.

Both the numbers and the eye test show he’s a good defender. He’s impressively mobile for his size, closing out on shooters, able to switch, playing at the level of the screen, and still recover to deter shots at the rim which he is ELITE.

Bigs who can anchor a defense without chasing blocks usually have a high basketball IQ.

I’d rather have a big who’s versatile on defense and can deter shots at the rim, play against big and small line-ups than an elite shot blocker who lacks the mobility to defend outside a deep drop and play against small line-ups.

Defense is more than just stocks numbers.

[76ciology]

For me, the risk with drafting Maluach is whether his offensive game can grow beyond just being a rim roller. That’s how most people on this board seem to value him, and if that’s all he becomes, I don’t see him as a top 5 pick. He’d still be a good player, just not quite worthy of that draft range.

If that’s the case then I’d probably take my chances on Jakucionis (if he’s available; I have him 3rd) or Tre Johnson instead.

[76ciology]

That said, he's firmly in the Ace Bailey tier as a prospect to me. There was so much in a full NCAA season, statistically and eye test, to suggest that both are not ready to come in to an NBA team and begin the process of showing out, in my opinion. So you're really betting on some exponential growth over the next two years that they will figure out the holes in their game restricting them from being an all star. I absolutely don't fault anyone for believing in him as a prospect, but there is way too large of uncertainty in his game right now that I can't pick him top 10.

Regarding the Ace Bailey comparison, I think the genius of Maluach’s path is in choosing Duke and embracing a limited role, rather than going to Overtime Elite to showcase his ballhandling and shooting.

At Duke, he’s proven he can be a high-floor big. Even if his offense doesn’t fully develop, you’re still getting a Derek Lively-type player, someone who impacts the game on both ends. Versatile mobile big who can step out to the perimeter, protect the paint, be a rim deterrence and a lob threat.

Bailey, on the other hand, could’ve taken a similar route: go to some program serious in winning, focus on becoming a 3&D wing like Carter Bryant, prioritize efficiency, defense, and smart shot selection. That would’ve given him a higher floor, while still allowing teams to bet on his shot creation and long-term upside.

A good example of this is Andrew Wiggins. He has the athleticism, physical tools, and shot creation ability to be more than just a role player. But given the hype and expectations around him, it wouldn’t have made financial sense early in his career to embrace the role he eventually played with the Warriors, a winning style built on efficiency, defense, and playing within a system.

So during his time in Minnesota, he focused on showcasing his full skill set, which ultimately made him a high-usage, low-impact player. It wasn’t until he accepted a more defined role with the Warriors, taking smarter shots and leveraging his length and athleticism on defense, that he became a true winning contributor.

Would Andrew Wiggins have been the No. 1 overall pick if he played the same limited, team first role at Kansas that he embraced with the Warriors? Probably not.

[Negrodamus]

Maluach's per-36 minute block numbers are comparable to DeAndre Ayton's coming out of Arizona. I'm not buying him as a defensive anchor. He's huge and has great length, but he simply did not have the defensive production to back that up.

Just did a stroll down memory lane and my eyes are focus squarely on Jaxson Hayes as a comparison to Maluach. Similar FT%, 2FG%, USG, AST%. Jaxson had a better BLK% and FTr. Maluach is taller. Both made their careers in college as rim runners.

I don't care how much of a role they want you to play in college, you still find way to generate assists if you're to be a big man under consideration in the top 10. KAT was 100% put in a box at C while at UK; he found a way to hit 11.6 AST%. Smart, instinctual players find a way to generate those types of stats. Maluach's stats just don't suggest it to me.

[Mik317]

I'd take Maluach at 6

top 3-4? I am reaching for dudes who MIGHT be actual top guys.

I see him as a good-great starter like Gobert or Allen who MIGHT be able to space a bit. Which is great but I am greedy and hope against logic that we can get someone better....which includes dudes like Bailey who I flip flop on every second lol.

[Kobblehead]

Maluach's per-36 minute block numbers are comparable to DeAndre Ayton's coming out of Arizona. I'm not buying him as a defensive anchor. He's huge and has great length, but he simply did not have the defensive production to back that up.

Just did a stroll down memory lane and my eyes are focus squarely on Jaxson Hayes as a comparison to Maluach. Similar FT%, 2FG%, USG, AST%. Jaxson had a better BLK% and FTr. Maluach is taller. Both made their careers in college as rim runners.

I don't care how much of a role they want you to play in college, you still find way to generate assists if you're to be a big man under consideration in the top 10. KAT was 100% put in a box at C while at UK; he found a way to hit 11.6 AST%. Smart, instinctual players find a way to generate those types of stats. Maluach's stats just don't suggest it to me.

I like Mik brining up another Texas boy Jarrett Allen, who might also work as an outcome for Maluach. Allen's block numbers were even worse at Texas (although he was playing alot of PF there) and he wound up being a solid shotblocker at the NBA level.

100% agree about playmaking being a priority for a top pick at C. Honestly, even in not top picks. This draft is loaded with playmaking Cs:

Queen
Condon
Broome
Wolf
Yang

I'd much rather have Queen in the top 10 or one of those guys in the 2nd round than fill our C selection with a non-playmaker.

[Kobblehead]

I'm still in on taking acknowledged risk on Bailey.

He's the aesthetic gawd of the class with the best athletic/size combination profile.

In the very least, in starter's minutes, you know he's giving you 15 points, 5 boards, 1 steal, 1 block. So the floor is a Kelly Oubre replacement. And if he can shoot mid-30s from three, he can be quite an upgrade from what Kelly gives us.

It all comes down to if he offers any playmaking at all, though. If he can provide about 2 assists per game, he'll have tremendoes all-around value. If that bumps up to 3 or more, he's a fringe allstar.

[Negrodamus]

Nique Clifford is like when you look back at Derrick White stats at CU and think "how was this guy a fringe 1st rounder"?

[stormi]

It's starting to feel like it would be irresponsible to take anyone from #3-6. Trade down or trade out might be the move.

Just imagine having Kon or Edgecombe as your "big addition" this summer.

The main lesson I re-learn every single year of watching the playoffs / watching us lose along the margins, is the value of 16 game role players.

Will never understand the protesting of rating an Aaron Gordon or a Derrick White higher than a flawed “creator”.

[stormi]

Good grief. I remember this. He was nimble and light on his feet

All star peak John Wall btw

Read on Twitter

Easily a top 30 talent the game has ever seen.

[stormi]

I just can't overlook Ace's inability to get to the rim.



He's a low feel & low skilled athletic freak. Can't dribble, can't pass and can't create seperation.

He could be an all-time level 3&D prospect but he's being drafted to be Kevin Durant.

I'd almost rather we stayed in the 5-6 range than jumping up to #3 to evade the RCSI minefields.

[ProcessDoctor]

Nique Clifford is like when you look back at Derrick White stats at CU and think "how was this guy a fringe 1st rounder"?

Assuming the same draft slot, would you take a flier on Carter Bryant over Nique? Given the age disparity.

[Negrodamus]

It's starting to feel like it would be irresponsible to take anyone from #3-6. Trade down or trade out might be the move.

Just imagine having Kon or Edgecombe as your "big addition" this summer.

The main lesson I re-learn every single year of watching the playoffs / watching us lose along the margins, is the value of 16 game role players.

Will never understand the protesting of rating an Aaron Gordon or a Derrick White higher than a flawed “creator”.

Which is why I look at Derrick White in college and see that he WAS the creator for that CU team while also being an elite defender. Gordon I put in the Jaylen Brown category of being total statistical anomalies. Trash shooting stats, not enough stocks to feel good about drafting him as an elite defender, but he took his game to another level.

[Negrodamus]

Nique Clifford is like when you look back at Derrick White stats at CU and think "how was this guy a fringe 1st rounder"?

Assuming the same draft slot, would you take a flier on Carter Bryant over Nique? Given the age disparity.

Nique is in my top 10 on my big board, so no. I have concerns about Bryant.