Video Of Rich Paul Talking To Mat Ishbia About Getting Maluach To The Suns At 10

[Dennis 37]

Knowing what we know now...I think Maluach was 100% Masai's guy and the moment it was made clear to Masai that he no longer had a future beyond this draft...Masai took a step back and let Bobby and Dan make the pick. Reports were that throughout the process that agents and other teams were dealing primarily with Bobby and not Masai...I think Rich Paul I'm sure also saw the writing on the wall and knew that Maluach wasn't going to the Raptors and it was clear that the next highest draft position that Maluach would go was Phoenix.

So ya...Rich knew that Masai was done...or at least that was feeling throughout the basketball world.

I would disagree with this. I called this out pre-draft, that Masai clearly values skill over measurements/athleticism at the C position. He held on to JV for 6 years, traded him for Gasol, drafted and reacquired Poeltl. Those have been the stalwarts at C. As far as the lob threat type guys go, those guys have been more afterthought investments; Biyombo, signed as a cheap FA and they didn't make an effort to resign him, Bebe (trade throw-in), and Koloko (2nd round pick). I wouldn't be surprised if the Raps had more guys ahead of Maluach, like Queen and Newell.

They didn't have the cap space to resign Bismack.

[TGM]

This is just filling in a narrative in hindsight. Hedgefunds do it all the time. They have a fluke year and outperform by a large margin they then look at stocks they bought and backfill the narrative as if they had predicted it all along despite could shear dumb luck. When you succeed you might have had 60% visibility but when you go back to tell the story you made it sound like it was all you 100%. This is pure marketing.

[inonba]

Who was actually surprised when CMB was chosen ? He is exactly what the type of player the Raptors like to choose. Players that can do it all, but can't shoot and prefer to develop that part of the game in house.

I agree with those who read Rich Paul already had confirmation that Toronto wasn't going to pick Malauch with the 9th pick. Otherwise, he would have said he would need confirmation from both Brooklyn and Toronto.

Also, post draft, reports are out that there were teams looking to trade up to take CMB. That's probably why trading down to extract more wasn't possible. CMB was always the target, and it's clear the Raptors weren't interested in taking someone else.

[Cyrus]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/sport/nba-draft-khaman-maluach-spt

Read the section had Raptors drafted Khaman

[S.W.A.N]

How much you want to bet that our free agent signing this summer is a Paul client?

[ForeverTFC]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/sport/nba-draft-khaman-maluach-spt

Read the section had Raptors drafted Khaman

Weren't folks saying he had another passport?

If what CNN is saying is true, Maluach was pretty much undraftable for us. Though I would the draft guys would have figured that out and reported on it, no?

[basketballto]

He calls the Raptors and says his client won't sign so don't pick him. Bobby pivots. Or Bobby wanted that pick or both.

Based on their other picks I believe Bobby wanted that pick. Based on the recording Rich Paul calls Bobby agrees to skip the pick in return for a backup center to come.

[Raps in 4]

Investigation coming. I'd rather CMB but this type of meddling could have thwarted trade down opportunities, whether that be Phoenix or any other team.

Players have been doing this forever. Kobe was literally telling teams not to draft him.

[Raps in 4]

Maluach has super high bust potential for a top-10 pick. Masai doesn't draft those types of players with top picks.

[Bull-E]

Investigation coming. I'd rather CMB but this type of meddling could have thwarted trade down opportunities, whether that be Phoenix or any other team.

Players have been doing this forever. Kobe was literally telling teams not to draft him.

I actually believe players shouldn't be frowned upon for trying to influence their destiny. Where this toggles a red line is you essentially have a player's camp and an organization working together to orchestrate a draft pick, which flys in the face true competition.

[OakleyDokely]

A Rich Paul puff piece created to promote the idea that he weilds all this power.

Surprised Adell wasn't singing from the backseat.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

On pardon the interruption after the firing, in singing Masai’s praises Wilbon said Masai was the one to tell him about Maluach raving about him like 5 years ago - or years before the South Sudan team USA game. Just mentioning, that tidbit not that it matters anymore either way.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

I mean if the camera did catch CMB in an unguarded moment, if Rich Paul had been his agent, he wouldn’t have let that happen to him.

[traps#10]

Rich Paul and Masai have a good working relationship. Hopefully I’m not reading into this too much.

[pharring]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/sport/nba-draft-khaman-maluach-spt

Read the section had Raptors drafted Khaman

Weren't folks saying he had another passport?

If what CNN is saying is true, Maluach was pretty much undraftable for us. Though I would the draft guys would have figured that out and reported on it, no?

Yes, I think I read that if travelling under his South Sudan passport was going to be an issue, he had the option of travelling under his Senegal citizenship. Senegal is subject to less traveller restrictions than South Sudan. But let's be realistic... anyone with a slightly complicated passport is going to experience customs delays going into the US. It likely is mercy to Khaman to only have to deal with that once (when the Suns return home from a Toronto roadtrip) as opposed to once a week (every time the Raptors cross into the US for away games).

[bluerap23]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/25/sport/nba-draft-khaman-maluach-spt

Read the section had Raptors drafted Khaman

Can't they just buy him a Trump Gold Card?

Also - why is the Suns owner involved in draft picking?

[youngRAPZ]

Rich Paul likely doesn’t want the conflict of interest between Maluach and Chomche. He wants a path for Chomche to get paid.


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