Prospect Spotlight 2022: Malaki Branham

[atlantabbq99]

Hawks should draft Walker Kessler or Mark Williams, but Malaki Branham looks like the next Jordan Poole or Khris Middleton

Malaki could easily be a non lottery pick that ends up being an all star 5 years down the line.

[Jamaaliver]

Malaki Branham | 6-4 freshman | SG | Ohio State

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The draft world tends to over-index on bucket-getting when the more telling information for NBA purposes is in every other column of the stat sheet. Branham fares poorly in almost all of those areas, which is why it’s tough to put him in my top 20.

That said … he can score, and that may translate enough to offset his other weaknesses. Branham scored 30.8 points per 100 possessions in Big Ten games as a freshman, and did it efficiently (62.8 true shooting percentage). He displayed a believable jump shot (41.3 percent from 3 on low-ish volume, 83.3 percent from the line and heaps of pull-ups) and the size and length to hit shots over defenders.

He’ll need to score because Branham’s defensive clips are … not great. While his size and length package should theoretically make him a defensive obstacle, his slides were notably slow and opposing dribblers had a pretty easy time turning the corner against him. He also wasn’t a disruptive or anticipatory defender, with a pretty shockingly low steal rate for a first-round guard prospect.

Nonetheless, a guard with his size and shooting ability has relatively abundant pathways to becoming somewhat useful, and there’s at least some upside here that he blasts off as a scorer. I think the odds on that package are overrated at the moment, but I’d rate Branham as a better prospect than, say, Cam Thomas a year ago, and think he’s a worthy gamble in the 20s.

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

2022 NBA mock draft

16. Atlanta Hawks

Malaki Branham | Freshman | SG

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The Hawks, perpetually one of the most active front offices in the NBA, are said to be exploring a host of options to strengthen their defense and better position themselves to make a playoff run next season. John Collins could be a catalyst for a major draft-day trade. Should the Hawks still be picking at this spot when the dust settles, a player like Branham could make a lot of sense, as he has a strong case to be considered the most talented prospect on the board.

Branham's combination of size, frame, length, scoring instincts and shot-making prowess off the dribble (44% FG%) and with his feet set (43%) look seamlessly translatable to what the NBA is looking for at his position. He plays with a unique combination of aggressiveness and poise for a player who just turned 19, and the fact that he made such impressive strides as the season moved on, facilitating more for others and showing competitiveness defensively one-on-one, gives him a high ceiling as a prospect.

ESPN Insider

[Jamaaliver]

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[atlantabbq99]

Hawks should draft Walker Kessler or Mark Williams, but Malaki Branham looks like the next Jordan Poole or Khris Middleton

Malaki could easily be a non lottery pick that ends up being an all star 5 years down the line.

I had Malaki #2 on my board just behind Kessler , i and said he could be an all star down the line. AJ is ok but he is not putting up the same number Malaki has been putting up in his last 7 games, when given starter's minutes, which is 18ppg, 49FG%, 40% from three.

[Jamaaliver]

I had Malaki #2 on my board just behind Kessler

ATLBBQ, does Malaki look...fatter to you this summer? Two months into his offseason?

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[atlantabbq99]

Branham is making me look good going so far but I wouldn't put too much on SL. I remember Marvin always looked great in SL but average in the season.

Ya Branham looks bigger but I wouldn't put too much into it. It doesn't take much for pro athletes to get into shape fast and if weight is an indication on on work ethic then its not a big deal because Branham isn't a big investment because he was a non lottery pick.