2025 NBA Draft Prospect Part 3

[LoveMyRaps]

Queen outperforming Harper and Ace in that first half.

I'm still not sure if he can excel at the NBA level.

[Brinbe]

If we're not in the top 4, I think I'm going with Khaman.

I know some will flame it idgaf lol to each their own who's their favorite pick. But I think his potential is as good as anyone's outside the top 4 and his raw skill set is almost exactly what we need at the position (size, lob threat, good at finishing around the basket in general and of course signs of an outside shot, good FT percentage which is a further encouraging sign for his jumper long term).

7'2 with a 7'6 wingspan and probably will be around 270pds around his prime, that just doesn't grow on trees. But there is A LOT there for them to work with him and if there's any place that prides themselves (rightfully so) and their development and likely to get the best out of him, it's here so I'd like to take that shot. He could be an absolute monster if he reaches anywhere near his potential but at bare minimum you've found your long term starter to replace Yak who is obv not quite on the same timeline but also presents the IDEAL fit as he may not develop into an Embiid level player BUT if he just gets better at things he already does (again rim running, finishing around the basket & able to knock down open jumpers) that would completely change the dynamics on the court for guys like Scottie & RJ to get to the rim easier and everyone to work in a clearer mid-range (for SB & BI). Plus I think we're gonna need REAL size (pause) to handle Mobley/Allen, Giannis, Embiid, Paolo/Franz, Tatum/Kristaps, going forward.

Yep. I think that's part of their planning. Once you get out of that top 4 range, it gets a lot more flat in terms of prospects and that's why I don't think they're too worried if they fall out of the top 4/5 because they'll snag Maluach at worst. And if someone jumps up to take him higher, that leaves someone like Edgecombe falling to them.

Absolute worst-case scenario you're still adding someone like Jak, Tre Johnson, Fears, Newell, Queen, Sorber.

.

Why do we like Maluach more than Chomche? Because he's 3 inches taller? Chomche looks more mobile.

Using a later pick on a Ware is better than using a top 10 pick on Clingan or Edey.

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights. Mobile rim protecter/constant lob threat/potential ability to make some jump shots. You project out and that's a hell of a player.

[Indeed]

Queen outperforming Harper and Ace in that first half.

I'm still not sure if he can excel at the NBA level.

I believe he can slim down and be quicker to defend PF. He is a year older, so teams may gamble for a younger player. However, a skill big will be in demand for many teams (easy to fill your guard, hard to find skill big)

[Psubs]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

[Brinbe]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

lol comparing him to Mark Williams is stupid as hell. He's nothing like Mark Williams.

[Dr. Nick]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

lol comparing him to Mark Williams is stupid as hell. He's nothing like Mark Williams.

Who’s a good comparison for for him? I’ve only seen hilights and tbh I haven’t been too impressed. The only thing remarkable about him to me is his size based on the eye test. Would love to be convinced otherwise tho.

[Ell Curry]

I guess his frame, shoulder width. Well he plays water polo and Aussie Rules Football (drafted by the AFL), so the endurance and toughness with contact is there.

I couldn't watch the game, but the stats looked like he played Broome at least even. I like the 4 assists (2 tos). I would now mock him at least just before Broome. Broome might be a bigger Taj Gibson level player.

He did make Broome look a little slow and short. I've always been a little confused as to why Broome can shoot the 3 okay but isn't a good FT shooter, but when you watch him, the 3s look okay and the FTs are ugly (he doesn't bend at all, really? Or I just saw a couple of bad ones and he's inconsistent with form?). But he gets blocks, rebounds, assists with low TOs. Maybe like a Kurt Thomas type?

Some team near the end of the first will probably take him to get a cheap rotation big immediately, like if the Pacers have to dump Obi Toppin and need a big, or OKC with the Clippers first. Even Dallas would make sense if they do it so they can move Gafford, Hardy and a future 1st for the 2nd perimeter creator they need now. So I doubt he gets to our 2nd rounder, just because of financial concerns really.

[Psubs]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

lol comparing him to Mark Williams is stupid as hell. He's nothing like Mark Williams.

But why? I don't believe Duke has played against a team with a C that is in the top 100 Big Board or a future NBA prospect.

I think he's doing okay because he's just taller and bigger.

[Brinbe]

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

lol comparing him to Mark Williams is stupid as hell. He's nothing like Mark Williams.

Who’s a good comparison for for him? I’ve only seen hilights and tbh I haven’t been too impressed. The only thing remarkable about him to me is his size based on the eye test. Would love to be convinced otherwise tho.

I'd suggest just actually watching some Duke games and just watching him for a bit because it's pretty apparent what he brings already. He scares off a lot of shot attempts in the paint just due to his size and is pretty much always a lob threat and that's not an exagerration. That's with him sticking to a tight role and barely scratching the surface of his potential. Is he perfect? Not at all and he does make a lot of mistakes but we're trying to project things out to what he could be once he hits his prime.
good write-up here

https://theswishtheory.com/scouting-reports/khaman-maluach/

With his floor spacing potential, rim finishing superiority, and potential ball skill competency, Maluach’s ceiling as an offensive player is quite high. Due to the variety of ways he can improve, the floor is high, too. If Kristaps Porzingis is the reasonable upside comparison on offense, that puts Khaman as a +2-3 points per 100 offensive player in his peak, in the range of 25th to 50th best offensive player in the league. If the shot really hits and he is able to string together a couple dribbles consistently, we smash through that ceiling.

On defense, Maluach will likely take up primary rim protector duties, perhaps in bench units to begin his career, rather than as a helpside four. He is mobile enough, however, to play next to another big simultaneously (once again, think Porzingis next to Horford). This once again speaks to Maluach’s favorable combination of high ceiling and floor. If the instincts continue to improve at this pace, he will become a highly effective drop defender, even by NBA standards. He might be able to do that while not being taken advantage on switches, either. I don’t think a +1.5-2.0 points per 100 contribution on defense is out of the question, in the range of tenth to thirtieth best defender in the league.

Adding it all up, Maluach could range from a +2 to +6 points per 100 added in his prime. In simpler terms, I cannot rule out All NBA appearances and have a baseline of solid starter.

[DreamTeam09]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

What's wrong with a younger healthy mark Williams. He went 15th in his draft, in a redraft he's in the 8-13 range. Outside of the big 4 I'm more than okay taking Maluach. We need a 7'2 lob threat big.

[Brinbe]

Queen having a very nice game against Rutgers.

[DreamTeam09]

There's a big on San Diego State doing some wembyesque stuff, he'd be a welcomed addition in the 2nd if we take a non big with our first

[MoneyBall]

How certain can we be that Maluach really is 18 yrs old?

[Brinbe]

oh my goodness. that queen draft stock is gonna jump big time after this one.

[Indeed]

Read on Twitter

Posting this for that one guy in here

Thanks man!!!

Why would anyone draft Maluach over and Ivisic? Just because of age?

We need Wemby stoppers and right now we have none (that are ready aka Chomche).

Condon and the Ivisic's can hit the 3 and are big enough.

#6 Florida taking down #1 Auburn at Auburn is huge! This March Madness is going to be the most BONKERS tourney ever.

Zvonimir is shooting over 40% from 3, while Davis and Wagner shoot like 33 and 31% and go 1 for 9 from deep. Fland is hurt but really only Z should be shooting 3's on that team.

Wow, look at the fake and side step 3 like Wemby!!!

https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=43756111

Maluach and Sorber would be quicker, may able to play PF. But I am high on Zvonimir, his release is quick, would not mind having him play spot minutes. He could be an option in the undraft pool.

[Yallbecrazy]

yes go draft a guy longer than vj with 0.5x his ORB%, STL% and BLK% let me know how that goes.

Yup, it's the combination of those 3 things plus his AST% for me. It's been there consistently for him too.

Read on Twitter

He's been on this Athleticism x Feel query all season long.

A couple of other notable prospects in this draft currently just miss the cut, but have been on that query at points this season and could very well still end up on it: Cooper Flagg and Thomas Sorber (both just short on STL%).

Add free throw percentage and free throw rate as other important predictors of aggression and skill. Should factor in turnovers too.

Shouldn't CMB be on the list too as he's a stock and oRB machine? His assists are also good for a big.

[Indeed]

Because it's pretty obvious what he brings if you actually watch any Duke game lol. He's anchoring the defense for a top 2 team in the entire NCAA at 18-years-old and 7' 2" 250 is way bigger than Chomche. It's something you don't get just looking at boxscores or highlights.

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

What's wrong with a younger healthy mark Williams. He went 15th in his draft, in a redraft he's in the 8-13 range. Outside of the big 4 I'm more than okay taking Maluach. We need a 7'2 lob threat big.

On a strong draft with Sorber having similar impact, I think he is a bit high.

[DreamTeam09]

I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Mark Williams.

What's wrong with a younger healthy mark Williams. He went 15th in his draft, in a redraft he's in the 8-13 range. Outside of the big 4 I'm more than okay taking Maluach. We need a 7'2 lob threat big.

On a strong draft with Sorber having similar impact, I think he is a bit high.

He's 6'10, they're just noteven the same archetype

[DreamTeam09]

I'm just here to say my young boy Elijah Mahi is nice, he's been ballin at Santa Clara this year. Not sure he comes out this year tho,

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

oh my goodness. that queen draft stock is gonna jump big time after this one.

rutgers' defense is horrible, this game didn't move the needle at all for me