Dat2U wrote:Khaman Malauch is like if the Brendan Haywood template existed in 2k with all the sliders maxed.
Much better mobility, hands, touch ... shooting potential.
Defensive rebounding is weak. Offensive rebounding is near elite.
He and Sarr are not a great or natural fit, at least initially. One of the biggest is both are weak at defensive rebounding, Sarr's development as it entices him to become even more perimeter oriented and the lack of spacing and versatility offensively.
The pluses are that both Sarr & Malauch are high IQ players so they could make it work. Sarr is switchable and Malauch appears to be as well. Sarr is better suited to guarding smaller, quicker players, rather than legit bigs at the moment anyways.
Sarr is proving to be a viable 3 pt threat and Malauch has shooting potential. Maybe the Evan Mobley + Jarrett Allen model can work here with Malauch even having more offensive versatility than Allen who is a great finisher in his own right.
I've definitely warmed up to the idea of Maluach. At this point, I'm leaning to Maluach after the top 3. Watching him in this tournament is only solidifying him as a prospect in my eyes. Even if we're just rotating Sarr and Maluach more often than not, he can still literally be a game changer.
For one thing, I'm tired of this team being soft inside. Constantly being an open runway for layups, giving up rebounds and 2nd chance points, getting physically punked and pushed around inside. Maluach instantly becomes an imposing deterrent in the lane. Him and Sarr together could be a defensively elite combo.
Regarding our 2nd pick, Carter Bryant is the player I'm setting my sights on. He is physically the prototype of what Dawkins looks for. Like Kyshawn, his college playing time has been somewhat limited, but you can see all the tools. He has great positional size (SF/Wing), length, athleticism, and defensive instincts. High character and motor, work ethic, and a sweet shooting stroke seal the deal. And he has youth on his side.
That being said... I would also strongly consider Wolf. The prospect of rolling out a Center/PF rotation of Maluach, Sarr, Wolf could be an absolute menace for the opposition to deal with. Wolf at 7ft with his handle and passing, hustle and rebounding, and ability to score inside and out, mixed with the length and rim protection of Maluach and Sarr could be special. A constant mix at C/PF of Maluach/Sarr, Sarr/Wolf, Maluach/Wolf.
Again, maybe we can add another 1st even if late in the round and possible get Wolf AND Bryant...
Fleming would also be a strong choice if he's still on the board. Fleming is more of a PF/SF, and adds more versatility defensively, can defend the perimeter and adds more rim protection more so than Wolf, but not quite as physical inside. With him you could rotate Maluach/Sarr at Center, Sarr/Fleming at PF, and Kyshawn/Fleming at SF. We could at time roll out 2 through 5 of Maluach, Sarr, Fleming, Bilal....
CMB and Essengue are 2 others in this category of more PF/SF, who fit the Dawkins OKC model of upside, versatility and length, but less likely to drop this far.
Now if we take Bailey at 3, or Harper at 2.... That 2nd pick I'm probably looking for Sorber with that 2nd pick, for some of the same reasons we'd take Maluach earlier. Wolf and Fleming would also be on the radar. Basically Bailey and Bryant play the same position, and adding Harper to the backcourt would push Kyshawn and Bilal up to more minutes at SF, negating the need or opportunity for Bryant there.
As far as the 2nd round... We do only have one 2nd round pick. We dealt the other 2 at the deadline...
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/washington-wizards/washington-wizards-2025-nba-trade-deadline-grade-marcus-smart-2Outgoing Wizards picks at deadline:
To Bucks: 2025 2nd (second-most favorable of WAS' collection)
To 76ers: 2027 2nd (via GSW), 2028 2nd (via GSW), 2030 2nd (via PHX), 2030 2nd
To Grizzlies: 2025 2nd
Now I believe the pick we still have is the one currently mocked at 42. But I'm not positive with that.
As far as that pick, and the 2nd round in general, is yo are now competing with NIL. So high upside Freshmen or Sophomores will probably opt to return to school and get NIL and enter the draft next year if they're going this low.
That leaves Seniors... someone like Raynaud, the French Center from Stanford, who I like. Or maybe PG Walter Clayton. He's killing it in the tourney. Both will be 22 when drafted.
The other option is to go for a high upside international draft and stash, like a Joan Beringer, or Michael Ruzic. Another possibility is 19 yr old Dink Pate who plays for the GLeague Mexico City...
Maybe some Sophomores & Juniors with limited upside who could actually hurt their draft stock by staying longer in college, like a Darrion Williams, Tyrese Proctor or Tomislav Ivisic. Maybe Miles Byrd.
I'd expect this future thinking front office to go the route of draft and stash with a Beringer, Ruzic, Grunloh, or draft Dink Pate and bring him in to the GO GO.
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