2025 NBA Draft Discussion Part 4

[Naysorn]

Project in Mogbo
Project in Chomche
Do you add a 3rd in Maluach?

Or do you draft a skilled guard while moving someone else for a backup C since the plan is to re-sign Yak anyway.

maluach is a project but would be our 2nd best center from day 1 and could give u backup mins

[MEDIC]

so what makes him have higher upside than gradey?

Kon can operate on or off the ball, whereas Gradey is mostly an off the ball player. Kon has a higher baaketball IQ. He's a better defender than Gradey. He also appears to have a more reliable 3 point shot.

He's just a better all around player than Gradey. Kon has a pretty good handle. His ability to effectively dribble in traffic is underrated. Kon can actually be a creator, whereas Gradey needs people to create for him.

[MEDIC]

https://youtube.com/shorts/DtnHQ-kiA78?si=d17VbIgBD3VOWQ36

I see shades.of Ray Allen in his shooting.

[ArthurVandelay]

Malachi has only been playing the game for 4-5 years. Most of his competition was dribbling a basketball at 2 or 3 years old. He's got a tremendous amount of poise and bball iq for someone with very little experience. A guy with his size and mobility who is already displaying shooting potential is extremely valuable.

His nickname should be Projection

Khaman “Projection” Maluach

No one would be drafting him on what he is today.

If he hits, he is going to be handful in 4 years.

(Btw, I know Projection is an awful nickname)

Two years away from being two years away

His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years at Duke and he is 1 year younger than Williams was and 2 years younger than Lively II.

[Tripod]

Project in Mogbo
Project in Chomche
Do you add a 3rd in Maluach?

Or do you draft a skilled guard while moving someone else for a backup C since the plan is to re-sign Yak anyway.

maluach is a project but would be our 2nd best center from day 1 and could give u backup mins

Just because he would he our 2nd best C doesn't mean he will be a good rookie backup C next year. He for sure can benefit from playing bigger minutes in 905.

If we took Maluach, I would still try and find a good backup C for next year.

[Clutch0z24]

Im really coming around on kon.

Sent from my SM-G960W using RealGM mobile app

I am iffy on that pick....He screams a player that is a great college player but in the NBA just can never put it together....If i had to choose id rather take a chance on Fears>Kon

[MEDIC]

https://youtu.be/f0Eh3LBqpSM?si=rYYtHnuilQ8m3wsO

Good video. Kon going over film with his coach.

At the 8:00 mark, he talks about how he had never thrown an alley oop pass or run the pick n roll prior to this season. That's pretty crazy considering gow good he is at both skills.

[Vorticity]

just be happy we finally get to draft a highly skilled prospect since Scottie and with Darko and coaching team's high quality developmental system, just think of the possibilities in 2 yrs from now

nitpicking about it so much now ("i'd be sad/mad if we draft A") would seem silly in a couple of yrs.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

https://youtu.be/f0Eh3LBqpSM?si=rYYtHnuilQ8m3wsO

Good video. Kon going over film with his coach.

At the 8:00 mark, he talks about how he had never thrown an alley oop pass or run the pick n roll prior to this season. That's pretty crazy considering gow good he is at both skills.

He's not that good of a P&R handler and combined with limited athleticism and bag it means he will not have much on-ball juice at the next level. His straight line bully ball drives and lob passes to Maluach probably account for like 70% of the stuff he has pulled off on-ball and I don't value that so highly when projecting him. Competency in those two actions certainly could come in handy but it won't be the norm where he's pulling that stuff off as a featured guy on a nightly basis given he can't cook guys. No chance.

Nor do I think he has the athleticism to pull off a Korver or Grayson type outcome. But he's still an elite feel and shot acc (not volume) movement shooter with solid complimentary skills and non busted D.

[Duffman100]

Broome anywhere in the mocks?

[Naysorn]

so what makes him have higher upside than gradey?

Kon can operate on or off the ball, whereas Gradey is mostly an off the ball player. Kon has a higher baaketball IQ. He's a better defender than Gradey. He also appears to have a more reliable 3 point shot.

He's just a better all around player than Gradey. Kon has a pretty good handle. His ability to effectively dribble in traffic is underrated. Kon can actually be a creator, whereas Gradey needs people to create for him.

star potential or no?

i have zero interest in a role player at #7.

id rather take the gamble on a potential star and fail than draft a solid nba rotation player. u can always get those guys in trades.

[Psubs]

Broome anywhere in the mocks?

Might go late 1st.

#28 Boston
#29 Phoenix
#30 LAC

Those seem like good locations.

Highest reach would be #21 Miami. Maybe Atlanta at #24 (GSW) lets Capela walk and takes Broome?

[GIZMO]

With this staff being so good at developing and the front office at drafting, I will be comfortable with anyone we pick.

Can’t wait for the draft! I hope the basketball gods reward us with the first pick, would love Cooper Flagg, he has so much upside!

[MEDIC]

so what makes him have higher upside than gradey?

Kon can operate on or off the ball, whereas Gradey is mostly an off the ball player. Kon has a higher baaketball IQ. He's a better defender than Gradey. He also appears to have a more reliable 3 point shot.

He's just a better all around player than Gradey. Kon has a pretty good handle. His ability to effectively dribble in traffic is underrated. Kon can actually be a creator, whereas Gradey needs people to create for him.

star potential or no?

i have zero interest in a role player at #7.

id rather take the gamble on a potential star and fail than draft a solid nba rotation player. u can always get those guys in trades.

I am not saying Kon will never be an allstar, but he is limited. It really is hard to project him as an NBA player. He definitely has a high floor. Tough to gage where his ceiling is.

I think Fears & Johnson have skills/ athleticism that could potentially translate to allstar level down the road. Especially Fears.

Best fit for the team is Maluach. Maaaybe some.untapped allstar potentiall.

I think Queen could have allstar level offense, but I am not a fan of what I have seen from him defensively. This team needs a defensive anchor.

My 2 faves at 7 are Fears and Maluach.

[Ell Curry]

Broome anywhere in the mocks?

My guess is he'll get drafted by a team that has money issues (or upcoming money issues) and needs a big who can shoot, before our 2nd roundeer. Like if Mo Wagner wasn't Franz's brother, they could just cut Mo, draft Broome and save 10M on that spot in the rotation. Broome might not be a legit shooter but he's a much better rebounder than Mo.

If a guy can give you 15-20 minutes, that's worth a lot to teams like Denver or a Boston who has to shed money.

[Naysorn]

Kon can operate on or off the ball, whereas Gradey is mostly an off the ball player. Kon has a higher baaketball IQ. He's a better defender than Gradey. He also appears to have a more reliable 3 point shot.

He's just a better all around player than Gradey. Kon has a pretty good handle. His ability to effectively dribble in traffic is underrated. Kon can actually be a creator, whereas Gradey needs people to create for him.

star potential or no?

i have zero interest in a role player at #7.

id rather take the gamble on a potential star and fail than draft a solid nba rotation player. u can always get those guys in trades.

I am not saying Kon will never be an allstar, but he is limited. It really is hard to project him as an NBA player. He definitely has a high floor. Tough to gage where his ceiling is.

I think Fears & Johnson have skills/ athleticism that could potentially translate to allstar level down the road. Especially Fears.

Best fit for the team is Maluach. Maaaybe some.untapped allstar potentiall.

I think Queen could have allstar level offense, but I am not a fan of what I have seen from him defensively. This team needs a defensive anchor.

My 2 faves at 7 are Fears and Maluach.

fears and maluach are also my favs

maluach because we need an elite defensive big and SOMEHOW he might be able to get a 3pt shot in a few years

fears because he has all star swagger

[Indeed]

His nickname should be Projection

Khaman “Projection” Maluach

No one would be drafting him on what he is today.

If he hits, he is going to be handful in 4 years.

(Btw, I know Projection is an awful nickname)

Two years away from being two years away

His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years at Duke and he is 1 year younger than Williams was and 2 years younger than Lively II.

As a lob threat, the stats can be the same, but the Block and Assist are far behind.

Mark Williams (So year):
Blk 11.3%
AST 6.9% (9.5% previous year)
Unassisted at rim 23%

Lively:
Blk 12.8%
AST 9.8%
Unassisted at rim 25%

Maluach
Blk 6.9%
AST 4.2%
Unassisted at rim 20%

How can someone this tall with such low Block rate (half of other shot blocker) and his assist is not proven yet (just a finisher).
I am not saying he won't be an elite high-end 3&D rim protector, but the stats is way below other proven ones being drafted at the top.

He is just being drafted for potential. Two years away from being two years away.

[ArthurVandelay]

Two years away from being two years away

His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years at Duke and he is 1 year younger than Williams was and 2 years younger than Lively II.

As a lob threat, the stats can be the same, but the Block and Assist are far behind.

Mark Williams (So year):
Blk 11.3%
AST 6.9% (9.5% previous year)
Unassisted at rim 23%

Lively:
Blk 12.8%
AST 9.8%
Unassisted at rim 25%

Maluach
Blk 6.9%
AST 4.2%
Unassisted at rim 20%

How can someone this tall with such low Block rate (half of other shot blocker) and his assist is not proven yet (just a finisher).
I am not saying he won't be an elite high-end 3&D rim protector, but the stats is way below other proven ones being drafted at the top.

He is just being drafted for potential. Two years away from being two years away.

I can be selective in stats too to prove a point.

Those are some of the stats I had in mind when I said “His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years…”

Should be noted as the season progressed he’s played better. 1.2 blks per game (30 games) in non-conference and conference play and 2.0 blks per game (8 games) in March Madness. With a player that young and raw, that’s what you’re looking for.

Good reads:

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

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/khaman-maluach-unicorns-arent-real

From swish theory:

“Duke’s defense has a ridiculous 86.7 defensive rating when Khaman is on the court, compared to a still elite 90.1 when off. However, their opponents’ rim shooting goes down a sharp 12 percentage points from 57% to 45% when Maluach is on the court, and on lower volume, too (numbers versus top 100 teams only).”

I’d take lower rim percentage over higher blk % fwiw

There are definite question marks about his game and rate of development, but I won’t mind if he’s the pick. Raptors have earned my trust in their selections.

[bonjovi0308]

Since when did the consensus ever got right in guessing whom Masai will pick? This will probably be our last time getting a top 10 pick for a while so he will likely make a home run pick - it won't be Maluach. My guess is Fears, Jase, Noah Penda or any athletic freak but raw

[Indeed]

His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years at Duke and he is 1 year younger than Williams was and 2 years younger than Lively II.

As a lob threat, the stats can be the same, but the Block and Assist are far behind.

Mark Williams (So year):
Blk 11.3%
AST 6.9% (9.5% previous year)
Unassisted at rim 23%

Lively:
Blk 12.8%
AST 9.8%
Unassisted at rim 25%

Maluach
Blk 6.9%
AST 4.2%
Unassisted at rim 20%

How can someone this tall with such low Block rate (half of other shot blocker) and his assist is not proven yet (just a finisher).
I am not saying he won't be an elite high-end 3&D rim protector, but the stats is way below other proven ones being drafted at the top.

He is just being drafted for potential. Two years away from being two years away.

I can be selective in stats too to prove a point.

Those are some of the stats I had in mind when I said “His stats are comparable (better in some areas, worse in others) relative to Dereck Lively II and Mark Williams in their freshman years…”

Should be noted as the season progressed he’s played better. 1.2 blks per game (30 games) in non-conference and conference play and 2.0 blks per game (8 games) in March Madness. With a player that young and raw, that’s what you’re looking for.

Good reads:

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

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/khaman-maluach-unicorns-arent-real

From swish theory:

“Duke’s defense has a ridiculous 86.7 defensive rating when Khaman is on the court, compared to a still elite 90.1 when off. However, their opponents’ rim shooting goes down a sharp 12 percentage points from 57% to 45% when Maluach is on the court, and on lower volume, too (numbers versus top 100 teams only).”

I’d take lower rim percentage over higher blk % fwiw

There are definite question marks about his game and rate of development, but I won’t mind if he’s the pick. Raptors have earned my trust in their selections.

So you mean other teams against Lively, Mark Williams, and other elite defensive bigs would not have lower rim percentage, yet, only Maluach could have done this? Sounds like a generation talent.

Keep in mind, the defensive rating or rim percentage is also a team rating, it may not necessarily be Maluach alone, while Flagg and others may also contribute to it.