Welcome to the Phoenix Suns: Khaman Maluach!

[Qwigglez]

I believe sometimes luck plays an important role in what people or organizations do and we have not been a lucky organization many times, although you need to look for luck repeatedly in order to be successful.

Maluach fell to that number 10 and we were lucky. But it was scary to think that 48 h prior we did not know we were selecting in that position (may be there was a strong possibility, as the contacts with the Rockets developed over a long period of time) and, if not Maluach, I am pretty sure we would have drafted someone who would end up in a disappointing way.

I mean, a franchise investing million of dollars and a lot of its future should meet with the player, parents, family, coaches, friends, girlfriends and teachers several times before taking a decision as important as that one. With Maluach we are safe in that case, because he is humgry for success... but it could have been a complete disaster...

I would have been disappointed if the Suns got Derick Queen. Suns desperately needed size. I don't think Suns would have taken Queen, and rather taken Essengue who is a project in himself.

Hopefully we can look back at this pick in 5 years and say the Suns made the best choice.

[lilfishi22]

I believe sometimes luck plays an important role in what people or organizations do and we have not been a lucky organization many times, although you need to look for luck repeatedly in order to be successful.

Maluach fell to that number 10 and we were lucky. But it was scary to think that 48 h prior we did not know we were selecting in that position (may be there was a strong possibility, as the contacts with the Rockets developed over a long period of time) and, if not Maluach, I am pretty sure we would have drafted someone who would end up in a disappointing way.

I mean, a franchise investing million of dollars and a lot of its future should meet with the player, parents, family, coaches, friends, girlfriends and teachers several times before taking a decision as important as that one. With Maluach we are safe in that case, because he is humgry for success... but it could have been a complete disaster...

I would have been disappointed if the Suns got Derick Queen. Suns desperately needed size. I don't think Suns would have taken Queen, and rather taken Essengue who is a project in himself.

Hopefully we can look back at this pick in 5 years and say the Suns made the best choice.

I was ready to be disappointed with a Queen pick

[MrMiyagi]

Been watching some of his interviews - I would've loved to see this man play with the Twins. Dudes would've been best friends.

[Frank Lee]

It's not the worst pick. I'm just generally not a fan of using a top 10 pick on a 5 who doesn't project to be a franchise player. Get your rim roller in free agency or trade.

He may have been rated the number one C, but there is marginal difference between him and the next 10 Cs picked.
They all have their warts… but it’s not a stretch to think Sorber, Kalkbrenner, even Raynaud might be better.

A lot of hype attached itself to this kid in the tourney run. Was disappointed to see the subpar athletic marks from the combine.

He is slated to be an immediate back up… I wouldn’t expect anything more for… well….. may be that’s it.


Just puzzled by the selection paired with William acquisition. Curious to know when the Charlotte trade had been set. Yeah yeah I’ve heard they were surprised to see Kahman fall and had to take him, but I don’t think it was part of the plan….or If there even was one… one that made sense.

Both this kid and Fleming desperately need a good PG….

[Djedefre]

Absolutely. He is best rated 'cause Givony said it. But when you ask people to actually say, explain, pinpoint where his enormous talent and potential actually manifests, you get nothing palpable. I watched enough of his games not to be excited at all. Every single player you mentioned is a better basketball player than Khaman at this point. Repeating myself, maybe he is a madly dedicated worker and improves significantly in every aspect of the game in a few years, but it just doesn't look particularly realistic to me. I immediately think of Thon Maker...

[Saberestar]

His improvement during the past season.

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fkhaman-maluach-analytical-draft-comps-v0-myim5uufj71f1.png%3Fwidth%3D1099%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D36799490788df0e3be9429a6d639f437458f64ec

[Saberestar]

Marc Stein:

Toronto was said to have considerable interest
Khaman Maluach ..with Ujiri as his foremost
fan. When Maluach unexpectedly slipped to
them at #9 and the Raps selected Collin
Murray-Boyles instead, it was quickly cited
Friday in some corners of the league as
another telling development.

Nice for us that the Raptors were breaking with Ujiri and they preferred Murray-Boyles over Maluach.

I always thought that Maluach’s floor would be #9 to the Raptors because of Ujiri.

[Saberestar]

Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) breaks down why Phoenix Suns fans should be excited about Khaman Maluach and how he could transform their defense.

Watch on YouTube

[Saberestar]

Rich Paul asking to Mat Ishbia if we are interested in Maluach.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ew48r5XhvjY

[Saberestar]

With Khaman Maluach on the floor, Duke's
opponents shot 48.6% at the rim, the 2nd
lowest FG% in the country. With Maluach
off the floor, opponents shot 54.9%, 88th
in the country.

[Frank Lee]

This kid doesn’t come through then we blew this draft…. And we won’t know for two yrs.

PG was the play here
Could have had Traore, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, and Fleming. No need for Williams.

Azzhat on the hill trying to fish for Ws this yr when it’s a reset at best.

[WeekapaugGroove]

This kid doesn’t come through then we blew this draft…. And we won’t know for two yrs.

PG was the play here
Could have had Traore, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, and Fleming. No need for Williams.

Azzhat on the hill trying to fish for Ws this yr when it’s a reset at best.

You're not wrong they could use a PG in the worst way. But in my quick research of the draft Harper was the only PG who looked like a good bet to be an above average starter. I thought the rest of this PG class had more Qs than the bigs. Sears and the big Russian were off the board already at 10. Jako would have been an option at 10 but he has athletic and shooting qs and 9 more teams passed on him so it's not like the league viewed him as a sure thing.

Yes Maluach and Flemming need a PG but I wouldn't use that as reason to not take them, I'd just find a PG.

As far as Maluach his upside is from his rare size and that he's 18, started playing late, and has already come a long ways skill wise.

[lilfishi22]

This kid doesn’t come through then we blew this draft…. And we won’t know for two yrs.

PG was the play here
Could have had Traore, Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, and Fleming. No need for Williams.

Azzhat on the hill trying to fish for Ws this yr when it’s a reset at best.

You're not wrong they could use a PG in the worst way. But in my quick research of the draft Harper was the only PG who looked like a good bet to be an above average starter. I thought the rest of this PG class had more Qs than the bigs. Sears and the big Russian were off the board already at 10. Jako would have been an option at 10 but he has athletic and shooting qs and 9 more teams passed on him so it's not like the league viewed him as a sure thing.

Yes Maluach and Flemming need a PG but I wouldn't use that as reason to not take them, I'd just find a PG.

As far as Maluach his upside is from his rare size and that he's 18, started playing late, and has already come a long ways skill wise.

100%

You take BPA and figure out the rest later

[Qwigglez]

Watch on YouTube

[carey]

The more highlights I watch the more his movement on the court pops. Could he be our Holmgren? Idk but looking forward to finding out.

[Saberestar]

Gerald Bourguet:

I've heard a lot of great things about Khaman Maluach over the last 36 hours, but maybe the most encouraging one is that Jordan Ott, DeMarre Carroll and Ryan Dunn ALL mentioned how loud and communicative the 18-year-old rookie been on the defensive end

Probably seems like a minor thing, but that’s what you want out of a potential defensive anchor and it’s rare to see that from a guy that young. Also worth mentioning that all 3 mentioned it unprompted.

[lilfishi22]

Gerald Bourguet:

I've heard a lot of great things about Khaman Maluach over the last 36 hours, but maybe the most encouraging one is that Jordan Ott, DeMarre Carroll and Ryan Dunn ALL mentioned how loud and communicative the 18-year-old rookie been on the defensive end

Probably seems like a minor thing, but that’s what you want out of a potential defensive anchor and it’s rare to see that from a guy that young. Also worth mentioning that all 3 mentioned it unprompted.

I'm optimistically cautious. If he has an immediate impact even if it isn't like elite impact, there would be real floor raising next season. Having a defensive anchor at the 5 (as opposed to a wing like KD or Dunn) makes a big time difference.

[Saberestar]

Gerald Bourguet:

I've heard a lot of great things about Khaman Maluach over the last 36 hours, but maybe the most encouraging one is that Jordan Ott, DeMarre Carroll and Ryan Dunn ALL mentioned how loud and communicative the 18-year-old rookie been on the defensive end

Probably seems like a minor thing, but that’s what you want out of a potential defensive anchor and it’s rare to see that from a guy that young. Also worth mentioning that all 3 mentioned it unprompted.

I'm optimistically cautious. If he has an immediate impact even if it isn't like elite impact, there would be real floor raising next season. Having a defensive anchor at the 5 (as opposed to a wing like KD or Dunn) makes a big time difference.

I am deeply optimistic about Maluach.
Two things are big for me:

1) I believe in Danny Chau and Jonathan Givony. These two are some of the best at recognizing greatness in young prospects and both were really high on him.

Chau ( from the ringer) had him #4 in his big board. He talks about how fast Maluach learns the game and that he puts all the attention on learning from his coaches/teammates/staff.

2) After being drafted by the Suns I have seen multiple Duke’s games and I love Maluach's game as a 18yo C.

Yeah, he doesn't shoot the 3 ball and doesn't create at all but other than that (he wasn't allowed to do it) he plays as a pure C who provides terrific defense and rim pressure on offense.

[Fo-Real]

The more highlights I watch the more his movement on the court pops. Could he be our Holmgren? Idk but looking forward to finding out.

Twin tower Pf you say???

[Waylay13]

The more highlights I watch the more his movement on the court pops. Could he be our Holmgren? Idk but looking forward to finding out.

Twin tower Pf you say???

if you want a twin tower PF for defense I would look at matching Maluach up with Fleming (which is what I believe that the Suns are planning).