Suns draft Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick

[Yuma]

He did make one earlier this season. I think he doesn't have to be a volume shooter. Just hit 2-3 a game. I think the key is if you only have one big, then a smaller guy will guard the center out at the three point line and basically concede the three. They need to have another big, or someone who can take advantage of that mismatch to let Maluach pass into a higher percentage shot by another player. Booker could even go middy of that.

 

[Ronin]

Suns rookie Khaman Maluach will have his playing time, later

Phoenix Suns fans want to see Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming now. But there's a process to their increased playing time.

arizonasports.com

 

[Yuma]

Suns rookie Khaman Maluach will have his playing time, later

Phoenix Suns fans want to see Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming now. But there's a process to their increased playing time.

arizonasports.com

I know Flemming is being marked as having to get time from Brooks and Dunn. In my mind Brooks and Dunn are BOTH small forward guys. Flemming is really the future at our PF spot. I know what this article says, but I also remember Jordan Ott complimenting how Flemming guarded Luka, especially for a rookie, when they played the Lakers. If he can guard Luka, there's not many guys he should have a problem with after that.

The Utah game, Williams was struggling to guard both bigs at a time. Brooks, and Booker ended up trying to box them out on plays. Ott needed a second big, be it Maluach, Flemming, or Richards out there because their bigs were tearing us up with offensive boards and put backs.

 

[Chaplin]

I know Flemming is being marked as having to get time from Brooks and Dunn. In my mind Brooks and Dunn are BOTH small forward guys. Flemming is really the future at our PF spot. I know what this article says, but I also remember Jordan Ott complimenting how Flemming guarded Luka, especially for a rookie, when they played the Lakers. If he can guard Luka, there's not many guys he should have a problem with after that.

The Utah game, Williams was struggling to guard both bigs at a time. Brooks, and Booker ended up trying to box them out on plays. Ott needed a second big, be it Maluach, Flemming, or Richards out there because their bigs were tearing us up with offensive boards and put backs.

We did see Oso and Richards on the floor at the same time in the Memphis game, so Ott does seem to be experimenting with lineups.

 

[Yuma]

We did see Oso and Richards on the floor at the same time in the Memphis game, so Ott does seem to be experimenting with lineups.

I guess Oso is kind of our 4/5 guy right now for Ott. That would have even helped against Utah.

 

[Chaplin]

I guess Oso is kind of our 4/5 guy right now for Ott. That would have even helped against Utah.

Except Oso can't be a 4 because he can't shoot. I like his point forward skills, but that inability to be a threat outside of 5 feet is really really harmful.

 

[Superbone]

Oso's lack of shooting and real size has really been a problem. I wonder if Ott's fascination with him will subside over time. I'd rather see Richards get the backup minutes as well as sprinkle in some Man Man.

Here's a question for you all, if we are significantly below .500 at the mid-point of the season, do you think we'll shift to developing our youngsters?

 

[Hoop Head]

Oso's lack of shooting and real size has really been a problem. I wonder if Ott's fascination with him will subside over time. I'd rather see Richards get the backup minutes as well as sprinkle in some Man Man.

Here's a question for you all, if we are significantly below .500 at the mid-point of the season, do you think we'll shift to developing our youngsters?

I think that happens before the midway point, probably between Christmas and New Year's.

 

[taz02]

Hopefully when Brooks and Green are healthy, we will have some games where the lead is sufficient to get Man and Fleming in.

 

[Superbone]

Hopefully when Brooks and Green are healthy, we will have some games where the lead is sufficient to get Man and Fleming in.

Which happened tonight but only for a couple minutes.

 

[Yuma]

Except Oso can't be a 4 because he can't shoot. I like his point forward skills, but that inability to be a threat outside of 5 feet is really really harmful.

I noticed he has taken the advice of Eddie Johnson and has mixed in a hook shot to go with the push shot. Oso needs a new shooting coach because he is so mechanical with no feel on his free throughs. His pregame warm up "jumpers" are horrible.

 

[Superbone]

I noticed he has taken the advice of Eddie Johnson and has mixed in a hook shot to go with the push shot. Oso needs a new shooting coach because he is so mechanical with no feel on his free throughs. His pregame warm up "jumpers" are horrible.

2 for 2 from the free throw stripe last night.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He did make one earlier this season. I think he doesn't have to be a volume shooter. Just hit 2-3 a game. I think the key is if you only have one big, then a smaller guy will guard the center out at the three point line and basically concede the three. They need to have another big, or someone who can take advantage of that mismatch to let Maluach pass into a higher percentage shot by another player. Booker could even go middy of that.

Uh, if he’s hitting 2-3 per game that means he’s taking like 6-8 per game. That IS a volume shooter.

 

[Yuma]

Uh, if he’s hitting 2-3 per game that means he’s taking like 6-8 per game. That IS a volume shooter.

Nah, I'm thinking just shooting 2-3. He makes one, that's good. Like I said, teams are now not making the center go out to guard the other center at the three point line. They usually let the other center guard the rim. But he would make another small, or a forward guard him, then we would have to get good at taking whatever mismatch formed. If he never hits any, then teams won't send anyone out to guard him.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Nah, I'm thinking just shooting 2-3. He makes one, that's good. Like I said, teams are now not making the center go out to guard the other center at the three point line. They usually let the other center guard the rim. But he would make another small, or a forward guard him, then we would have to get good at taking whatever mismatch formed. If he never hits any, then teams won't send anyone out to guard him.

Got it. There’s a difference between “shoots 2-3” and “just hit 2-3.”

 

[jf-08]

I haven't watched too many games this year. Is KM not playing much because of injury, bringing the rook along slowly, or some other reason?

 

[AzStevenCal]

I haven't watched too many games this year. Is KM not playing much because of injury, bringing the rook along slowly, or some other reason?

We don't hear much but Maluach is very raw.

 

[Superbone]

They are definitely bringing him along slowly. He is healthy.

 

[Suns_fan69]

Except Oso can't be a 4 because he can't shoot. I like his point forward skills, but that inability to be a threat outside of 5 feet is really really harmful.

I think it's especially harmful when paired with a 5 that also can't space, but it might be workable if he's with a big with a respectable 3pt shot. Khaman is the most obvious candidate here.

But, even as a small ball 5 it can work if all 4 others have good spacing/movement.

 

[BirdGangThing]

oso (at the 4) and richards at the same time has been working at times

 

[Mainstreet]

I haven't watched too many games this year. Is KM not playing much because of injury, bringing the rook along slowly, or some other reason?

I think the Suns are bringing Malauch along gradually.

He recently turned 19 so they need to develop his game. No need to throw him to the wolves.

 

[jf-08]

I think the Suns are bringing Malauch along gradually.

He recently turned 19 so they need to develop his game. No need to throw him to the wolves.

Gotcha!

 

[Superbone]

I think the Suns are bringing Malauch along gradually.

He recently turned 19 so they need to develop his game. No need to throw him to the wolves.

Or the grizzlies or bulls for that matter.

 

[JCSunsfan]

oso (at the 4) and richards at the same time has been working at times

Oso's passing has helped him be useful on offense.

 

[Hoop Head]

I haven't watched too many games this year. Is KM not playing much because of injury, bringing the rook along slowly, or some other reason?

Watch more games!

I believe the Suns are also trying to keep Richards value up. He's approximately 30 years old and is on an expiring deal around $5 million. Very easy to move that for a player on a rookie contract in their first 4 years or some 2nd round picks. They have Williams, Oso, and Maluach at C for now and the foreseeable future but Richards is trade bait. If we can somehow turn him into a couple of 2nd round picks or even a protected 1st then that should happen. He needs to be the primary backup to keep his minutes up. He hasn't been bad in that role this year either.