Suns draft Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This was Khaman Maluach against Team USA in an exhibition.

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I like that he didn’t hesitate on the 3 and it looked natural. I think this kid is going to surprise. He’s kind of like the anti-Ayton. Not as skilled . . . yet. But humble, hard worker, shotblocker.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Smart pick for suns maybe hopefully he becomes a better bol bol or mini ginaiis for suns

420 amber haze kush to a successful suns carrer)

 

[SunsTzu]

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[Covert Rain]

Williams contract is small.

Williams doesn’t have a no trade clause.


And Richard’s is 100% backup only guy.

Yep. Wasn't really comparing the overall contract, just saying from a reliability standpoint we are paying a guy who you can't count on in Beal. You would still think we would want to stay away from that let alone think twice about giving up assets 1st round assets for another often injured guy.

I hope because he is young and all his injuries have been different this turns into a fantastic trade. It's still a red flag for now.

 

[taz02]

One thing for sure. If both these guys stay healthy and reach their potential, we'll be in excellent shape.

Any idea why Mal. dropped to 10?

 

[BooksOrangePlanet]

One thing for sure. If both these guys stay healthy and reach their potential, we'll be in excellent shape.

Any idea why Mal. dropped to 10?

far as i can tell the draft turned into a guard frenzy early on - like 5 out of the first 9 picks or some ish like that - most of which were pretty polished

 

[Hoop Head]

One thing for sure. If both these guys stay healthy and reach their potential, we'll be in excellent shape.

Any idea why Mal. dropped to 10?

Most teams have Centers. He was projected as a 4-8 sort of a pick but New Orleans was the only team in need of a Center and they took Queen.

I'd also say Maluach's offensive ceiling could be questioned. He's a defensive big and spending a lottery pick on one isn't always an easy sell to fanbases. It was a smart pick but also a safe pick. There's many ways to look at it but I'd say luck was on our side, for a change. The Suns caught a break. I know how weird that seems.

 

[taz02]

Every time I start thinking how good this kid could be, I think na, can't be, he was a lottery pick by the suns.

 

[leclerc]

I watched "no days off" video on YouTube about Khaman Maluach and I am officially on the bandwagon. Rooting for you, young man!

 

[Superbone]

Dude’s jumpshot looks way better than Oso’s already

Not that that is saying much.

 

[Superbone]

Admittedly, I have stopped following the league closely, but I like the Williams acquisition. I don't think there is any conflict between Williams and Maluach. In the incredibly unlikely event that Maluach emerges as a starting-level center, then you have a decision to make, but that's years down the road.

Remember that the Suns passed on Haliburton because they didn't think they had room for him with Chris Paul already on the roster. That was a mistake then, and similar thinking would be a mistake now. Rosters turn over so quickly that, unless you're talking about players on enormous contracts, you can always clear a logjam if one happens to emerge. I am completely unconcerned about the possibility that the Suns may have too many big strong centers.

Exactly. We took BPA just like many said we should. It's not like he's yet another SG.

 

[Hoop Head]

The more I watch this kid in interviews and hear him speak the more I love him. I focused on basketball talent prior to the draft almost exclusively but his character seems to be greater than his athletic ability or BB IQ.

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[ASUCHRIS]

Huh, maybe bol can be our starting PF. I actually might be ok with that.

Why? Any time Bol plays significant minutes, it becomes immediately obvious why he doesn't get more of a shot.

 

[Superbone]

Why? Any time Bol plays significant minutes, it becomes immediately obvious why he doesn't get more of a shot.

He needs to concentrate on defense if he's still with us next season. If he added some intensity there, it would go a long way.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

He needs to concentrate on defense if he's still with us next season. If he added some intensity there, it would go a long way.

If his aunt had balls...

 

[SirStefan32]

Super excited about this pick. Maluach was the best choice. That said, remember that he is a youngster who's only been playing basketball for a few years. It will take time for him to develop, which is why the Williams trade makes sense. Maluach is NOT going to play 30 minutes per game. Even in the best-case scenario, he isn't really going to be a solid contributor for a year or two. With him being a young rookie, and Williams being injury-prone, I have no issues with having three or even four centers on the roster.

 

[Covert Rain]

Super excited about this pick. Maluach was the best choice. That said, remember that he is a youngster who's only been playing basketball for a few years. It will take time for him to develop, which is why the Williams trade makes sense. Maluach is NOT going to play 30 minutes per game. Even in the best-case scenario, he isn't really going to be a solid contributor for a year or two. With him being a young rookie, and Williams being injury-prone, I have no issues with having three or even four centers on the roster.

Have they posted the "room" reaction when they drafted him yet? I have not looked. I think it's telling that Gambo came out before the draft and gave his top 5. He didn't have Maluach in his top 5 because teams were telling him he wouldn't be left on the board by #10. He then said, if for some reason Maluach was left his 5 are no longer valid because that's who the Suns would draft.

Who is his source on that team?!?!? There is no way he nailed that without knowing what was on their draft board.

 

[Adrian]

Kendrick Perkins loves the pick (NBA Today). He also loved the Suns picking up Robert Williams.

 

[Adrian]

I guess Perkins a fan now, since KD is not on the the Suns anymore.

 

[Adrian]

Khaman Maluach 'excited' to wear Phoenix Suns jersey, fulfills NBA dream

The Phoenix Suns had two draft picks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, and traded the No. 29 pick to the Charlotte Hornets.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Yuma]

One thing for sure. If both these guys stay healthy and reach their potential, we'll be in excellent shape.

Any idea why Mal. dropped to 10?

He was scheduled anywhere from 1 to 10 in the predraft videos I am watching. He made it to 10, and most videos said they didn't expect him to get out of that range, which he didn't.

 

[Yuma]

The more I watch this kid in interviews and hear him speak the more I love him. I focused on basketball talent prior to the draft almost exclusively but his character seems to be greater than his athletic ability or BB IQ.

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He reminds me a lot of Bismack, who ended up building a hospital by getting charitable donations and spearheading the effort.

 

[Hoop Head]

He reminds me a lot of Bismack, who ended up building a hospital by getting charitable donations and spearheading the effort.

I don't want to discount Bismack's charitable works as I'm not as familiar with him but he reminded me of Dikembe in how he seems to indicate he is representing the continent as a whole vs a single country. Maybe Bismack did as well. I love seeing selfless athletes who willingly take on that level of responsibility. It speaks to how driven they are.

I know Bismack has done a lot, definitely more than he had to, but I don't think he positioned himself as a role model of sorts like Maluach has done. There's a difference between walking a path because you believe it's right and doing that path while also recognizing your influence, if that makes sense. Guys like Dikembe and Bismack paved the way and Khaman seems to appreciate that while taking over for them.

 

[Yuma]

I don't want to discount Bismack's charitable works as I'm not as familiar with him but he reminded me of Dikembe in how he seems to indicate he is representing the continent as a whole vs a single country. Maybe Bismack did as well. I love seeing selfless athletes who willingly take on that level of responsibility. It speaks to how driven they are.

I know Bismack has done a lot, definitely more than he had to, but I don't think he positioned himself as a role model of sorts like Maluach has done. There's a difference between walking a path because you believe it's right and doing that path while also recognizing your influence, if that makes sense. Guys like Dikembe and Bismack paved the way and Khaman seems to appreciate that while taking over for them.

Manute Bol was similar, too. He even took up boxing after his NBA career was over to make more money for charities in Africa. I remember seing both Manute and Bismack having basketball camps and talking to youngsters as role models when they went home to Africa. Dikembe just had more PR than they did.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

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Nice watch. Thanks!