Magoon Gwath, a towering 7-foot forward from San Diego State, has earned a flood of praises following his last session. The redshirt freshman’s blend of size, skill, and potential has NBA scouts on the edge, hoping to get him before the other. Here’s a look at five teams that could be his ticket to the pros in the 2025 NBA Draft.
5 Potential NBA Landing Spots for Magoon Gwath
Gwath started the season as an afterthought. He wasn’t even the top freshman on his own squad, according to the Mountain West preseason awards. However, after only five months, he’s the conference’s Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and an all-defensive team member. Not bad for a guy who missed the last four conference games with a knee injury.
Gwath is a double-double machine, and his performance sheet can vouch for him. He swats shots like flies, ranking seventh nationally in blocks per game. Offensively, he’s got a smooth face-up game and can even dribble a bit, which is quite rare for someone his height. “Right now, I’m looking more towards trying to get to the pros,” Gwath said recently. The question is: where might he land? Here are some potential options:
1) San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs love nurturing big men with potential. Gwath could slide right in and fill the role of Victor Wembanyama while he is unavailable. His shot-blocking and hints of an outside shot would mesh well with San Antonio’s approach. Gregg Popovich’s staff could bulk him up and polish his game, making him a solid rotation player.
2) Oklahoma City Thunder
OKC hoards draft picks and bets on the upside. Gwath fits their mold with his long arms and defensive smarts. He can be paired with Chet Holmgren; then, two towers can stretch the floor. The Thunder’s data-driven style would love his three-point potential.
3) Portland Trail Blazers
Portland’s rebuilding and needs frontcourt depth. Gwath’s rim protection and growing offensive bag could complement Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. The Blazers have the luxury of letting him develop without rushing him into the spotlight.
4) Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies crave good defensive potential. Gwath delivers with his elite shot-blocking. He could back up Jaren Jackson Jr. or play alongside him, adding more rim protection and some spacing. Memphis would turn his raw tools into something fierce.
5) Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte’s defense needs help according to critics, and Gwath could be the answer. His shot-blocking and floor-stretching ability would pair nicely with LaMelo Ball’s pace-and-space game.
KEEP READING: Tre Johnson NBA Draft Projections
With no set big man locking down minutes, he’d have a real shot to shine early.
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