In previous years, 7’2″ athletes like Duke’s Khaman Maluach would fit in with just about any NBA team. Due to various factors this year, the South Sudanese standout does not look like a lock to start on every team that selects him in the top ten.
However, while some teams can work a mobile seven-footer into their lineup, others would potentially negatively affect the 18-year-old. Which five locations, whether inside or outside the lottery, would serve as a nightmare scenario for the Duke standout?
Which Five NBA Teams Would Khaman Maluach Struggle to Succeed With Most?
During his lone season at Duke, Khaman Maluach averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. The 7’2″, 250-pounder drew substantial interest from NBA teams looking to possibly select him in the upper half of the first round.
Sports Illustrated offered us a glimpse into Maluach from an offensive standpoint.
“On the offensive side of the floor, Maluach is still a work in progress. He isn’t known for being a primary scorer and is still developing his go-to moves. He has proven to be a decent mover of the ball when an offense gets flowing, but certainly isn’t a facilitating big. In fact, he still makes wrong reads and can be turnover-prone at times”.
With that said, what teams should avoid the center with upside but a raw skill set?
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid isn’t leaving town any time soon, it seems. The team holds a profound financial investment, owing the center $192,907,008 over the next three seasons. No one will ever take that contract off Philly’s hands, so the center position looks occupied.
Plus, Philly should not want their future center to interact with their current one, who shows a penchant for cantankerous behavior. Plus, in order to improve, Maluach needs extensive game experience, and Philadelphia will not deploy two seven-footers to clog up the paint.
San Antonio Spurs
While similar to the Philadelphia situation, the Spurs sit firmly in the category, but the reasoning slightly differs. The Spurs center around Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. The inside/outside grouping is based on pure athleticism.
Maluach can move, but he is nowhere able to keep up with the pace that San Antonio will establish. Granted, Maluach does display a budding ability to shoot from a distance. However, 25% from the three-point arc from a starting point doesn’t work for a tempo-first team.
Dallas Mavericks
Although the Mavericks need all of the talent infusion that they can get. General manager Niko Harrison will enter the history books as one of the worst decision-makers in league history, based on the Luka Dončić deal.
However, having Malauch as the starter while Anthony Davis gets healthy seems like a poor idea for the team. Furthermore, it would discourage Kyrie Irving from wanting to leave the mess despite the team’s option of $43 million.
Houston Rockets
While center Alperen Segun isn’t the shot blocker that Maluach currently is, he is light-years more advanced with offense.
The former Blue Devil does not pass the ball as well as Segun. Maluach looks hesitant and indecisive away from the hoop. He freezes when no dunk or layup presents itself. Can’t place a talent on the floor with a contender who is still rather unfamiliar with the nuance and speed of the professional game.
Utah Jazz
If the Jazz somehow do not land the top pick, they will need to avoid Maluach. Walker Kessler and Kyle Filipowski already locked down the pivot, and the team truly needs a wing scorer to supplement the play in the post.
2025 NBA Draft Lottery: Full Odds Breakdown and Potential Top Picks
Additionally, with the odds firmly in the team’s favor to draft high, within the top three, drafting a project at a redundant position would be the worst thing to do.
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