The Phoenix Suns could have not taken the obvious pick when Duke center Khaman Maluach fell to the No. 10 slot in the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
RELATED STORIES
On anniversary of drafting Devin Booker, did Suns find another steal in Khaman Maluach?
But since they took a near-consensus top-eight prospect, the Suns received near-consensus A grades for the decision to pick the player widely regarded as the obvious choice.
Here’s a roundup of trade grades from NBA writers across the web.
NBA Draft grades for the Phoenix Suns drafting Khaman Maluach
Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor: A+
Maluach was the highest upside player available on the board. He’s a towering rim protector with switchable mobility, erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. He only logged 1.3 blocks per game but deterred opponents from even sniffing the basket. Beyond dunking lobs at a frequent rate, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter, and creator. Such a raw skill set should come as no surprise since the South Sudan native didn’t start playing basketball until he was 13. Maluach’s upside has him ranked in the top two or three on some team draft boards, and perhaps that was the case for the Suns.
The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann: B+
For the immediate future, Maluach’s simplicity on offense should be enough. He rolled to the bucket on 87 percent of his possessions as a screener and scored nearly every time. The Suns pretty much simultaneously traded two picks (no. 29 and a 2029 first) to acquire Mark Williams, another center from Duke. Both players are strictly run-and-jump bigs, meaning this is a lot of resources on one player type, but Phoenix upgrades its interior presence and athleticism immediately.
CBS Sports’ Adam Finkenstein and Kyle Boone: A-
I’m a big believer in Maluach. He has a long future in the league. He’s 7-2 with a 7-6 wingspan and is an extreme lob threat. That’s what he does best right now. He’s exceptionally mobile for his size. He can run end-to-end and also move laterally. He has shot blocking potential but is not a big time shot blocker just yet. Phoenix doesn’t have anybody in its frontcourt right now, so he can play immediate minutes and turn into a very good player for a long time. Good value.
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney: A
The Suns were one of the worst defenses in the NBA a year ago. Maluach falling to No. 10 gives Phoenix an immediate lift on that end of the floor. He’s still relatively new to the game and scratching the surface of his potential, but he should be able to make an impact early defensively and as a rim-runner on offense as he continues to develop. This is close to a best-case scenario for how to use the pick acquired in the Kevin Durant trade.
For the Win’s Bryan Kalbrosky: A+
After re-acquiring the rights to the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as part of the Kevin Durant trade, the Phoenix Suns found tremendous value for a roster that lacks youth. Even though he isn’t necessarily the best player in the class, the Suns have to feel like they got their dream scenario with Duke big man Khaman Maluach still available at No. 10 overall. Maluach is an ideal lob threat to pair with Devin Booker and Jalen Green, adding exceptional length to a team that did not previously have much depth in the frontcourt. Maybe it will take him some time to play meaningful minutes, but they can also move him along slowly with former Hornets big man Mark Williams also traded to the Suns.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley: A
The Suns selecting Maluach and trading for Mark Williams on the same night is interesting, since they’re unlikely to share the floor any time soon (if ever). Center was an obvious need, though, and having Williams around will make it easier to avoid throwing too much too quickly at Maluach.
That’s important, because Maluach could require patience and plenty of seasoning. He picked up the sport in his teens, and that will surface in everything that requires more than just being big and playing hard. He also needs to get stronger and better with his hands to be more of a presence on the glass.
Follow @kzimmermanaz
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( NBA Draft grades: Suns get credit after Khaman Maluach falls into their lap )
Also on site :
- Juventus v Manchester City prediction , lineups and free online live stream
- Arsenal expected to sign Christian Nørgaard from Brentford for £9.3m
- Deontay Wilder comeback ended in tears after rival was left out cold and taken straight to hospital