Khaman Maluach NBA Draft Projection: 5 NBA Teams That Could Select the Duke Star in 2025
Khaman Maluach is one of the more intriguing prospects because there’s no telling what his ceiling could be. His defense is already excellent, but there’s a lot of room to grow on offense. The team that takes him will bank on him becoming a two-way force down the line.
Minus a jump shot, Maluach does have all the makings of a modern NBA center. He’s a rim-runner, shot-blocker, and a lob threat. Plus, the offensive potential is tantalizing enough for a team that missed on a higher pick
5 NBA Teams That Could Draft Khaman Maluach
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are still trying to infuse veteran help with promising youth. Maluach gives them a good project to develop while also giving him a bar to clear with Jakob Poeltl as their starting center. Poeltl is 29 years old, so he’s right in his prime. In case Maluach isn’t ready for the big time yet, four years could be all he needs before supplanting Poeltl.
Maluach could learn the ropes of becoming a winning player alongside a team that pretty much is doing the same thing. The Raptors have plenty of playmakers with size. Adding a raw center with NBA-ready defensive instincts could make their next contender in due time.
San Antonio Spurs
Of all the teams that could draft Maluach, the Spurs are definitely the scariest. While Victor Wembanyama is already enough of a threat on both sides of the floor, Maluach would give them a twin towers situation that could make San Antonio downright impossible to score on in the post.
The Spurs weren’t even meant to be in this position, as they signaled they planned to win as soon as possible with Wembanyama. However, Maluach gives them an even bigger sign of hope. It may be drastic to put this out there, but if he lives up to his potential, he and Wembanyama could make the best big-man duo they’ve had since Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls continue to be a mystery. Even after trading Zach LaVine, Chicago has started to look promising post-trade deadline. Granted, they’ll likely end up with a lottery pick anyway, and Maluach gives them a promising center if and when they part ways with Nikola Vučević.
Chicago’s turn to its youth movement has gone at a snail’s pace. However, Maluach fits better with their timeline with Josh Giddey and Coby White. Time will tell if Chicago will get out of no-man’s land, but Maluach at least gives them a promising big man, which is something they haven’t had since Lauri Markkanen.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks will likely turn away from Clint Capela this offseason, and embrace Onyeka Okongwu, as he’s coming into his own with a bigger role.
Maluach would give Okongwu a partner-in-crime. More importantly, his defensive presence could make the Hawks more cover for Trae Young’s shortcomings on that end of the floor.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets don’t necessarily need more youth as they, one, already have plenty they’re trying to develop and, two, are in the midst of their most successful season since the James Harden days. However, if they want to play double-big, there might not be a player who fits better next to Alperen Şengün, knowing how those would complement one another.
Şengün is one of the most well-rounded offensive centers in the league already while showing improvement on defense. Maluach would help cover for his shortcomings on defense, and his rim protection gives Houston something Şengün does not. Even if he doesn’t pan out great, being Şengün’s backup is nothing to be ashamed of.
Because Maluach’s outlook is as a project, it makes it hard to determine where he’ll land in the draft. The higher he goes, the more likely it is his first NBA team will believe in his ceiling. The lower he goes, the more likely it is his first NBA team will take it slowly with him.
