The Brooklyn Nets have plenty of options in this year’s upcoming draft. At the moment they have four first-round picks and an early second. That is a lot of flexibility. But even with all that movement possible, one name keeps rising to the top of their draft board, and that is Khaman Maluach.
At nearly 7'2" with a 7'6" wingspan, Maluach is impossible to miss. But he is not just another big body with upside. He anchored Duke’s defense this past season as a teenager, playing next to lottery talents like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel and he did not just play well in that system, he was able to stand out.
Maluach is everything modern teams look for in a center. He is able to protect the rim at a high level and move well in space. He has a natural feel on the defensive end of the floor, especially when it comes to timing blocks without fouling. On top of those strengths, he is also an elite lob target, with a catch radius that makes even off-target passes look good. Just think of past Brooklyn big man Jarrett Allen, but maybe even more athletic.
The Nets are clearly in a long-term build, and Maluach fits that arc perfectly. Nic Claxton is on the trade block, most likely headed to a contender and Day’Ron Sharpe is a restricted free agent. It is obvious that the Nets need a foundational piece in the middle, someone who can grow alongside whatever young core they are building. Maluach offers that, and he has the physical tools to become a defensive anchor.
Every young player has some weaknesses. Maluach struggles with touch around the basket and doesn’t have much of a face-up or post game yet. His hands can be inconsistent, and his rebounding numbers, at times aren't the prettiest. But at 18 years old, those flaws are not deal breakers, they are just development points.
What about the Nets’ point guard needs?
Don’t get me wrong, Brooklyn still needs a point guard, and they could target one later with another pick. My personal favourite would be someone like Walter Clayton Jr. a guard with tremendous upside. But when you have a chance to land a center with elite defensive potential and physical traits you simply can’t teach, you take it.
Drafts are about projecting forward. Maluach has a long way to go, but if the Nets are willing to be patient, they may find themselves with a future All-Defense beast on their hands. Everything about this pick just fits.