The same dude from one of Central Florida or other Florida deep run in recent years ?
The only situation in which I can accept not getting Maluach would be if one of our picks landed in the top 4 and he weren’t available by the time of our second pick.
But if we end up picking right around our expected range (9/10) and he’s still on the board, I absolutely believe he should be the pick.
The same. Florida Atlantic led the Owls to the 2023 NCAA Final Four. Real good presence in the paint, really good FT, big body. Should be a good 2nd round pickup for backup big. I think the age is good since they would need someone who can contribute now.
Last edited by John B; 03-09-2025 at 03:03 PM.
I've been on to Richardson as a Spurs target, but (if he actually enters the draft) it probably only happens if Vassell is traded (given that his value is probably at its nadir, unlikely) or they maintain both 1sts.
He'd likely be a near perfect (yeah, it'd be ideal if he were slightly bigger) third guard behind Fox and Castle.
Ok, name the NBA prospects he's defended on the perimeter this season.
This is like the clamor for Edey last year. I do not want to use a lottery pick on a player destined to only be a backup. We can get one in trade, or later in the draft.
I agree with the caveat that if it’s the ATL pick (let’s imagine it conveys at 12) and he’s clearly the BPA, then I’d go ahead and take him even if projected as a backup.
Especially when the Spurs will likely only have one lottery pick.
Admittedly haven’t caught much of malauch other than highlights, but something seems off with his shot. Also his movement seems somewhat uncoordinated and off like most bigs of his height and thinness.
I will pass on him would rather get a seasoned vet and a player in the second round that he can mentor so that will give us 3 bigs. We got bigger issues such as finding a starting SF and maybe Vassell replacement?
Im sure comparisons have already been made, but queen looks more of a player who has that bully “it” factor and his movement more just seems fluid compared to malauch. Someone want to prove me wrong?
he‘s not a defensive anchor
Maluach is not NBA ready. He need 2-3 years before you see something. I respect your pick don’t get me wrong. In my opinion we need McNeeley or Knueppel. The second pick a PG between Jace Richardson, Fears or Traore. The Center position we need to address via trade or free agency. You have the opportunity to add Naz Reid or Myles Turner (NBA veterans)
We can even get a backup center with the second round pick.
i dont think Maluach is going to be worth it for us. he's obviously not worth consideration if we jump into the top 4, and he's not likely to even be on the board if we pick around 9-10 with our natural pick and then closer to 13-14 with hawks pick. this is not a weak draft like last year where i want the sure thing reserve who maybe someday can co-exist with wemby the same way i liked Clingan if he fell to 8
imo we need high end shooting perimeter players/wings who can play alongside both Fox/Castle together.
McNeeley has been on a very cold stretch, but i like him. i like him more than Knueppel because i think he has a better chance surviving defensively against NBA players, has more size, is a better athlete, and is a solid rebounder. Kon does more on-ball stuff offensively but i'm not sure thats really what we need especially if it comes at the expense of the other stuff mentioned
we also need a big forward who can defend well and also be a finisher offensively. basically a more dynamic sochan who has a better chance of surviving on the boards against bigs, playing some small 5. for this, the guys i like right now are Rasheer Fleming who on the surface appears to check all the boxes. 6'9, 230, reportedly has a long wingspan that may push 7'5. good outside shot, good athlete, can finish inside (giggidy). productive defensively. has 2 main blemishes that i can see... his age (3rd year player, but he will still be 20 at the time of draft, and will be 21 for all of next year. for a 3rd year player, thats on the younger side), and otherwise, i dont think he has much on-ball juice at all, but im not sure thats what we need anyway.
main other guy im looking at here is murray-boyles who seems to be a lot more sound a defender, but is smaller. has some more offensive game to him but not a shooter like Fleming. he also seems to have better touch than Fleming near the rim. little more of a fluid mover even though Fleming is a stronger and more explosive athlete. anyway, i like him way more than Asa Newell. im basically out on him unless we are picking in the late teens
Last edited by spurraider21; 03-10-2025 at 05:45 AM.
Alex Condon? brings similar qualities like Danny Wolfe does, but is the better athlete and defender. goes to line a lot, few TOs.
plays for one of the best teams in the country and had some of his best games vs. the top teams. (Auburn, Alabama)
looks quite underrated, some mocks don't even have him in the 2nd round. (Draftroom just moved him to the 1st round though).
McNeeley's sucked enough where I am not remotely comfortable taking him with a top 10 pick. His value is so highly leveraged to his shooting where I'm very uncomfortable taking that risk. Now that we have an entire season sample on him, the single biggest worry about him is actually his functional athleticism. He is a legitimate 6'8" guy who somehow shoots < 50% at the rim and can't generate defensive events to save his life. His FT rate and rebounding imply that he's got good physicality, but I do not necessarily see that in the few times when I'm watching him.
NBA 1st round draft picks in the past 15 years: <55% at the rim, <2 STL%, <2 BLK%, 6'6"+
This filter is actually pretty generous to McNeeley, as he's currently sitting at 49% at the rim, 1 STL%, 0.9 BLK% - it takes into account UConn typically depressing stock rates for their players.
Looking at just freshmen:
Jalen Hood-Schifino
Wendell Moore
Christian Braun
Tony Snell
And Christian Braun was not considered a draft prospect his freshman or sop re year. I get small players who have trouble finishing at the rim - it's sort of a concern for me, but it's at least understandable given their size. But a big 6'8" guy who has that much trouble is a huge red flag. At the next level, I'm concerned that McNeeley might have the aggressiveness to drive on a closeout, but not the functional athleticism to necessarily convert, which decreases his actual gravity as a shooter. And if he can't maximize his gravity, he's pretty useless because he doesn't do much else at a high level. Would not draft with a top 10 pick, might consider with serious reservations with Atlanta's pick in the mid-teens.
McNeeley is neutered or useless on our offense. There is no handoff big nor screener to effectively run him to all the actions he is getting at UCONN. Kanipple is a better fit with more self creation and playmaking.
I‘m completely with you on this
I would take Fleming over Richardson with the Atlanta pick. Not sure at 9 yet.
To me they're on completely different tiers as prospects, and stylistically very different. Fleming is a big wing, while CMB is a mobile big.
Drafting Fleming and getting a shooting 3 and D wing like NAW is the easiest path to being a good playoff team. Fox, Castle, NAW, Fleming, Wemby. Easily attainable lineup that barely requires any luck to build. Shooting at multiple positions, no real defensive weak spots, two attacking guards who can get to the rim. It'll work well against a vast majority of teams. Fleming's shown me enough as a shooter that I buy him at least as a medium volume spot up guy.
Where CMB gives you an advantage is with small fast teams that can rotate quickly and prominently feature a unicorn big. With unicorn bigs, especially skinny ones, the optimal defender for them is a physical long defender that can win with strength. See the success that PJ Tucker has had against Durant. CMB is a very similar build, but bigger, longer, more athletic, and with better defensive instincts. This makes him a really good theoretical counter to skilled big guys with a skinny build - Durant, Chet Holmgren, and...Victor Wembanyama. Additionally, with fast teams that can close out fast, decision making is at a premium as you need to be able to make plays against a rapidly rotating defense. Additionally, the primary weakness of these smaller teams is that they sacrifice bulk and strength. If you have a skilled mobile big that can attack, you can exploit that lack of size to get to the rim. These are things that I don't have as much confidence in Fleming to do. That's why from the beginning of the year I've said that CMB is an anti-OKC weapon. It's way tougher from a roster construction standpoint, but the payoff deep in the playoffs especially against elite teams is greater.
I agree with that but I don't think Fleming is going to be available with the Atlanta pick
I like Fleming a LOT. The PJ Washington comp sounds like exactly the type we need. I see his ceiling as a PF somewhere between PJ and Naz. Height-wise that's where he sits, too.
I'd be down for drafting 2 PFs in this draft, and finding an established shooter or two via free agency/trade. Depending on which way the ping-pong balls bounce and whether or not Naz Reid is gettable.
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