With the remarkable injury woes the Suns have faced as of late, fans have finally gotten their first real glimpse of Khaman Maluach in NBA action.
He had his highs and lows, but there were certainly flashes of talent on display, as he delivered 7 points on 60% from the field (including a 3) and 7 rebounds as a +6 in a 15-point loss to Portland. Most importantly, though, he reminded everyone of the decisions that lie ahead in the Suns’ future at the Center position.
At the 2025 NBA Draft, the Suns sent some mixed signals regarding their future in the frontcourt, as they drafted 18-year-old Khaman Maluach and traded for 23-year-old Mark Williams, adding to their existing youth at the 5 with 22-year-old Oso Ighodaro. Now, as we’ve seen it play out this season, they all seem to be viable future options for the Suns, and maybe that was the plan all along.
First, let’s start with the Suns’ premier prospect, Khaman Maluach (and likely the Suns’ only premier prospect for years to come), who now has a realistic pathway to consistent playing time. Widely viewed as a homerun pick for the Suns at #10, Khaman is a raw talent, but holds a widespread skillset and the potential to be an ideal modern 5 with his size, athleticism, and jumper.
The pivotal piece to his game, which ties in the other bigs, is his jumper.
He wasn’t much of a shooter at Duke, shooting just 16 3s during his collegiate career (and making 4), but the jumper has been a focal point of his development, as he’s shot 30.8% from 3 on 26 attempts in 10 games for the G-League’s Valley Suns.
This 3-point ability is particularly valuable when envisioning his fit next to the other Suns bigs. Back at the Suns' 2025 NBA Draft Night 1 Press Conference, GM Brian Gregory expressed his faith in Maluach’s shooting potential, saying, "he has a pathway to improve on the perimeter offensively."
Looking at the fit of Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro, the two have some offsetting traits: Oso brings unique playmaking and versatility as a big, but lacks the necessary size for a Center and shooting for a non-Center.
Khaman, on the other hand, brings that size (and the finishing and rim-protection that go along with that) and shooting ability that Oso lacks, as Oso provides some of the playmaking that Khaman lacks. In theory, the two can build a stellar partnership in the frontcourt.
Now, the odd-man-out seems to be Mark Williams, who’s anchored the Suns’ frontcourt this season, averaging 11.9 points on 64.2 FG% (4th in the NBA) and 8.1 rebounds. At 24-years-old, he’s a great insurance option, at the very least, in case Khaman Maluach doesn’t live up to his potential.
He’s already cemented himself as a quality big at the NBA level (when healthy), but his development doesn’t have to stop here either, and his trajectory may even be similar to that of Khaman Maluach.
There’s potential for Mark Williams to develop as a shooter, as well. Historically, he’s never been a shooter, but this season, he made the first 3 of his NBA career (on his only attempt), offering a glimpse of his 3PT potential.
And this isn’t some outlandish dream, either, as he connects on 77.1% of his FTs this season, a major indicator of shooting ability and potential. Among 28 qualified 3PT-shooting Centers this season, only 3 of them shoot below 73.1% from FT, highlighting the connection between 3PT and FT.
One important note: Mark Williams enters restricted free agency this offseason, which means the Suns will need to decide on their future at the Center position very soon. That being said, even if they prefer Maluach over Williams in the long-term future, I can't imagine they allow Williams to walk this summer with how valuable he's been to the success of the team this season.
Another key factor in all of this is Jordan Ott, the one who ultimately decides if this all comes to fruition. Looking back at his time in Cleveland, the Cavs found great success in running two-big lineups with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, winning a conference-best 64 games in the 2024-25 season.
This partnership would resemble what that of the Suns could look like, with Mobley being the versatile, floor-stretching big (37.0% from 3 in 2024-25). Frankly, Ott may have been the one who initially envisioned this future for the Suns, given the success he experienced with this model in Cleveland.
Now, when envisioning the future development of these Suns bigs, the 3 of them start to make sense together. They're all still young and can be under Suns control for years to come. It all just comes down to their development, especially that of Khaman Maluach. Currently, the Suns’ lack of size is one of the biggest glaring holes on the roster, but if this vision becomes reality, that hole will be filled.