Khaman Maluach just missed perfect chance to excite Suns fans

The Phoenix Suns may not be playing competitive basketball for some time yet - and although there are no current players on the roster at the upcoming EuroBasket thanks to the decision to dump Bosnia's Jusuf Nurkic - the belief was that there would be somebody worth watching at AfroBasket.

Rookie center Khaman Maluach expected by many to do something his compatriot Bol Bol didn’t in his two seasons in The Valley and play for his country at the national tournament currently taking place. Many also saw this as a great opportunity for the 18-year-old to gain some much needed experience ahead of the new NBA season.

Maluach didn’t appear on South Sudan’s final roster.

But after a dispiriting loss in which the top ranked South Sudanese team fell 88-80 to a plucky Guinea side that rained in 50 percent of their 3-point attempts - including a four-from-four effort from Valley Sun member Mamadi Diakite - it is clear Maluach could have actually played a role in helping his country.

It is unclear why he opted not to play - there were earlier indications on social media that he would although admittedly that did not come from any one reliable source - with the best guess being that he decided to get reps in Phoenix with the Suns' coaching staff. If that is the case, there is a logic to not playing for South Sudan.

But it is hard to replicate an actual basketball game for intensity, especially one in which South Sudan are expected to go on a deep AfroBasket run. That roster also has Wenyen Gabriel on it, a player we think the Suns should be keeping an eye on as a potential future third center should they trade Nick Richards this offseason.

Really though this could have been an excellent opportunity for Suns fans to tune in and see how the prospect is developing, and it was clear in that game that South Sudan could have done with the defensive upside his game brings. Maluach won't be swatting many 3-point attempts out of the air this season as he will spend most of his time hugging the paint to deter opponents.

Perhaps as he grows in the league he will develop an ability to stray some from the rim in order to challenge opposition players, but the reality is he's neither quick enough or comfortable in that spot right now. Playing at AfroBasket perhaps could have been a chance to try this though, while also getting experience against an actual NBA player in Diakite.

Fans at least have already gotten a glimpse of Maluach at Summer League - and while there were moments of encouragement on the defensive end especially - it is clear he is still an incredibly raw prospect. Which made the trade for Mark Williams a necessary next step after drafting him. As for seeing Maluach in a competitive environment? That will just have to wait a bit longer.