The Phoenix Suns drafted Khaman Maluach with the tenth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and his comparisons range from Rudy Gobert to JaVale McGee. There was plenty of excitement after the selection, but this could be a nightmare given Mat Ishbia’s track record. Ishbia made two atrocious trades for KD, including targeting this pick that was traded for Durant in the first place. Why would things suddenly change here?
The 7’2 big man is a raw prospect, which is why Phoenix also traded multiple draft picks to get Mark Williams. They have Nick Richards as a solid backup to give Malauch needed time to develop. Trusting the Suns to maximize his skill set is dangerous, especially given everything that has happened since Ishbia took over.
Malauch could be an elite defensive anchor or a 20-minute per-game center that makes an impact. ESPN compared him to Gobert and Daniel Gafford. The current Mavs big man plays a similar role to prime McGee, who was The Ringer’s comp. That is a wide range, and Suns fans need some Tums already.
Khaman Malauch feels assured to be the next JaVale McGee under Ishbia’s leadership
McGee won three championships in his NBA career, but he played more than 18 minutes per game in just three seasons. He was a skilled roll man and rim protector but primarily as a backup big man. Taking that player with the tenth pick is not ideal.
Many predicted Malauch to be a top-eight selection, but that does not mean he will stand out in Phoenix. He played just 21.2 minutes per game as a starter for Duke. He averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, which look eerily similar to McGee’s NBA stats.
The Suns center issues are well-documented. Jusuf Nurkic was an absolute disaster, and Richards was not the answer as their starter. Richards is reunited with Mark Williams. They were teammates in Charlotte, but neither is the long-term answer.
The Suns want that to be Malauch. They clearly believe he can become a Gobert-type option, but it will take significant development.
Every trade in the Ishbia era has gone bust, and now the owner is taking more control. It is difficult to fathom Malauch reaching his ceiling in that environment. That doesn’t mean he will hit the low-end outcome, either. Hopefully, this pick works out, but there are zero guarantees.
The Phoenix Suns have been bold this summer. They traded Kevin Durant and made a deal for Mark Williams. Expect the new front office to continue to upgrade their roster. The Suns do not want to rebuild. They have their sights set on the postseason in 2026 with Devin Booker leading their charge. They hope Malauch can make an immediate impact, but fans should be skeptical short and long term. It is hard not to be after the disaster of the last few years.