As we saw with the steep punishment that the NBA handed out to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week, one of the most valuable assets an NBA team can have is draft picks, especially lottery selections. While many people believe that Los Angeles is in the toughest situation in the NBA after getting stripped five first-round picks, one of the reasons many don’t believe so is because they got to select Keaton Wagler fifth overall out of Illinois in this year’s draft.
While the Phoenix Suns had to give up Kevin Durant last offseason, they acquired the 10th overall pick, where they selected Khaman Maluach, which at the very least, helped them add young talent with a roster thin on draft picks and young players. Similar to the Clippers, Phoenix is thin on picks, just not for the same reason as the Clippers, but just like Los Angeles, a lot of their future relies on the development of their young players, with the former Duke center at the forefront of their best and most valuable young players.
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That is why Phoenix needs to consider starting him earlier than later.
Whether it’s fair to believe or not, considering what many may think to be lofty expectations, one of owner Mat Ishbia’s most consistent messages is that the plan is to win a championship around Devin Booker.
With his physical traits, flashes of being able to stretch the floor and an encouraging sign, because of the Suns’ lack of assets and abundance of cap space over the next few seasons thanks to a variety longterm deals and Nassir Little and Bradley Beal’s contracts still on the books, Maluach may be the person with the best chance to be Booker’s running mate to help achieve the franchise’s goal.
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While he didn’t play a lot during his rookie campaign and most of his minutes came when games were decided or the team was dealing with injuries, a strong summer has many excited about his prospects coming into the season. With Mark Williams now signed to a three-year deal for less than the mid-level exception and his future under team control, the team can feel more free in how they operate at the center position, not having to think about contract negotiations with a player they traded two first-round picks to acquire. In 60 games last season, Williams averaged 11.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. He missed the playoffs with a foot injury, and his numbers dipped once the 2026 part of the season started.
Receiving 2026 NBA All-Summer League Team honors, the player they call “Man Man,” averaged 19.5 points, 2 blocks, and 12.8 rebounds per game, which led Summer League.
To get back to the Finals and for the franchise to win its first playoff game since 2023, major development will be required. Players who weren’t key contributors last season need opportunities to contribute in new ways, and thanks to his raw talent and strong Summer, Khaman Maluach could be the perfect player to help the team improve and accomplish its main goal.
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