Khaman Maluach Houston Rockets NBA Draft Profile | Can Duke’s Defensive TERROR Replace Steven Adams?

Khaman Maluach Houston Rockets NBA Draft Profile | Can Duke’s Defensive TERROR Replace Steven Adams?

on today’s show we continue our Houston Rockets NBA draft profile series taking a look at the towering inside presence coming out of Duke their big man Kaman Malawatch We’ll take a look at his strengths his weaknesses NBA player comps projected draft range possible fit in Houston and more It’s all coming up right here at Locked on Rockets This is mission control Houston Ignition sequence start 6 5 4 3 2 1 What’s up and welcome to another edition of Locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball As always I’m your host Jackson Gatlin native Houstononian and credentialed media member I’m also the host of Locked on NBA Thursdays Be sure to follow along wherever you listen to your podcast or on YouTube Just search Locked on Rockets where the best way you can help us grow the show is to listen every single day on a podcast platform of your choosing and then like comment subscribe on YouTube Now today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel Right now new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins Just head on over to fanduel.com to check it out And as always thanks so much for making Lockdown Rockets part of your day every single day whether it’s on your way to work on your lunch break in the gym Thank you so much for being an everydayer And joining us now is your weekly cohost NBA draft enthusiast and diehard Houston Rockets fan Madison Moore who you can track down on Twitter MadMan Leaks Here’s we continue our Houston Rockets NBA draft profile series today Taking a look at the freshman out of Duke the massive man in the middle the defensive terror Kaman Malawatch This dude is no joke on the defensive end Madison a huge part of Duke’s run in the March Madness tournament Uh what’s your read on him give us the elevator pitch Yeah man Uh Malawatch is a like you said a huge defensive presence man I mean this is your prototypical uh drop big with uh with vertical spacing Great pick uh pick and slip picker for lob passes This this guy finish wait lob threat There we go Sorry There you go But yes great lob threat Um uh this guy is also uh great in drop coverage He actually for his size he’s 7 foot2 with a 7 foot five wingspan and he’s he’s a big boy And for his size I thought he moved pretty well on the perimeter Like I thought he wouldn’t be able to switch out at all in the perimeter but he actually held his own in a lot of uh different uh scenarios and he his activity and defensive uh defensive attention to detail when moving uh throughout sets is was very impressive I thought he didn’t make many mistakes Um he was always in the right place at the right time and he he he was uh he didn’t put up a ton of stocks as a shot blocker but you can definitely feel his presence when he’s when he’s on the floor And then when he did block shots he like threw them into the stands or like spiked them off the off the backboard His wingspan was definitely a factor I think he’s he’s he’s a good athlete but his wingspan like makes up for so much It allows him to finish tremendously around the rim And so for in I think for the Rockets specifically drafting in this 10 that that 8 to 10 range is when you get the best drop big best lob threat big in the draft And so I think it’s a very good sweet spot for the Rockets to kind of steal a very good player And look we mentioned it on a recent episode here but there is uh maybe some I won’t go so far as to call it concern but just the idea that if the Rockets do happen to get priced out of the market on Steven Adams if Kaman Malawatch is there at pick 10 that would be a fantastic pickup for this Rockets team possibly him or or maybe a Derek Queen type with them potentially looking more into the centers that are going to be available to them uh around pick 10 that was the the last that you know kind of I heard about what their draft intentions might be with this pick if they ultimately decide to keep it Um we’re going to as we navigate this we’ll get into some comps a little bit later on from Malawatch as well where as well as kind of the projected range because this might be a guy that might not be on the board when the Rockets are picking at 10 Unfortunately he might be the first big man that you know comes off the table here in the draft Um so let’s start with the kind of the strengths and obviously the defense is the thing that pops with him He’s going to be a defensive monster Um walk us through what you’re seeing out of him defensively Madison Like I said his activity I think he moves his feet well for for his size Um I think he he plays straight up He uses his length incredibly well to be disruptive uh and not just you know reaching on and hedging on uh on the on screens And I just think a guy that size you want him to be able to read the floor You want to be able to in the pick and roll be able to contain the ball handler while still getting back to his man his role man And I think he does that in in a tremendous job He uses his wingspan allows him to to kind of contest in those situations the the ball handler while also kind of showing and recovering a little bit the showing and recovery but his with his wingspan he’s able to actually touch his defender while getting his hand in a in an area that can be disruptive and play that in between space at a at a very high level which is you know the bread and butter for these types of bigs in the league And like I said um his ability to switch out on the perimeter Now I’m not saying that he’s you know some switch big because I don’t think he’s that right but if he gets caught on the island I trust him enough to you know uh survive out there right and to move his feet well and to understand switches and how to get back to his man in a timely manner And like I said that length is is the equalizer He he helps very well He rotates very well He moves in space very well And so that those are the types of things that’s what you’re looking for You got a simplified role for this guy You just need him to understand what offenses are trying to do what the what the coaching staff wants out of him as a defensive uh anchor and you want to be able to to employ that And I think Malawak has a a very high chance of doing all of those things And it helps that he’s in Duke’s system who’s produced a lot of bigs of his archetype D I mean I feel like just if you’re a prospect coming out of Duke you’ve got such a great shot at making it at the NBA level like Duke does not turn out like like there’s like a handful of like good collegiate programs like they just constantly be turning out like great prospect after great prospect Um and look sometimes it’s stars sometimes it’s role players but like you know you’re getting good stuff if you’re if you’re coming out of the Duke program Um and I just want to add real quick because I wanted to add this because I think it’s very important I mean the dude just started playing basketball five six years ago You know what I mean like like and for him to have a such a good understanding of where he needs to be defensively already right to and to to really add some touch to his to his game and to to be able to finish at a high level I think that’s very impressive and it speaks to his ability to to get better and which is one of the biggest qualities I look for in prospects And he’s look he’s also one of the youngest players in the draft He’s turning 19 in September so he’s got so much runway right only recently picked up the game right right So there’s that Um and you talk about the finishing 71% from the floor which is absurd Just just basically finishes everything around the rim Um and then 76% from the free throw line which I mean that’s like for a big man you generally for a big man that isn’t like a stretch big or whatever you’re looking at like anything north of 70 is like just gravy But I mean does that maybe suggest like you know some some hidden shooting touch potentially there where like you could envision maybe he stretches his game out beyond just being you know a vertical floor space a vertical big around the rim where like you could envision maybe he adds a little bit of mid-range or maybe even stretching the game out to the three-point line one day Man we do this every year We do this every year with the same prospectively with We do this every year with this I don’t want to hear it because Kel Wear is looking pretty solid Okay I don’t want to hear it Kel Wear lively Walker Kesler We do it every year But yes Yes there is some upside there for him to become a shooter I mean that and like you said the free throw the free throws is a big indicator that a lot of people like to use and I just think his mechanics are fluid They’re smooth He’s he took and hits a couple threes this year didn’t shoot it at a efficient clip but he flashed the potential and he wasn’t afraid to take them when he when he shot him And so I I think um and even he has some clips you know before he got to Duke of him taking some some some very aggressive mid-range shots And I’m you know I’m like “Oh he he might have some skill there.” You know what I mean and so yes that is a possible avenue in his higher end his higher higher end outcomes is that he adds a three-point uh three-point shot And then you have a a dual lob threat rim protector and a guy who can space the floor which is you know so rare to find in this league Those those types of guys are like gold And so just him having that you know 10 20% chance of reaching that outcome of becoming a competent three-point shooter and spacer really just vaults him into another tier prospect Coming up we’ll talk about some of the drawbacks with Malawatch as well as uh NBA player comps potential fit with the Houston Rockets and more We’re going to get there in just one moment First today’s episode is brought to you by Ollipop Look Lollipop is a new kind of soda made for people who love the classic taste of soda but want something that 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that it’s actually doing good stuff for my body that it’s actually a healthy alternative to regular soda is fantastic And the flavor is awesome I seriously and it’s not the only one that I like The crisp apple is great Uh I like the root beer flavor as well My girlfriend’s a big f big fan of the the grape flavor There’s so many great flavors to choose from And you can check it out too Get yourself a free can of Lollipop Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one Head to drink.com/lockedonba to claim your free can and findop near you That’s drinklyollipop.com/lockedonba And continuing on here at Locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball All right Madison So one of the things that one of the main like knocks that I’ve seen on Malawatch is first off he’s just he is still really raw Like he’s he’s you know still new to the game right and still learning Um still incredibly young But the the thing that I that kind of I took away a little bit from watching some of the at least him on the offensive side of the ball is yes when he gets the ball he’s great at finishing Getting the ball is a problem sometimes with like the hands and like dropping some passes and bobbling some stuff Like it’s not like and look you know when you can find a big man with like you know good hands that doesn’t drop a pass or something like that’s another kind of rare feat So it’s like kind of pick you know pick and choose here cuz eventually if you if you just if you trying to like put these you know uh 2K sliders to 99 in every category then this this guy would be a consensus like top three pick And that’s why there’s that’s why he’s not a top three pick because there is still some drawbacks to his game What are you seeing offensively out of him about just kind of some of the stuff outside of like things like like the touch the the catching passes that kind of stuff so I actually like his touch I mean to me uh he got when he when he he tries to dunk everything and when he can’t dunk I thought he finished well around the rim as the 70% showed And also he had a a pretty nice hook shot Now it isn’t the prettiest hook shot but I seen him hit several hooks where they bounced around the rim three four times and if that’s not touch I don’t know what is You know what I mean and so to me I think he’s raw right and so that touch just isn’t as natural but it’s still there and I wouldn’t worry too much about it Now the bobbling passes stuff is is you know kind of worrying You want big to be able to to catch the ball but he catches every lob right so he catches all the lobs which is the pad one of the most important passes to catch And I really thought the bobbling came in through in the rebounding when he was in contested rebounding situations That’s where I thought it was the most the biggest issue right and so in those contested rebound situations I seen him get a little frantic with the ball and get to tapping it it look like volleyball out there and like you said there were some passes that that just got away from him and I I really just think that’s going to come with time Uh that is an issue and that is something that may not get better but I think there’s hope that it gets better because he’s so uh young in the game of basketball right and so that’s what I’d say about it when so when looking at just like his his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page right like you know only 8.6 6 points per contest 6.6 rebounds 1.3 blocks and only 20 Yeah So how how much of that do you put into Okay he only played 20 minutes per game basically versus like is there maybe some like cuz obviously shot blocking isn’t just about you know are you long are you tall are you an athlete it’s about timing It’s about positioning It’s about understanding where you’re supposed to be within the defense How much of like the low block numbers are you looking at from just like he just didn’t play enough versus like maybe he’s he’s got the tools to be a great shot blocker but hasn’t quite found like the timing the rhythm all of that yet Well I I think his positioning is fine So I wouldn’t worried about him in the shot blocking sense I don’t know if he’ll be this elite shot blocker but he’ll definitely be a shot alterer and that’s all you you really need And he’ll get some stocks out of it And so I think positioning is more important his ability to move his feet is more important Uh and I think those things kind of shine through from all watch Um and uh uh the other what what was that other point you asked about just well the rebounding too but that just from a production standoint the rebound So so oh yes the production standpoint the 20 minutes a game that was the thing Okay So yes um I think there may be some uh tired you know I’m tired issues right and that’s why he only is getting 20 minutes a game and but the overall counting stats I wouldn’t worry too much about that This is a play finisher okay he’s not going to have a bunch of opportunities No one’s running plays for him No one’s asking him to do things you know with the ball in his hands and that is going to drive your account stats down You’re not going to have the opportunity to be in the short role and make plays you’re not going to have the opportunity to you know create for others and you’re only playing 20 minutes a game probably because you need to get your conditioning up right which is another weakness and but it’s very common for uh for these types of bigs Um so but it’s something that he can work on and is definitely something that he he will improve on over time And so I I wouldn’t worry too much about the counting stats I think he does I think his role is kind of solidified He he’s going to do it well Um as far as the rebounding goes I think this is the biggest issue because to me to me his biggest weakness is he’s not physical enough uh on the defensive boards He’s often out of position guys Is he is he a high point rebounder is he just like he’s relying on the link okay Yes He that he’s a high point rebounder and sometimes he goes over the back to try and get offensive rebounds or you can see him all the time even in uh defensive rebound situations He’s often just trying to go over to over top of somebody’s head And that’s not gonna cut it in the NBA especially as a young player He he needs to learn Somebody needs to get in there and and show him over and over again how to how to bang because he has the physicals to do it And he he just is not fighting uh with his lower body to get positioning uh early Um and I think that is really hurting him in the rebounding department but it helps him Uh because he’s a high-point rebounder he he actually does pretty well offensive rebound Okay You know well some well first off somebody just needs to lock him into a room with like film on Charles Charles Barkley and just let him watch you know a thousand hours of of the the round mound of rebound putting his butt into guys and actually doing the dirty work boxing out I think Alp got in the gym with LP Alp would school him like on the boards like how people will give him a lesson on how to you know get positioning and like how length doesn’t matter if I you know and that’s that’s the funny that’s that’s what’s always so funny is like you know there’s there’s so much stock that you can put into like these raw physical attributes right but sometimes it’s almost like that’s why it’s so rare when you find a guy a prospect or a player that can that combines both right that has the raw physical but also understands the true fundamentals of the game because then it’s like okay well how do you beat this guy but then you have the guys like Alpour and Shingun right alp’s not the the the best athlete or the longest or or the guy who can jump the highest or anything So he has to do that dirty work stuff and then that that stuff kind of shines through when he’s matched up against somebody who does solely rely on their physical gifts because sometimes that’s not enough Now sometimes it is right sometimes you if you know if you’re a high point rebounder and you’re just taller and longer than everybody else and you’ll catch yourself you know a fair number of boards But so that is a that is a potential drawback there for him But not something I want to go back to the motor thing that you mentioned though The the the conditioning Yeah Condition Do do you are those the same thing to you motor and and conditioning or do you like No Okay No they go hand in hand now because because in order to to be a high motor player you have to be well conditioned right and so I think I do think they go uh uh you know hand in hand I think his motor’s fine I I think he has a good motor I think it can sometimes Wayne because you know he’s tired you know what I mean and and kind of look like he’s not all the way into it And if he’s losing positioning that’s usually a effort a effort deal So I can see how that comes out on film But when I watch it I’m like “Ah this guy’s out of position.” You know what I mean he’s like rotating from somewhere and he’s not fighting He’s not understanding that he needs to fight and get position But now that you say that I mean it could be just you know a motor issue But I thought he I thought I thought when he was fresh he was active and he he was you know in it And those type of things I feel like are common for these this player archetype like so I’d have grace in that I wouldn’t you know I wouldn’t put that as a death nail for a player like they’re not able to overcome those things Is there any weakness that we haven’t highlighted yet you want to spend a second talking about uh off the top no Oh I think I got I think I got to pretty much my biggest weaknesses is is for sure the positioning the you know he needs he needs a better tank you know what I mean and I think those uh those kind of encompass but I think his his biggest weaknesses are of course the shooting is kind of like that pseudo strength weakness thing because he’s not really supposed to shoot but he’s kind of flashing to shoot but it’s actually a weakness if he’s supposed to shoot right so it’s Yeah So I think it’s it’s cool Got it Okay All right Well let’s we’ll get to our NBA player comps here in a second Potential fit with the Rockets his projected draft range all that good stuff here in just one moment First today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel The NBA Finals are in full swing and every night delivers highlight worthy performances major momentum shifts and can’t miss moments Whether it’s a game-winning shot or a breakout player there’s never been a better time to get in on the action And FanDuel makes it easy to stay in the game before tip off and live with player props performance trends and same game parlays Fans have more ways than ever to play smart and win big Which players are showing up in the biggest moments and how could tracking their trends help 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final segment here at Locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball All right Madison my favorite part of these draft profile pods your NBA player comps for Kaman Malawatch and the way we do this right so low-end comp median outcome comps and then the possible high-end outcomes Now I will say there’s a comp that I’m hoping I’m going to hear you go with and I’m going to give you endless amounts of grief if I don’t hear this as a comp but I’m not telling obviously I’m not going to tell you who it is So is it right is it the original oh my god Okay that that was not one of them If it is my god Okay All right Anyways hit us with your low-end comps Let’s see what you got Okay So the lowest one I got is Nemiac Kada I think this is a a a good one A extremely large prospect I mean uh center played for the Boston Celtics I believe Um and he he never really just caught fire but extremely huge He but he never could put it all together He was a big body out there He got plenty of chances but that’s when you know your processing just doesn’t catch up to your size and then your your physical limitations kind of shine out So I think that is that is that is the biggest fear for uh Malawatch Um another guy serviceable and uh who kind of invented the live watch quote My guy Bruno Fernando Yes Yes Yes Yes Rockets fans you know I always got one for you guys You know it’s it’s so it’s so bad cuz Bruno’s not even Bruno’s not even a real lob threat is the problem Like he’s a he was he was like a pseudo lob threat He was the closest thing they had to a lob threat Like that’s a lob threat God I’m sorry Now this isn’t the this isn’t the best cop okay but we we we always give a old because the role will be similar okay this is if you know you do things at a good level in spurts right and you can you can take spot minutes as the Bruno Fernando And the last one I can’t I can’t wait for I can’t wait for the Rockets to draft Kaman Malawatch and start him over Alenon next year It’s going to be fantastic Okay I’m sorry I had to get that one off my chest All right Last one What you got all right The last one is uh more in line This is more in line with I think uh uh what type of prospect he’ll be The last low end I have is Walker Kesler Okay So I think I think Walker Kesler another prospect who flashed some shooting but never really got there Um had some good has some good moments and also some not so good moments and consistency remains uh his biggest issue to getting on the floor right and so that will I think be similar to my watch right um next is our medium uh median And our median outcomes we’re going to start with the great Clint Capella You know I got some rockets for you All right So Clint Capella I think if if if he gets I think they’re similar in that a bigger Clint Capella is the thing So yeah Well yes he is because Clint was kind of undersized That’s the thing is like people forget Clint was good at what he did but he was also only 6’10 Okay Yeah Yeah Yeah I I thought he was 6′ 11 seven but okay 6’10 Okay But I think I I I really uh honed in on that because I think they’re raw in the same aspects in a lot of ways um with with uh their offensive ability They’re just play finishers right but they’re really going to hang their hat defensively And they both uh and Clint also came in with a low tank right and so it was a guy who who had a low tank We didn’t say his motor was we didn’t say his motor was bad but you know there were some issues wing on the floor And I think that’s that’s similar to Malawatch right um he’s not as he’s not going to be as quick and as rangy and is not going to run the floor as well but still will do a lot of that those things right and so I like Clint in in those aspects Um another guy that I really like and I think this is if you know he becomes a really good consistent player is Luke Cornette I I really like the Luke Cornet uh comp the Boston big that comes in and really just makes an impact on the game And this is if Malawatch really starts to develop his touch he really starts to become an impact player and a finisher and he starts to use his size in an imposing way on uh defenses and and and is still able to provide some some defensive you know uh some defensive power you because that’s all the things that Cornet does and really become a impact player in short minutes in short spurts and I think that is what he has the the ability to do I just want you to know that with that comp you lost every single Rockets fan listening to that Like they’re like “We’re not taking Luke Cornet with the 10th overall pick.” I just want I want you to know that I I understand what you’re going for He is a good player He’s serviceable but I just want you to know for a median outcome You just killed a lot of Rockets fans hopes and dreams Okay How about this i got one more median Okay Uh uh uh uh Robert Williams is that that is a I think that is what the team would be going for Uh you know played with Maudoka another guy Mudoka likes to do double bigs with So I think this I think they are similar They’re going to have simplified roles and this is the same archetypes of player and I think if the Rockets get that as a median outcome I think they’ll be happy with it I think if they got Clint or Mark Williams as a median too right i think and I think Luke Cornett is a good player You just need to watch a little bit more by No I I I think I think he is too I’m just saying like like with the 10th pick All right Yeah that’s what I’m saying It’s like that’s what I’m saying is you lost all of them without All right So let let’s get the let’s get the high-end outcomes What you got all right All right Uh so uh the first high-end outcome I’ll say is Rudy Gobear He’s not quite as long as Rudy but I think they have similar offensive limitations like if you know if the touch never comes around right but they have the ability to be so impactful as a drop bigs in in in the lane I don’t think he’ll block as many shots but he may disrupt just as many right and it and he may actually come around to actually blocking a lot more shots And so I think Rudy Gobear is another one And they to me move a little similar They kind of robotic in their movements where it doesn’t always look pretty but it’s effective You know what I mean and and that was the the big difference for me with with Malawatch He moves in a particular way that can sometimes look unorthodox or you know kind of like how Geruba used to do do things right it’s just like that that looks a little weird Did he travel did he travel you know what I mean like it’s like those types of ways Um but but are often effective can can be very effective anyway right um another one is Brook Lopez I think Brook Lopez in the way Brook Lopez can affect the game by not just blocking shots but also being positioned And this is if the three-point shot really comes around like Malawatch begins to really develop and foster that three-point shot and it really starts to knock down I think Brook Lopez is another guy that that fits him well Um and I don’t know if I got to your comp yet but I only have one high-end comp left I only have one and I don’t think it’s going to be it I have the late great Dimbe Matumbo Yes he got it I was I was hoping you were gonna go with Deak Like I was like look I was looking at this guy and I was like he’s 7 foot2 He’s a drop big He projects to be able to be like this elite rim deterrent Like how could you not how does this guy not scream to Kimmy Matumbo now granted D couldn’t shoot with a lick like but he can shoot free throws He can shoot free throws All right So for sure I’ll give you that But man oh man I’m gl I’m glad I’m glad we’re on the same page mentally on that one That’s nice No and and they both have that kind of unorthodox movement thing going like that I was saying it’s not always as fluid but it’s super effective Like you know what I mean they still get to where they need to get to uh uh uh very effectively And I think Dee I when I watched him play when I watched the film when I actually watched the film when he when he finished the when he finished the ball when he moved I thought he looked a lot like Dee out there And so uh I think that’ll be the highest end If he really just becomes everything all his potential defensively he’s going to it look more like the Kimbe Matumbo out there And the Rockets would love to have another great center uh in the rotation And we know and love we know how much MA loves the double bigs and so I definitely think he’ll find a way to get him on the floor And as you said we need some insurance for Stephen Adams And so fir first off if they could get Dimma Matumba with a three ball my goodness like just sign me up immediately Um no but uh look I I I think that’s a really great place to kind of start the the conversation about you know potential fit with the Rockets because the the double big the way the Rockets run it works very specifically because of Steven Adams unique skill set as like one of the greatest if not maybe the greatest offensive rebounder of all time Um and I think that how much does that dynamic change if you throw in a big like Malawatch alongside Shingun now Shingun is is smart He’s high IQ He can do you know he he can play off of other guys He can he can you know create and still get to his spot But like what do you think that that changes like does does a Malawatch Shingun front court work in your eyes not right now Not right now But it’s something I think that can be developed to work And like we said Emma Udoka loves these double bigs And not just with Stephen Adams and Apparenton he ran them out there Robert Williams and Al Horford right and so he continuously Yeah But Horford can space the floor And that’s the difference between that one Yeah a bit But he’s not taking four or five threes a game He’s shooting two or three You know what I mean so I mean I’m p I’m pulling the receipts on you right now Hang on You you can you can vamp for a second Hang on You can carry the show for a second All right Hold up Al Horford last this past year with Robert Williams What do you mean oh with Robert Williams Okay So a couple years Okay Well dude I’m just Okay These la Dude I’m I’m just read through the last handful of seasons 5.2 4.0 5.2 3.8 5.4 4.2 Like he’s taking four to five threes a game Correct Okay That’s all I was saying is like and he’s and he’s shooting him at a really good clip Like he’s a career 38% three-point shooter Yeah No he’s shooting them ths But yeah that just means come on Alp when you going to start shooting I was going to say I was going to say this this is like if Alpie had a three ball we’d be this would be a great conversation because there you go Come on Alpie now But yeah I saw I saw that hit with that video of him working out with his Turkish trainer and he was draining those threes So I’m all I’m all aboard the hype train If if Ali can come back next season and regain the T this is we’re not this is not even an Alp Pod but but but actually like no from a from a let me let me calm myself down for a second but from a legitimate standpoint right thinking about the potential fit with a big like Malawatch things get a lot easier from a fit perspective if Shingun has the floor spacing in his game suddenly right because like if if a defense has to play him honestly at the three-point line then you could space Shingun in the corner you could have him up at the top you could have him in the slot whatever And Balawatch can be your primary screener and then that’s where all the action happens right and then Shingun gets to take you know not take plays off but you know the the offensive spacing doesn’t get mucked up by having two non-shooting bigs out there Yeah man And imagine uh uh Malawatch in Aman Thompson’s backline role like as the as just the live catcher not even as the initial screener Like there’s a lot playing out of the dunker spot Yeah Just playing out of the dunker spot I mean Alpie’s going to find him all day Can you imagine that vertical spacing with LP coming down the lane like you know what I mean that’s that’s Alp coming out of the short roll and then bam like defender either has to rotate over and stop LP and he gets or he gets a free line to the basket or if the defense rotates then LP makes that lob over the top and Malawatch just 71% from the floor Let’s go Where is it lob it is Exactly Look we know him got it schemed up man It’s the blueprint is there And so I I I definitely think uh I think the issue to me isn’t going to be too much offensively is are you gonna be able to dominate teams physically when he’s on the court and right now I just I just think um he has some issues with positioning right now and once he gets in in in the league with them dogs them vets right but I think he’s the type of player that in a year or two uh mudoka can coach up and he’ll and he’ll do everything that MUoka teaches him to do and I think he’s a quick learner I think he’s he’s I think he’s learned how to do some of the harder things you know moving in space quicker than he’s learned you know how how to be physical which people you know either you got it or you’re not but I think it’s just a learning curve And I think uh this coaching staff will definitely bring that side out of him and he could be a super impact player in a year or two If if the Rockets are unable to bring Stephen Adams back next season do you think he’d at least be serviceable for like 10 to 12 minutes a night like tops like in a like in a very situational role as a backup big of course I think as a backup big right it’s just I was talking about as far as double big like Yeah for sure I was I was afraid of that But as a backup book yes of course I hope that would be the hope is that he could play 10 you know 10 to 15 minutes a night Uh get Alpiece some rest and you know you could put him out there with Jabari Smith Jr and you have some you have a a real legitimate screener in Malawatch and in Roman and then Jabari on the wings and so I think it fits perfectly fine Like I think I think that’s what the Rockets should I honestly think this is a serious candidate at 10 like this is probably the one of the most serious candidates just because we know what the what MA Udoka values right and this is this is an archetype of young player that we have not drafted yet We’ve almost drafted every archetype of young player on this team except a center And I think at 10 at this sweet spot he’s the best at this position here He’s coming from Duke and he’s already pretty advanced as a mover and processor on the backline reading defenses Well and and to your point I I know you said a center right technically Alpie center but it’s it’s the type of center right just cuz this we were we were looking at this last year right is we were looking at the types of players that the Rockets had drafted And that’s why there was so much discourse between the idea of taking you know Reed Shepard versus Donovan Klingan right is because the Rockets hadn’t drafted either of those types of you know you know kind of type of player or the archetype of player Uh what archetype whatever archetype I’m stupid I’m just I’m just repeating myself at this point Um but I think you’re right Right Like it would present it would present it would be like the final piece of the puzzle for the Rockets to gain one more archetype that they don’t have in the mix yet We know that Eay really values the defensive side of the ball And with what we know about the Rockets potentially being worried about getting priced out of the Steven Adams market this off seasonason and his free agency approach um Malawatch would be a really big pickup for them at 10 it certainly feels like it Now the concern here becomes looking at his potential draft range right and this is a guy that you know he’s been in some mocks where he’s all the way up at like you know six seven eight Like he he goes kind of early in certain mocks And the one that I keep coming away with thinking man like it’s going to be really hard And and I this is the team that I see him mocked to constantly is the Toronto Raptors Yep I see the And it sucks cuz they’re right there ahead of the Rockets And it’s like man I’m going be mad if they snag him one pick before Houston especially if there if there’s like heavy reporting that really suggests which again from what I’ve heard so far Rockets are pretty interested in either Malawatch or potentially Derek Queen with that uh 10th overall pick But that would suck to lose him to the Raptors one pick before you’re on the board Yeah man It really would suck And I I think he really is a Messiah guy Like you know these are the type of players he play uh he he and he’s not he’s not afraid of going and getting a a center in the lottery like you know what I mean so I I really think Toronto is a serious candidate to to draft him Um and the Rockets you know I think I think there’s options though if he does go off the board but I do think this archetype would be perfect to add to this young mix of player This is a guy who he doesn’t have to play immediately but his role is simplified it’d be easy to get him on the on the floor and he’s going to be focused in on defense which we know mudoka’s primary focus Do you last thing I’m gonna get you with Do you like him enough that you would trade up for him no No not that much Okay All right I was like cuz I was like looking like maybe like a trade and not like a trade up to like not but like you know maybe get up there at like eight or seven like like leap frog Leaprog the team you think is going to snatch him up right and then uh if it only cost it a couple seconds who cares you can throw some seconds away to lead two two spots but I I doubt I I bet it costs a little more than that Probably unfortunately But all right we want your thoughts on Kaman Malawatch Would you like to see the Houston Rockets take a swing with him at pick number 10 what are your thoughts on him as a prospect and also as a lob threat give us your thoughts in the YouTube comments Madison you know the drill Let me know where we track you down at You can find me on Twitter at MadMan Leaks Come talk Rockets basketball NBA draft That’s going to do it for another edition of Locked on Rockets As always thanks so much for checking out the show Remember the best way to help us grow the show is to listen every single day on a podcast platform of your choosing and then like comment subscribe on YouTube But as always thank you so much for watching Thank you so much for listening and we look forward to having you back right here at Locked on Rockets your daily podcast home for everything Houston Rockets basketball

Khaman Maluach Houston Rockets NBA Draft Profile | Can Duke’s Defensive TERROR Replace Steven Adams?

Duke’s defensive dynamo Khaman Maluach looks to be the BEST big in the draft. Could he be the Houston Rockets’ missing piece?

Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost and NBA Draft enthusiast Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to break down and discuss Houston Rockets 2025 NBA Draft Prospect Khaman Maluach from Duke University, highlighting strengths (defense, finishing) and weaknesses (conditioning, shot creation), possible NBA comps, how his skills will translate to the NBA level, fit with the Houston Rockets and more.

#Rockets #NBA #Draft #CedricCoward

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