Khaman Maluach has been one of the big names at Duke, along with the projected first pick Cooper Flagg. Maluach has also been a top name among center prospects due to his athleticism and defensive potential. The Duke center can be a future starter in the league if he lives up to his potential and lands in the right situation. That said, here are the best fits for Khaman Maluach among teams currently projected to be in the 2025 NBA Draft lottery.
Best Fits For Khaman Maluach Among Lottery Teams
Toronto Raptors
The rebuilding Toronto Raptors will be an excellent fit for Maluach and his development. While the Raptors have Jakob Poeltl currently, they need a long-term solution at the center position. In Maluach, they will get just that as he possesses great potential as an athletic center who can hold down the paint. Given his age (19 years old when 2025-26 season begins), he will be a building block next to Scottie Barnes as Toronto transitions into the next era of Raptors basketball. Additionally, the Raptors have the defensive personnel to put around Maluach and potentially become an imposing defense in the future.
Maluach particularly, will benefit from playing next to an excellent playmaker like Barnes. He can feed Maluach easy shots using his court vision. Also, Malauch will immediately find minutes in the rotation as the Raptors do not possess much competition for Maluach to go against. He can develop behind veterans and fully reach his potential. For those reasons, Malauch will fit well in Toronto.
Washington Wizards
Malauch will fit well with the Washington Wizards and their timeline. In particular, the Wizards need another long-term big on the roster next to Alex Sarr. While Sarr has been playing center for his rookie season, adding Maluach will not be a bad idea as it will add more defense and versatility to the roster. It will give the Wizards the option to play Sarr at the four if necessary. Furthermore, pairing Maluach with Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly will give the Wizards a talented defensive core to build off of. Maluach will get playing time as the backup to Sarr and will benefit from playing with Bub Carrington. Without a doubt, the Wizards will be a good fit for Malauch if they get him.
Sacramento Kings
Regardless of the uncertain future of the Sacramento Kings, they would be a good landing spot for Maluach. Specifically, the Kings need another center on the roster behind Domantas Sabonis. Not only that, but they need defense and athleticism at that position. Maluach possesses both of those attributes and the potential to be an excellent center in the future. While Maluach is a raw prospect, he will immediately find playing time in the rotation. He will not see much competition for the backup center role as players like Alex Len are not long-term solutions. Speaking of long-term solutions, Maluach can be part of the next iteration of the Kings if they decide to rebuild.
As for Maluach, he will benefit from playing next to playmakers like De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. They will be able to feed him easy shots at the rim and they themselves will benefit from Maluach’s defensive presence. Players like Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray can help him with the defense. Overall, the fit between Maluach and the Kings is a good one.
