Khaman Maluach made ‘big leap’ in offseason Suns will need

PHOENIX — Devin Booker does not go out of his way to set expectations for his teammates or team at the start of the season but the Phoenix Suns’ face of the franchise did that in a way by saying at media day on Monday that second-year center Khaman Maluach has made the biggest leap of anyone on the team this summer.

“He’s way ahead of the curve just to be going into his second year,” Booker said. “He’s asking a lot of question but you can tell he’s asking them when he already knows the answer and knows what to do. It’s been a pleasure to watch him grow.”

 

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Maluach texted Booker at some point in the summer asking about working out together, since the 20-year-old noticed they share a similar timeslot at the practice facility anyway. Booker obliged, and the pair became a known thing around the facility at points in the summer. A lot of it was developing a feel within a two-man game, with Maluach picking Booker’s brain on where he likes the ball, screens and so on.

“He has done this for a long time and he has a lot of tools that I can learn from him as a young center, just being able to go to him and just ask him what I should do in this situation,” Maluach said.

You have to imagine that was rather encouraging for the Suns to see, an organic extra push from Maluach to get even better, and for Booker to give his blessing on the major progress he has made.

Maluach is a tremendously important part of the Suns’ future. As the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, that type of young talent in the lottery is something Phoenix likely won’t have access to again for a handful of years, needing to nail all the other parts of the draft instead.

But now Maluach is just as important to the present too.

Starting center Mark Williams is going to be out for several months, with a timeline of at least five months presented by Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro that would put Williams out through the All-Star break.

This means the Suns need a new starting center, creating their biggest decision to make in training camp. Regardless of who gets the call, Maluach is going to have a big role on the team.

Third-year big Oso Ighodaro spelled Williams when the veteran was out for chunks of last season, a move equal parts due to Maluach being a raw rookie and Ighodaro being one of Phoenix’s strongest overall contributors.

Ighodaro said he does not feel entitled to the spot because of his 24 starts last year and additional four in the playoffs.

“I’m going about it the same way I was before [Williams] got hurt, preparing to try to get the best I can this summer and getting better,” Ighodaro said. “In terms of me and Khaman, we’ve been competing for the last two months.”

There is a strong case for Maluach to get the nod based on his size, skillset, importance to the roster and how Ighodaro flows better with the second unit. A traditional center (like Williams) is what that group needs, and Maluach projects to be that. With a motor that doesn’t stop and feel for defensive playmaking as a rim protector, Maluach can match Williams’ rebounding (8.0 RPG) and surpass Williams’ shot-blocking (0.9 BPG). As long as the staff thinks he’s got the basics down, which would cover all of his offensive impact and his anchoring ability on defense, this should be simple enough.

But with all due respect to those outside the organization who have formulated strong opinions on how “ready” Maluach is for a real role, we still have no idea. And they might not fully, either. He averaged 14.3 minutes per game across 14 appearances in March, our only real look at him, and it was expectedly mixed.

Given the Williams injury and the variance for how “ready” Maluach could be, he’s now become one of the X-factors to the entire season.

Head coach Jordan Ott did not say who would be starting, an expected response on media day. The season opener sits 23 days away, so he’s got time, but there will eventually be a choice made.

“I thought that question would come up!” Ott said. “I know who we will have in our first unit tomorrow (at practice), but it’s not a starting group out there.”

General manager Brian Gregory was asked how ready he thinks Maluach is for real minutes.

“When you see his body today, his body has changed, he’s gotten stronger, he runs differently, he moves differently. … But when we talk about the work ethic and putting in the time for that development, he’s done it every single day (and) a lot of times twice a day.” Gregory said.

Maluach’s motor and work ethic have been commended ever since he was drafted. Those who didn’t know it yet have come away very impressed. Nine-year veteran Luke Kennard called Maluach one of the hardest workers he knows, and two-way signing Pat Spencer said entering his fourth NBA season that Maluach’s energy is the best he’s seen out of anyone else in the league.

Ott was later asked if the differing styles of play for each guy make the decision easier or harder.

“I just think it’s more tools in the toolbox. … It’ll be great. It’s a great challenge for all of us. It’s two young guys who are thirsty and hungry to get out there,” Ott said.

Ighodaro added more from his perspective on how he can facilitate ball movement in either group.

“It’s definitely a little different,” he said. “With that second unit last year, the ball was really skipping and moving a lot. But I think that’s an advantage for me.”

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