COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – NOVEMBER 8: Collin Murray-Boyles #30 of the South Carolina Gamecocks … More
The NBA Draft is next month, and as prospects and teams are lining up, some players have skills that benefit specific teams.
As such, let’s get into some matchmaking, where we look at four players, and their optimal NBA fit.
Jase Richardson – Orlando Magic
SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell noted this fit on a recent podcast, and it makes a world of sense given Orlando’s specific guard needs.
Richardson is a high-efficiency three-point shooter, who can play off of high-usage ball-handlers, such as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and even Jalen Suggs.
Richardson hit over 41% of his long-range shots this season at Michigan State, as he primarily played in a scoring role.
Orlando has needed outside shooting for a while, as well as depth at the guard spot. Richardson’s theoretical fit here is obvious, but will he be on the board at #16 when Orlando makes their pick?
Khaman Maluach – Washington Wizards
The Wizards are in the middle of a rebuilding process, and have reached the time to really set their young core for the future, as they have the sixth pick to take a big difference-maker.
Maluach would help give the Wizards a fairly potent future young front court, with 7’1 Alexandre Sarr already in place, who can play both the power forward and center position.
Maluach is a center, through and through, and his enormous size (7’2, 253 pounds, 9’6 standing reach) would give the Wizards a huge team, which could be hard to score on down the road.
While Maluach isn’t a natural leaper, his earthbound ways can be hugely effective. He’s got great touch around the rim, hits free throws, and should have three-point potential in terms of how he’s releasing the ball.
With Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, and Bub Carrington in place, the Wizards could see the South Sudanese center as another core piece for the future.
Collin Murray-Boyles – Chicago Bulls
The lefty combo-forward is a do-it-all playmaker and defender, who compares also like a Draymond Green/Julius Randle hybrid, but with a shaky outside shot.
The Bulls shouldn’t care, as Murray-Boyles would make for an amazing fit alongside Matas Buzelis, their rookie from this season.
Those two would form a super intriguing defensive pairing, as well as offer the Bulls a wealth of productivity.
Murray-Boyles is a stat-sheet stuffer, and his level of raw talent is so good, the jumper might come in time. There’s nothing inherently wrong with his shooting motion, so there could be another layer to his game.
Of course, with a game like that, you’re never sure if he’s available at #12, when Chicago is on the clock.
Thomas Sorber – Atlanta Hawks
It might be a reach for Atlanta to grab Sorber here, so if they get intel that he’s available later on, a trade-down could make sense.
Having said that, Sorber has a ton of size and skill. With Clint Capela potentially not returning, and with Onyeka Okongwu being just 6’8, the Hawks could use a big man who does big man stuff.
Sorber, who’s 6’11 and has a wingspan of 7’6, is a heavy, but productive big, who will score inside, rebound at a solid level, block shots, and convert at the free throw line.
He’s not a shooter yet, but his release looks fine, so there’s a path for him to at least become a quasi-spacer in the mid-range as he matures.
With Atlanta already having good size at their forward spots, adding more up front could make life for Trae Young far easier, especially defensively.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
