Bennett Stirtz, Nique Clifford, Max Shulga, Tyon Grant-Foster and JaKobe Coles are names to watch from an NBA draft perspective in the early rounds of the tournament.
Big, glitzy talents are often given a longer leash by fans, expected to contend for titles even after non-dominant regular seasons. Even in this parity era, the odds of those teams actually winning a title remain slim.
Both the Thunder and Rockets are frenetic, physical, and new in a way that quickly washes the rubbish from your mind when you’re watching them, if you care at all about the real physical pleasures of the sport.
Khaman Maluach might not be a franchise player himself, but he can be a franchise cornerstone. And a rim-running big that’s easy to play with and has the potential to anchor a defense unlocks all kinds of team-building opportunities.
