In the dimly lit war room of the Phoenix Suns, tension hovered like desert heat. The 2025 NBA Draft had reached its crucial midpoint, and the franchise was faced with a franchise-defining choice. A trade proposal from the New Orleans Pelicans lay on the table—an offer that included a proven rotation player, a future unprotected first-round pick, and the rights to an established European guard. But Phoenix passed. They were entranced by the raw, towering potential of 7’2″ South Sudanese phenom Khaman Maluach.
When NBA analyst John Hollinger got wind of the Suns’ decision, his reaction was swift and critical. “They passed on certainty for a maybe,” Hollinger said during a live segment on The Mismatch. “Maluach is a project—no question. He’s two, maybe three years away from being a consistent contributor. This isn’t a team that can afford to wait.”
Hollinger’s concerns weren’t unfounded. The Suns, led by aging stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, are in win-now mode. Their championship window is shrinking. Hollinger pointed out that Phoenix has already mortgaged most of its future on high-profile trades, leaving them asset-thin and cap-strapped. Choosing Maluach—who showed flashes of brilliance at the Basketball Africa League and in international play but remains unpolished—was a high-risk gamble.
“Khaman has all the tools—length, mobility, timing on defense,” Hollinger admitted. “But his offensive game is undeveloped. He struggles with spacing, lacks touch outside the paint, and his decision-making is raw. He’s 18. This isn’t a G League Ignite experiment anymore—this is the NBA.”
Inside league circles, the decision sparked debate. One executive anonymously told The Athletic, “I get the intrigue with Maluach. He could be the next Rudy Gobert or the next Bol Bol. But Phoenix isn’t Oklahoma City. They don’t have the time to let this guy marinate.”
In contrast, the Pelicans’ offer included Trey Murphy III, who shot 40% from deep and plays elite wing defense. Adding him to the Suns’ roster would’ve bolstered their shallow bench. The future first-rounder was the kind of capital that a team with Phoenix’s constraints desperately needed. Hollinger emphasized that the Pelicans’ offer was not only fair—it was forward-thinking.
“Maluach might blossom,” Hollinger said, his voice heavy with skepticism, “but by the time he does, the Suns’ core could be in decline or gone. This is a pick you make when you have a five-year runway—not a two-year leash.”
As summer league begins, Maluach’s debut will be scrutinized under a microscope. Fans and analysts alike will measure each step, rebound, and block against the ghost of the trade-that-could-have-been. And while hope still flickers in the Valley of the Sun, John Hollinger’s warning echoes: potential is a currency that, if poorly timed, can bankrupt a contender.
