The Philadelphia 76ers won’t know the status of their first-round pick until the lottery on May 12 as the pick is only top 6 protected. However, if the Sixers do end up keeping that pick, then there are going to be plenty of options for President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Co. to choose from.

It’s time to look at some potential draft prospects. The Sixers will have plenty of talented players to choose from and add to their stockpile of young pieces. It’s time to really break down the games of each of these prospects and see who best fits a Philadelphia team still focused on contending in the 2025-26 season if it can get some injury luck for once.

Up next in this series is Duke big man Khaman Maluach. Standing at 7-foot-2, Maluach would give the Sixers some much-needed size in the never-ending search for a backup big man to Joel Embiid.

Here is a look at Maluach’s profile as the Sixers continue to await their draft fate:

Maluach’s 2024-25 statsCategoryPPGRPGAPGBPGFG%Maluach’s numbers8.66.60.51.371.2%Strengths

Due to his immense size, Maluach is a terrific rim protector. He doesn’t get a ton of blocks, but he alters a lot of them and makes opposing ball-handlers think twice about attacking the basket. He is a mobile defender as well which allows him to switch onto perimeter guards in the pick-and-roll game. In terms of his offense, he is a bit limited, but what he does on offense would help the Sixers in a big way. He has soft hands which allows him to catch lobs in traffic and throw them down for easy baskets. He also has a high motor which is a big skill in today’s NBA.

Weaknesses

As mentioned above, he is a bit limited on offense. He can really only throw down dunks and finish in traffic. He doesn’t have much perimeter offense which is something he will need to develop as time goes on in the NBA. The Sixers will certainly need to work with him a bit so he can develop his overall game. It is also a bit concerning that he doesn’t get a ton of blocks nor dominate on the glass. He should be able to be an unstoppable force on the glass and he just hasn’t been able to be that guy just yet.

Potential fit for the Sixers

The Sixers need some size behind Embiid. While Adem Bona is a big help, and he showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, one has to wonder if Philadelphia will be looking to go in the bigger direction. Maluach certainly needs some work, but one cannot teach size and that 7-foot-2 frame will be a big selling point not just for the Sixers, but to anybody picking in the top 5 on draft night.