Malachi Richardson

[AlpharettaCuse]

My point is that Malachi had one huge game in the NCAAs and he had measurables that the NBA likes. But anybody paying close attention during that freshman year (or had seen him play in HS like I did) knew that he was a flawed player that wasn't going to do much in the NBA.

We all saw him play his freshman year at Syracuse. Not sure what seeing him in high school has to do with anything. Malachi showed a lot of potential and had a good freshman year. He played better as the season went on, and shot very well from 3 in ACC play. It wasn't one game. He had an outstanding combine, which probably meant much more than that Virginia game. He had the measurables, a great shooting stroke and good size. Great fit for the NBA. Most 18-19 old kids have flawed games. Coaching can often times fix that. which is why he was drafted in the first round.

 

[manleyzoo]

So going by this theory, if Grant didn’t get picked by Philly, would be in the NBA now?

Maybe not. With few exceptions, past the 7th guy everybody pretty much has to have something they do better than anyone else on the club or fits a specific need. Grant is crazy athletic but if he didn't get drafted by a team that needed that or had room for that he'd have gotten shipped around just like Malachi is now.

 

[manleyzoo]

Awful take. Jerami Grant was EXTREMELY lucky--as a second round pick--to land on a team that had a vested interest in losing for an extended period of time, in the midst of one of the grandest intentional tanks in professional sports history. They went out of their way to play who were marginal -- because the goal was to lose instead of winning, and they wanted a "cheap" roster while they were going through the process.

Grant--who as a physically underdeveloped second round rookie got a chance to play that most second rounders wouldn't--was able to parlay that opportunity into a second contract and refine his skill set / showcase his wares in ways that he might not have gotten anywhere else. Would he have had the same opportunity if he'd gotten drafted by a veteran team like, say, the Spurs? He might not have even made their roster out of camp.

Kudos to Grant for maximizing his opportunity by optimizing his potential, but let's not pretend that his cause wasn't aided by where he landed as a second round pick.

Pointing that out doesn't cast aspersions on his physical tools / potential.

Bingo.

 

[djcon57]

Maybe not. With few exceptions, past the 7th guy everybody pretty much has to have something they do better than anyone else on the club or fits a specific need. Grant is crazy athletic but if he didn't get drafted by a team that needed that or had room for that he'd have gotten shipped around just like Malachi is now.

Agree to disagree. We disagree at such a basic level I’ll just leave it at that.

Edit: One quick one before moving on...do you believe if Draymond Green wasn’t drafted by the Warriors he wouldn’t be in the NBA or would have been shipped out like a Malachi?

 

[tbonezone]

you jump off the dock you best know how to swim.

 

[bpo57]

Well, nobody can predict the future, right? You were guessing, and happened to guess correctly. You certainly didn't know any more than the teams that scouted him and considered drafting him.

Never said I did. Yeesh.

 

[manleyzoo]

Agree to disagree. We disagree at such a basic level I’ll just leave it at that.

Edit: One quick one before moving on...do you believe if Draymond Green wasn’t drafted by the Warriors he wouldn’t be in the NBA or would have been shipped out like a Malachi?

Green makes my point. He got drafted by a team whose scheme fits his skills. Yes, he's a skilled player but if he had been drafted by a team with different needs or a different scheme my bet is he would have been shipped someplace else. The point is the league is filled with players who can play. So is the G league. That's no guarantee that you stick.

 

[rrlbees]

Warriors sign Malachi to summer league team along with Jimmer Fredette and Ky Bowman.

 

[HOFCeluck]

niiiice

 

[Cusefan0307]

They are looking for shooting to put around Curry for this season...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Was selfishly hoping Malachi might end up on the Jazz summer league team.

 

[RF2044]

They are looking for shooting to put around Curry for this season...

Nice opportunity for him -- if they re-up Klay / KD, then they are going to want to find cheap bench fillers who can help until those guys [i.e, Klay] are ready to play again later in the season.

Hope Mali shoots well.

 

[SU94]

Nice opportunity for him -- if they re-up Klay / KD, then they are going to want to find cheap bench fillers who can help until those guys [i.e, Klay] are ready to play again later in the season.

Hope Mali shoots well.

I think Ky is a significant NBA contributor very soon (maybe not as much in GS). The modern NBA has such a blind spot right now if players like Ky and Tyus are not even drafted. Meanwhile, guys players like Ricky Ledo and "our guy" D.Bazley get drafted. I suppose a guy like Malachi should be referenced here too, as a poor pick, but at least he played one year of college.

 

[Briancuse]

Hope he makes it. The warriors are bringing in everyone this summer.

 

[tbonezone]

malachi. ky bowman, jimmer fredette. just shows how tough this league is even if you can excel in college. eats up even the best. think twice .

 

[Cusefan0307]

Malachi didn't even get in to the Warriors summer league last night.

 

[SUFan44]

Yeahhhhh not a good sign.

Malachi struck while the iron was hot and maximized his draft status.

However, I do not believe he was even remotely close to being ready to play in the NBA.

I will always root for guys to do well in the NBA that played at SU -- I wish Chris McCullough would have succeeded, Donte Greene, everyone. I just think some kids, even if they are drafted in the first round, could use more seasoning if they want to stick in the league and get a second contract.

 

[Newhouser]

He's not making the Warriors.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Really thought he would be a decent pro

 

[jr4750]

Yeahhhhh not a good sign.

Malachi struck while the iron was hot and maximized his draft status.

However, I do not believe he was even remotely close to being ready to play in the NBA.

I will always root for guys to do well in the NBA that played at SU -- I wish Chris McCullough would have succeeded, Donte Greene, everyone. I just think some kids, even if they are drafted in the first round, could use more seasoning if they want to stick in the league and get a second contract.

He absolutely made the right decision to go pro when he did. I can remember early that year, I was so furious at how lazy his defense was at times, that I was hoping JB would bench him. He also had a few nights where he literally shot us out of a game. Specifically at Georgetown (1-8) and Pitt at home, where he was (1-10). His legacy was changed during one insane 10 minute stretch. Two of his best games all year were in the tourney against Dayton and UVA, (who he played well against in the regular season as well.) He went exactly when he need too, but, I never saw him as a long term NBA player. I hope he proves me wrong though!

 

[orangemass]

He absolutely made the right decision to go pro when he did. I can remember early that year, I was so furious at how lazy his defense was at times, that I was hoping JB would bench him. He also had a few nights where he literally shot us out of a game. Specifically at Georgetown (1-8) and Pitt at home, where he was (1-10). His legacy was changed during one insane 10 minute stretch. Two of his best games all year were in the tourney against Dayton and UVA, (who he played well against in the regular season as well.) He went exactly when he need too, but, I never saw him as a long term NBA player. I hope he proves me wrong though!

I think he's proven you right...

 

[rrlbees]

Malachi started tonight. Had 9 points on 3-4 from 3 along with 4-5 rebs and a couple of assists. Had the best +/-.

He didn’t play last night but in their 2 games, not everyone has played in each game. 4-5 sat out each game. They have so many players on their summer roster and are going to play in two leagues, they’re only playing about 12 each game to give guys a good look instead of playing all 16-17.

 

[SUFan44]

Malachi started tonight. Had 9 points on 3-4 from 3 along with 4-5 rebs and a couple of assists. Had the best +/-.

He didn’t play last night but in their 2 games, not everyone has played in each game. 4-5 sat out each game. They have so many players on their summer roster and are going to play in two leagues, they’re only playing about 12 each game to give guys a good look instead of playing all 16-17.

That is all well and good but the fact remains, he’s going to struggle finding his way back in the NBA. Hope it works out for him.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[kirbivore]

Yeahhhhh not a good sign.

Malachi struck while the iron was hot and maximized his draft status.

However, I do not believe he was even remotely close to being ready to play in the NBA.

I will always root for guys to do well in the NBA that played at SU -- I wish Chris McCullough would have succeeded, Donte Greene, everyone. I just think some kids, even if they are drafted in the first round, could use more seasoning if they want to stick in the league and get a second contract.

I have done a 180 on this in the last 5 years. I think you're either good enough or not to stick in the NBA beyond the initial contract no matter how long you stay in school. The odds of sticking in the NBA are so slim. If you're going to be a marginal NBA guy that is out by age 25 regardless and you have a decent chance of showing enough "potential" to trick a GM into drafting you it's better to have that guaranteed money cushion than staying in school longer and trying to get in the league via the 2nd round or undrafted route. Of all the last decade's early entrants I think the only one who had a decent chance to move up the draft boards by staying one more year was Jerami Grant.