Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports has moved Malachi Moreno ahead of Jayden Quaintance in his updated NBA Draft projections.
O’Connor has Moreno going in the first round (pick No. 24) to the New York Knicks. He has Quaintance going No. 29 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Otega Oweh is projected as a second round pick.
Here are some excerpts:
RD1, PK24 New York Knicks
Malachi Moreno, Big, Kentucky
Team Fit
Moreno worked out for the Knicks this week, which is quite an intriguing storyline to monitor since he’s only testing the draft waters. But he’s also a hot name since he has an NBA frame at only 19 years old: 7-feet, 250 pounds. He does the baseline things as a big man with above-the-rim finishing, hard-nosed rebounding, and stout rim protection. He also adds a layer as a passer, showing an advanced feel for the game and for manipulating defenders. It’s important for him to improve his touch as a finisher and as a shooter, but he’s in a good place for his age with skills that should be translatable to the next level. There’s a strong chance that he works his way into the first round, and with Mitchell Robinson entering free agency this summer it would make sense for the Knicks to find a replacement.
RD1, PK29 (via San Antonio) Cleveland Cavaliers
Jayden Quaintance, Forward, Kentucky
Team Fit
The Cavaliers look absolutely done against the Pistons. They have no championship DNA. No heart. No toughness. No grit. There are still at least two games in Cleveland that need to be played, but it just seems over. It would make sense for the Cavaliers to use this pick on a player who could change that culture. Is that Quaintance? Well, as long as he stays on the floor. JQ is going to get drafted based almost entirely on what he looked like before his knee exploded. As a freshman at Arizona State, he was blocking everything in sight, showing defensive instincts and mobility that players with his 6-10 frame aren’t supposed to have, and he was 17 years old doing it. Then came the ACL, the meniscus, the fractured knee, the transfer to Kentucky, persistent swelling, and a shutdown for the remainder of his sophomore season. Now teams have to make a decision after 28 games of great defense and eyesore offense. He might not fall this far. But if he does, it’d make perfect sense for the Cavaliers to scoop him up since he could operate as the tough guy big to pair with Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
