Derik Queen just dropped 27 yesterday and he has really launched himself up the rankings this year, to where I think there's a real question over center no.1 in this class and who should be first off the board come draft time

For a while Khaman Maluach has been seen as the best center in this class, we are talking about a 7'2 center with potential to space the floor. although recently I've been impressed with his inside offence, the 3 ball hasn't been consistent although we never really expected it, but more glaringly the defence hasn't been very dominant. One thing we expected was high block numbers and great defence. his Frame gives him the ability to eb very versatile on defence but he is only averaging just over 1 block a game. Maluach hasn't played basketball for too long in his life and it's very apparent his IQ isn't NBA level. He consistently gets called on goal tends and that's a large reason why those numbers are low. I think this is a very teachable ability and if he can make some threes, he is going to be super valuable at the NBA level. The reason I still have him as my center no.1 is his pure potential to be great. if he develops, give him a vet to teach him some stuff and he gets more experience at a high level these issues fix and he will be very dominant defensively. But don't expect him to have much more of an impact compared to a guy like Alex Sarr this year.

Now Derik Queen is mainly an offensive player, really good in the post when he has the ball, he makes his own shot finds a bucket and he can make others better. He can throw some dimes he has playmaking upside and has some 3 ball potential although it has way less consistency than even Maluach so don't bet on it being a staple of his game. A lot of the questions about Queen coming into the year was based off his size, He isn't a tall center and he has always had questions on his weight, I personally, don't think it affects him too much, but it obviously effects him on the defensive end. He doesn't adjust too quick and is fast enough to be too effective against perimeter guys. he gets a block a game and a steal a game, he isn't a total negative but your center. you really hope to be more effective defensively compared to others. And when you're younger and move quicker, I want those numbers to be higher. Unlike Maluach his problems is purely his size, I love the IQ I think he knows what to do but he just isn't long enough, tall enough to recover on blocks.

That's why I view Maluach as the better prospect, I see an easy route for him to solve his problems while queen doesn't have any control over these things. If you disagree drop a comment.

There are other guys, Sorber, Ivisic twins, Zickarsky, Wolf, and some very effective 4s who can guard up centers. E.g. Newell and Rasheer Flemming. But I think these two have the biggest convo over the 1st center off the board.

Tell me what you think