Former Spurs first-round pick can't afford to waste desperate NBA opportunity

Malaki Branham was selected by the Spurs with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. The Ohio State alum was touted as an athletic three-level scorer with solid measurables. Four years and three teams later, he looks to be on the verge of flaming out of the league entirely as he clings to life on Cleveland's summer league team.

The rapid decline underscores the brutal reality of the league. You can be here today and on your way out the door tomorrow. It's also unpredictable, so it's impossible to say whether or not this is his final chance. But to say that his opportunities are running out would be a gross understatement.

Branham just can't find his footing in the NBA

Teams don't select players in the draft with expectations that they won't work out. Malaki had every opportunity to prove himself. Unfortunately, that hasn't panned out. He was chosen at a time when San Antonio needed consistent scoring, and that was supposed to be his specialty. You can't just be an offensive guy and stay on the floor for the Silver and Black, though. Players have to bring more to the table.

Branham should have been able to do that. It's not like he's undersized. He was measured at slightly over 6'5" with shoes on, and the Columbus-born guard boasts a 6'10" wingspan. The tools to be a disruptive defender were there, but that potential was never realized. He was a traffic cone on defense, and he didn't facilitate much either. Malaki was a scorer and a scorer only. It wasn't enough.

The Spurs eventually packaged him and Blake Wesley to bring in another player who didn't play. Kelly Olynyk arrived in SA as a result of a trade with the Wizards, and he brought little to the team other than vibes. Still, it was clearly time to move on from the 2022 guards who could never force their way into the rotation.

With San Antonio prioritizing fits around Wembanyama, Branham had a fresh leash on life in Washington. But he only made it 28 games before they were ready to move on. He was sent to Charlotte in an uninspiring three-team trade with Washington and Dallas, where he was immediately waived.

It would be poetic justice for the Ohio native to find permanence in his old stomping ground. But the Cavaliers have a deep roster, and it's unlikely his tenure will last past the summer. If he can't break through here, I don't see him getting many more chances. It would be a sad end

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow