Per Cody Taylor of the ‘Rookie Wire,’ the LA Clippers have a draft workout scheduled with Malachi Moreno, a 19-year-old center who just finished his freshman season with the Kentucky Wildcats. Because he is loaded with potential and someone LA will likely be looking to snag early in the second round (36th overall), the next step for Brook Lopez, who has a team option this summer, appears to be unrestricted free agency.
In fact, the Clippers wouldn’t be evaluating replacements as closely as they are if they had plans to keep Lopez on the roster for next season.
It should not get twisted, though; the former All-Star is still a great center with excellent qualities and certainly a player who can contribute more than most at his age (38) would. But, he’s simply too old and flawed for the Clippers’ liking.
Malachi Moreno provides exactly what Brook Lopez never could
The issues, from start to finish last season, with Brook Lopez were that he processes the game too slowly, cannot rebound, and doesn’t bring much to the table inside the paint. Part of these are a result of his age, which is fair, and something the LA Clippers should’ve known what they were getting themselves into before signing him. On the contrary, some are blatant flaws in Lopez’s game.
For example, regarding his poor ability to crash the glass, he averaged 3.6 boards at seven-foot-one last season for the Clippers; that’s absolutely inexcusable, and something that cannot be put up with any longer.
Malachi Moreno, if everything goes well during his workout and he is drafted by LA with the 36th pick, fixes the lack of rebounding and Lopez’s other weaknesses right away.
For the Kentucky Wildcats, Moreno averaged 7.8 points and 6.3 rebounds(2.4 offensive) in just 22.6 minutes. This looks extremely promising at first glance, and his measurements of 6’ 11.25”, 242 lb, 7’ 1.5”(wingspan), and 9’ 3.5”(standing reach) add to it.
Additionally, in the film, Moreno showed many signs of being able to make the right decision on his feet, the ability to score off the roll and on his own, and is more than willing to get his hands dirty.
Isn’t this the type of center the Clippers need, backing up Yanic Konan Niederhauser(when he returns), and running the floor with Darius Garland?
Sure, Moreno cannot shoot, but that’s not a problem at all when he does basically everything a center is supposed to.
Add us as a preferred source on Google