A dominant 7-foot force with elite shot-blocking instincts, this All-SEC freshman offers the Nets a modern defensive anchor capable of punishing teams as a high-efficiency connective passer.
While the Brooklyn Nets await their lottery fate on Sunday, hoping to land the No. 1 pick or within the top four, this year's draft class possesses immense talent outside the lottery and in the second round.
Matthew Feldman and Lorenzo J. Reyna of the NetsRoundtable have covered various draft prospects: Illinois' Keaton Wagler, Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Texas Tech's Christian Anderson and Washington's Hannes Steinbach.
Sunday's profile will focus on Kentucky center Malachi Moreno, who earned an All-SEC Freshman Team selection under coach Mark Pope.
Anchors Paint with Rim Protection
Moreno is 7 feet tall and weighs 250 lbs, which gives him a natural size advantage over others. He averaged 1.5 blocks in 36 games for the Wildcats.
His length impacts opposing players' drives to the rim, and he times his windup to block shots. Kentucky often played drop coverage defending against the pick-and-roll. When Moreno's teammates recovered to the ball handler, it gave him an extra split second to recover and swat away a shot attempt.
Moreno recorded 17 games with two or more blocks and had a career-high five blocks against Texas on Jan. 21.
Efficient Finisher at the Rim
The Georgetown, Kentucky, native shot 58.2% from the field on limited attempts (4.6 per game). He was not the Wildcats' focal point on offense, but his guards rewarded him when he fought for position in the paint.
Moreno would punish smaller defenders in the post with his size, showcasing the ability to spin baseline and finish with a strong dunk.
Because of his hustle and effort, he was often the recipient of easy, wide-open lobs or putback layups when defenses were compromised.
His two highest-scoring games are against Valparaiso on Nov. 7 (18 points, 8-14 from the field) and Mississippi State on Jan. 10 (17 points, 8-10 from the field).
Good Read-and-React Connective Passer
Long gone are the days of traditional centers that can only finish around the rim, rim protect and rebound. The modern-day big man can either space or the floor or pass the ball, and Moreno showcased the ability to pass at Kentucky.
Moreno averaged 1.8 assists for the Wildcats. He can connect with a cutting teammate either in the short roll or when faking a dribble handoff at the three-point line.
The All-SEC freshman dropped six dimes twice against Mississippi State and Texas.
Draft Projection
ESPN projected Moreno as an early second-round pick on April 26, but his stock has risen recently to the late-first round.
Moreno's blend of size, length and skill makes him an intriguing prospect for teams who need additional front-court depth and can develop him into a valuable contributor.
Are Nets a Fit?
Moreno would become a third-string big for the Nets, backing up Nicolas Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe. His size and length would make him an anchor for the Nets' defense, and he could form nice chemistry with Nolan Traoré, Egor Dëmin and Ben Saraf as a pick-and-roll partner.
Claxton has garnered interest in the trade market as well over the years, as he's thrived with a dominant on-ball point guard like James Harden. A potential departure opens extra opportunities for backup bigs to step up, and Moreno would be the additional front-court depth for Brooklyn alongside its top draft pick.
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