Could the Cleveland Cavaliers select Matur Maker with their 2018 NBA Draft pick?
According to basketball insider Gery Woelfel, the Cleveland Cavaliers will host a workout for Mississauga Prep’s Matur Maker on Sunday as they continue their preparation for the 2018 NBA Draft.
Maker, the 20-year-old younger brother of Milwaukee Bucks center and former lottery pick Thon Maker, has impressed in multiple showcases over the year.
He was the 2017 BioSteel All-Canadian MVP after dropping 25 points and 6 rebounds on the competition (8-11 from the field, 9-10 from the free-throw line). At the adidas Nations Tournament, which featured player season like highly touted Zion Williamson, Matur averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game (6 games).
On offense, Matur is not a real perimeter threat at this stage in his career because he lacks touch on his outside jumper. However, Maker does have point-forward potential, constantly directing traffic, dribbling from the top of the key, directing traffic and dropping off passes to open teammate. His constant drives to the rim make up a substantial bulk of his scoring impact.
Defensively, his length, athleticism and activity will result in a lot of pick-up dribbles and blocked shots at the next level. Enhancing his sense of timing, which should come with film study and work with NBA player development coaches, will allow him to be one of the most versatile threats in the league.
He’s slight of frame but looks like he can guard at least three positions in the league from Day 1 (shooting guard, small forward, power forward).
At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and 9-foot-3 standing reach, Maker doesn’t have quite the combination of freakish length and explosive athleticism that his 7-foot-1 brother does but he’s still one of the most dynamic athletes in the 2018 NBA Draft and should get similar treatment to his brother in the draft.
Thon was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft despite opting not to showcase his game against NCAA talent.
Having just completed his second season, Thon has averaged 11.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes (131 games, 46 starts). He just completed the most impressive season of his young career with averages of 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game (9.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes) in the opening round (6 games, 2 starts).
Despite being a raw scorer, illustrated by a career true shooting percentage of 52.0, Thon makes he impact felt in a variety of ways.
That should be the same type of impact Matur has early on in his career.
With the 8th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft as their lone selection in the draft, it’s unlikely the Cavaliers use such a high pick on a player like Matur because every move they make prior to the offseason will be a move that they hope will keep LeBron James in town.
Though a versatile talent, with so many high-profile and highly productive prospects looking like they’ll be available in the top-ten of the draft, selecting Matur with a top-ten pick isn’t the best way of proving the team is in win-now mode.
Unless the Cavaliers acquire an additional draft pick or Matur goes undrafted, it’s hard to see him wearing Wine and Gold next season.
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*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com