Opinion: What Does Malachi Richardson Bring To The Table?

On the day of the 2016 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Hornets agreed on a trade that would send Marco Belinelli to Charlotte and Sacramento in return would receive the 22nd overall pick in the draft.

Technically the Hornets selected shooting guard Malachi Richardson out of Syracuse University with the pick, but today the trade has been official and Richardson is now a Sacramento King.

Richardson is already with the Kings organization in Las Vegas, as he will participate with the team in this year’s Summer League games.

The Player/Numbers

In his only season at Syracuse University, Richardson played the role of the team’s starting shooting guard. During that time he averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 37% from the court, 35.3% from the perimeter, and 72% from the free throw line.

Offense

Scoring is the main strength in Richardson’s game. He has the ability to score in a variety of ways whether it is driving to the basket, catching and shooting, or shooting off the dribble.

Apr 1, 2016; Houston , TX, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Malachi Richardson (23) shoots during practice day prior to the 2016 NCAA Men /

Richardson, however, is streaky with his jump shot, as his 37% field goal percentage attest to this notion, so he will have to become more consistent shooting the ball to be effective in the NBA.

Richardson will also have to improve on the other aspects outside of scoring the basketball. He tends to be a ball stopper and doesn’t distribute the ball well at his position.

He will need to adjust his offense, as of right now he will be playing with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, players that need the ball in their hands.

Defense

There is a lot of promise that Richardson brings as an NBA defender. He stands at 6’6” with a wingspan of 7’0”, which is a good size for an NBA two-guard. He is not as athletic as NBA teams would want him to be at his position, but his length should help him as his career progresses.

Whether Richardson can be an efficient defender right out of the gate is a question mark. It was difficult to evaluate Richardson’s defensive production at Syracuse because the Orange play a zone defense, so judging him as an individual defender will have to be made once Summer League is in session.

On the other hand, what was certain is the concern of Richardson’s effort on defense. There were times during his tenure with Syracuse where he lacked awareness and aggressiveness on the defensive end, but that can be improved as Kings head coach Dave Joerger looks to make the Kings a defensive-orientated team going forth.

Rafe’s Thoughts

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Overall, I see Richardson playing a minor role for the Sacramento Kings this season. He is still a project in the making that needs a year or two to fully develop.

Offensively, he has the talent to be a solid scorer at the professional level because he can score in different ways, but will need to find consistency.

I also think Richardson has promise on the defensive end. He is not athletic for his position, but he does have length. As long as he makes defense a priority for him going forward he should be able to groom into a solid defender at the big leagues as well.

With the Kings signing Arron Afflalo and Garrett Temple this free agency, don’t expect Richardson to play much.

But, if he works hard with the Kings coaching staff and develops moving forth, he could possibly play a big role for the Kings in the future.

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