PG Landry Shamet calls himself ‘a good fit’ for Suns, Kokoskov

PHOENIX – Let’s assume, and this really isn’t going out on a limb, the Phoenix Suns do take center Deandre Ayton with the first overall pick in the June 21 NBA Draft.

That would leave point guard as the team’s next biggest need with three more selections to come: Nos. 16, 31 and 59.

Let’s also then assume that Trae Young, Collin Sexton and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — considered the top three point guards in this year’s draft class — are off the board when the Suns are on the clock at 16. That still would leave the Suns with a good grouping of point guards with which to choose from, including Wichita State’s Landry Shamet, who has been linked to the Suns in at least one mock draft.

“I take it with a grain of salt,” he said Friday, speaking to reporters after his pre-draft workout with the Suns.

“I mean, mock drafts are nice, like the recognition is cool but, with all due respect, the people making mock drafts aren’t going to be the ones making the decisions on draft night. I try not to look at them too often.”

Fair enough, yet, Shamet, who was named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press after a standout sophomore season averaging 14.9 points and 5.2 assists per game, could see himself fitting in with the Suns and new head coach Igor Kokoskov.

“A lot of his terminology, even from just today’s workout, is stuff I’m familiar with. I kind of was knowing everything he was saying, felt good about everything he was saying,” Shamet said.

“Playing with a coach like that would make a good fit and filling in with other good, young pieces; young guys trying to kind of find themselves as, obviously, the Suns are and I think I could come in and be complimentary in the locker room and fit in right away and find my niche.”

With a 6-foot-5, 189-pound frame, some have questioned Shamet’s athleticism. Assistant general manager Pat Connelly, however, shot those questions down.

“I thought his body — I was at his pro day the other day and looking today, he looks a little more cut up,” he said. “Big guy, versatile; really good feel for the game.”

And no one was questioning Shamet’s conditioning. In the post-workout three-minute run, Shamet nearly lapped the field

“I tried to, man,” he said, smiling. “That last 30 seconds I tried, I’m not going to lie, yeah.”

Shamet joined an all-guard workout that included Rhode Island’s E.C. Matthews, USC’s De’Anthony Melton, Vancouver Island’s Usama Zaid plus Arizona’s Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier.

Perhaps Shamet’s biggest upside is his shooting, especially from long range. He ranked 13th nationally in 3-point percentage (.442), setting a school record with 2.63 triples per game. His 84 3-point makes was the second-highest season total in school history.

Overall, Shamet shot 48.9 percent from the field.

“I know that’s something I can bring immediately. It’s something I have confidence in. I’ve worked on forever. Not only make me a good point guard but an off-guard in this league,” he said. “I feel like I can play both positions, fill whatever role a coach needs me to fill whether it’s playing on the ball or off the ball with another good primary ball handler. Being able to catch and shoot and be a threat from the perimeter, I think, that’s something I bring immediately.”

Melton’s sophomore season happening now

All players want to perform well during workouts. They’re an important part of the pre-draft process, and for Melton, considering what he went through this season, they are doubly important.

Melton didn’t see the court this season. USC held him out due to his connection to the FBI’s college basketball bribery case. He ultimately withdrew from school in February to focus on the NBA.

At the combine, Melton, listed at 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds, was able to show scouts an improved shot — he made 43.7 percent of his field goal attempts as a freshman — and an eye for defense with three steals and two blocks in the second of the two games played.

The team workouts, like Friday, though are where Melton really must stand out.

“Everyone was expecting a big sophomore year jump so I just want to show my sophomore year jump in these workouts. Just in my body frame and in just the little things,” he said. “I think I’m doing a pretty job at it right now. Just got to go into every workout and go hard.”

Pre-draft workouts not limited to Phoenix

Connelly was back in front of the cameras after spending time in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles for different player agency workouts with draft prospects.

“It’s one-stop shopping where you can see so many guys in one day, so I probably saw over 100 guys total, which was good,” he said. “Some are competitive, some are just kind of drill work so varying degrees of takeaways but it’s still good and over two-and-a-half days to see that many players.”

The Suns will hit the road again this weekend, this time with a trip overseas. Bubba Barrage, director of player personnel, will lead a contingent to Treviso, Italy to attend the NBA Global Camp 2018 for the top draft-eligible prospects from outside the U.S.

Among the 40 players are a handful who played college ball in the states, including Arizona’s Dusan Ristic.

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