Report: Suns seeking to trade up in draft, snag Lonzo Ball
When it comes to the top of the draft, these days much of the speculation revolves around the Phoenix Suns.
UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, left, goes to the basket against Cincinnati forward Kyle Washington during the first half of a second-round game of the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, March 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
(AP Photo/Steve Yeater)
We are less than one week away from the NBA Draft, which means the rumors and speculation are about to ramp up a notch or two.
When it comes to the top of the draft, these days much of the speculation revolves around the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns currently hold the fourth overall selection, but as noted in ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford’s most recent mock draft, they would prefer not to stay there.
The Suns have been trying to trade up and have had conversations with both the Lakers and Celtics. Who are they after? Sources point to Ball as the target.
The Suns also covet Jackson, but he’s off the board here.
Unfortunately for the Suns, Ford’s mock has neither Lonzo Ball nor Josh Jackson available to them at No. 4, as he has the point guard going to the Lakers at two and the forward to the Celtics (who just trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers) at three.
If neither player is available it will come down to Tatum, Fox and Jonathan Isaac. Fox canceled a workout with the Suns last week and doesn’t have plans to complete one before the draft, which has made drafting him more complicated. Isaac has the most upside, but the Suns drafted two players last year with long developmental timelines and aren’t sure they’re ready to do that with Isaac as well.
That has the Suns leaning toward Tatum right now. Tatum is perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the draft. He’s a potential 20-points-per-night scorer. He doesn’t exactly fit with TJ Warren, but Warren will have a robust trade market if the Suns decide to move him.
A look at the most recent Arizona Sports 2017 Mock Draft Tracker shows the majority of predictions have the Suns landing Jackson, though Tatum comes in second with Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox in third.
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Comments
57 Comments
You're entitled to your opinion as am I. I sincerely hope we don't pick him as I believe it will not pan out to what people such as yourself expect. If we do and he turns out to be an ideal fit and a better player than the many who have been mentioned in his place, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong.
Great athletes don't make great NBA players, if so, every guy in the NBA would be great. Fox will be a decent NBA player but he will never be a star. Fox is a dime a dozen in the NBA, plays great defense and is an athlete but doesn't make guys better (we already have this) and he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. Too many people putting too much weight into Fox's Sweet 16 performance where he had a great game vs Lonzo. Lonzo's vision is rare and great PGs don't grow on trees. Lonzo will be the better pro, not only that but FAs will want to come play with a PG that will get them the ball when open, just like they flocked when Nash was here.
Ball's UCLA squad went from 15 - 17 to 31 - 5. He improves his team and teammates. No one else in this draft does that, especially Fox.
I'll do more than wet myself if we somehow land Ball or Jackson.