Source: Suns want Jimmer at No. 13
May 20, 2011, 9:19 PM | Updated: May 23, 2011, 4:23 pm
Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker may face of this summer, on the Phonix Suns draft board.
Alan Hahn of New York Newsday reported on Friday that if Fredette is available at No.13 the Suns will take him.
It might not matter. A few NBA scouts feel Fredette — while a bit of a risk because of his size and questions about whether he can defend at the NBA level (especially at the point guard position) — won’t get past the Utah Jazz, who have two picks in the lottery, including their own at No. 12.
And if the Jazz do pass on the BYU star, I’ve heard the Phoenix Suns would grab him at No. 13.
Earlier on Friday Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick said the Suns had already interviewed UConn’s Kemba Walker.
Thanks to his small stature and questionable ball handling skills, it’s unclear whether Fredette is a point or shooting guard at the next level.
Without knowing whether he’ll be able to fill Steve Nash’s shoes at point guard it could prove a costly mistake to take Fredette that early in the draft. At only 6-foot-2 and with suspect defense, putting him at shooting guard along side Nash could prove disastrous for the team.
If the Suns are looking to draft a guy with name recognition who can sell jerseys and put fans in the seats, Jimmer is their man. If they’re looking for a future replacement for Nash, they have a lot of questions to answer between now and draft night.
