Shake Milton’s versatility would fill Suns’ needs on first-round bubble

Southern Methodist isn’t known as an NBA-prospect hotbed, but the school is producing unique and versatile players.

Milwaukee Bucks second-round draft pick Sterling Brown is known for shooting and defense while Boston Celtics second-round pick Semi Ojeleye has found success as a strong perimeter defender, taking assignments such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James for small stretches in the playoffs.

Guard Shake Milton is the latest to come out of the school and he is the most versatile of the three.

At 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Milton was an elite three-point shooter. He attempted 445 three-pointers over three seasons for the Mustangs and made 42.6 percent of ’em.

On top of that, Milton can handle the ball and distribute a bit. He averaged 4.5 assists as a sophomore and 4.4 as a junior in an increased role as a playmaker.

Defensively, Milton’s size makes him a threat to guard three-to-four positions, which is possibly the most appealing aspect of his projection.

Add that up and you’ve got quite the dynamic 21-year-old.

Milton was in the Phoenix Suns’ first group for draft workouts on Friday and spoke on that versatility.

“Just the fact that I can really shoot the ball, space the floor,” he said of his strengths. “My IQ for the game. I think I’m really able to pick up on things quickly, and just being versatile. You can plug me in at the one, at the two or three … Just trying to show I can do a little bit of everything.”

Milton missed all of February and March due to a broken bone in his right hand but said he’s 100 percent. He underperformed at the NBA Combine, something the Suns aren’t worried about.

“The combine — it’s a small sample,” general manager Ryan McDonough said. “They only play for two days … We go more off the film than anything.”

Milton has had five workouts already and will be one of the busiest players in that regard, as he could go anywhere from the mid-first round to the start of the second round. The Suns pick at Nos. 16 and 31 in that range.

He’s spoken with Brown and Ojeleye and picked up pointers on how they went through the process as two players who were both projected in similar ranges of the draft as Milton.

“Just kinda looking at what they did and the way they maneuvered through this process and just trying to follow their steps,” Milton said.

With Phoenix, Milton could be yet another multi-dimensional perimeter player, joining the likes of Devin Booker and Josh Jackson who can flourish beyond just one aspect of the game.

That’s what the Suns want, specifically on defense.

“If you don’t have to protect anybody or hide anybody, if you can just switch and guard one through five, that’s really valuable,” McDonough said.

Milton worked out with other guards that have length, including Kansas’ Devonte’ Graham and Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett. Arizona State’s Tra Holder, Oakland’s Kendrick Nunn and Iowa State’s Lindell Wigginton were also in the workout.

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