EOTS’ No. 31 preview: Late first round has long, unique group of forwards

After running through the potential top choices at No. 16, Empire of the Suns combs through position groups the Suns could be looking to strengthen at No. 31 in the 2018 NBA Draft.

After two seasons of seeing them, how do you assess what exactly Phoenix Suns forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss do on the basketball court?

It’s a lot more of untapped potential than defined skillsets at this stage, and that might be why the Suns target a forward at the start of the second round.

There is an alarming lack of stretch fours in this class, and in general, any forwards at all.

What is present is an odd and unique range of players at forward. Phoenix could target a specific attribute or two in a prospect, and if they are looking beyond a point guard, scoring at guard or shooting and defense on the perimeter, these players offer different talents.

Keita Bates-Diop, F, Ohio State

6-foot-8, 7-foot-3 wingspan, 224 pounds, 22 years old

19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists on 48.0% shooting (35.9% from 3-point range on 5.4 attempts (!) a game)

Let’s knock out Bates-Diop quickly since he’s more likely to be picked in the No. 16 range than 31st.

He’s long. He’s athletic. He can shoot. He rebounds well. He can handle the ball enough to score for himself.

That’s all fun and whatever, but watch his defensive work when he’s locked in.

He’s also very inconsistent in impacting games and seems to lack the “surefire” aspects of an older, seasoned prospect. He will be 23 before the All-Star break of his rookie year.

If Bates-Diop can correct his tunnel vision toward shooting, rebounding and defense while scoring when he has openings, he could be the steal of this draft outside the lottery.

I’m failing to see a “best player available” scenario better for the Suns than Bates-Diop somehow not going in the first round.

Chandler Hutchison, F, Boise State

6-foot-7, 7-foot-1 wingspan, 197 pounds, 22 years old

20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 47.5% shooting (35.9% from 3-point range on 4.1 attempts a game)

It’s very clear what Hutchison is going to do for NBA teams. Play him off the ball and let him shoot open threes. If teams respect his shot, he will absolutely murder them off the dribble.

He is awesome attacking the basket in that regard, doing it enough to the point where he’s developed some solid passing instincts.

You won’t run much around him offensively, his defense isn’t a sure thing and his 3-point shot is even further than that, but it’s not difficult to understand how he potentially got a promise from a team in the top-25.

In Phoenix, adding long, athletic forwards with offensive skill around Josh Jackson and Devin Booker isn’t the worst idea. Bates-Diop and Hutchison could fill that space.

Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Kentucky

6-foot-8, 7-foot-1 wingspan, 214 pounds, 19 years old

5.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists on 42.6% shooting (one 3-point attempt this season)

Vanderbilt is extremely intriguing because he’s one of a kind. Vanderbilt’s also had three major foot injuries, making his stock extremely volatile.

He is hopeless when it comes to developing a jumper. The intangibles, though, are like someone sprinkled in bits of Lamar Odom and Dennis Rodman.

He has “it” on the glass when it comes to wanting it more and instincts, making him one of the best rebounders in this class — no question.

Jarred Vanderbilt eating glass ALL night. pic.twitter.com/EEPkpCIvP5

— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) February 21, 2018

That’s exciting because Vanderbilt is terrific with the ball in his hands at his size, capable of some serious playmaking.

Nice dish by Jarred Vanderbilt to Wenyen Gabriel for the jam. pic.twitter.com/pZ0VDWizSe

— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) February 3, 2018

When he’s all there defensively, there’s extreme positional versatility that almost no one can match in this class.

Vanderbilt is a bit raw and needs time to find an NBA role, but he is the type of stat-stuffer teams love. If he was a bit more of an explosive and freaky athlete without the foot injuries, I think he’s a first-round pick.

If the Suns go big and small at their top two picks, a gamble on a specific type of player on the wing at 31 is logical, and Vanderbilt is worth a look.

Justin Jackson, F, Maryland

6-foot-7, 7-foot-3 wingspan, 229 pounds, 21 years old

9.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists on 36.6% shooting (25% shooting on 3.6 attempts per game)

Jackson was a potential first-round pick last year, decided to come back to school, didn’t have great numbers to start the year (as you can see) and then tore his labrum in his right shoulder.

He had that hype because of versatility. He was a useful defender for the Terrapins, using his developed frame and solid movement to be a hassle at multiple positions.

Despite shaky shooting numbers in 11 games, his 3-point shooting last year was 43.8 percent on 3.2 attempts a game. That’s his ticket for building value on offense.

Looking at the three biggest players on the court, that’s where Jackson as a defender could thrive in certain spots. Jackson could follow Josh Jackson and Dragan Bender as the next potential versatile defender for the Suns.

Beyond those four names, there are other potential options. Kenrich Williams out of TCU is a smart, savvy wing, Barcelona’s Rodions Kurucs has serious size and shooting, and Cincinnati’s Gary Clark is a physical bruiser who sees the floor well on both ends.

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