The last eight drafts haven’t been pretty for Suns

Jun 22, 2011, 3:28 PM | Updated: 6:03 pm

Got a friend, let’s call him … Craig. Craig — grumpy that he wasted nine bucks — insists that Hangover 2 was a summer blockbuster bomb. Just for fun, and to be a pain in his backside, I looked it up. A movie that was filmed on a budget of $35 million has, to date, grossed $233 million. That’s not a bomb, that’s an ATM machine.

While Craig and I can debate all day long what defines a Hollywood bomb, there is no such debate about the Suns and the NBA Draft. Tick…tick….tick…..boom.

Since drafting Amar’e Stoudemire with the No. 9 overall selection in 2002 the Suns haven’t just been bad at the NBA Draft, they have been spectacularly bad. The last eight drafts have a net result of one player who is still on their roster; at least, he is right now. Has Robin Lopez been traded yet?

In the interest of fairness, this is the Suns first draft under Lance Blanks, so don’t blame him for what you’re about to see. Plus, this draft isn’t exactly filled with Tier-1 type talent. Don’t expect the cook to whip up a filet when all he has to choose from is cube steak.

Still, it’s hard to trust this organization to get it right. Here, year by year, are the reasons why:

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2009: Earl Clark (#14)
Been staring at my blank screen for the last 10 minutes. Can't think of one thing to say, good or bad, about Earl Clark. He was sent to Orlando as part of the Gortat/JRich deal. Yep... five more minutes just passed

2008: Robin Lopez (#15)
All those cash considerations came in handy when the Suns had to pay for the glass door that Lopez shattered. Lopez is quite possibly the next Suns draft pick to be shown the door based on some of the rumors out there. This draft did net the Suns Goran Dragic. It did not get them Serge Ibaka. The Suns traded Kurt Thomas, their '08 first rounder and their '10 first rounder to Seattle for cash and a second rounder. The Sonics/Thunder used the '08 pick on Ibaka. The Suns got luxury tax relief which I'm sure makes you feel a whole lot better.

2007: Rudy Fernandez (#24) and Alando Tucker (#29)
Remember that first rounder the Suns got from Boston? They drafted Fernandez and then promptly traded him and James Jones to Portland for

2006: Rajon Rondo (#21) and Sergio Rodriguez (#27)
The Suns, do not get a pass for passing on this one. Rondo and Brian Grant traded to Boston for a future first rounder and cash considerations. Rodriguez traded to Portland for cash considerations. Instead of one of the best point guards in the NBA, the Suns got Jack Squat, who doesn't have much of a jumper and is lazy on the defensive end.

2005: Nate Robinson (#21)
Suns get a pass on this one. They turned Robinson and Quentin Richardson around to the Knicks and got Kurt Thomas. Exactly what I thought they needed (at the time).

2004: Luol Deng (#7)

The Suns wanted Andre Iguodala but were convinced he wouldn't be there. So they picked Deng at #7 then traded him to the Bulls for a future first rounder. Iguodala was picked 9th. Several decent players were picked shortly thereafter. Cue the circus music.

2003: Zarko Cabarkapa (#17)

Selected during the invasion of foreign "talent", Zarko proved that mediocre basketball players can be found overseas as well. Did you know that when the Suns traded Zarko to Golden State, one of the 2nd round picks the Suns got back eventually became DeJuan Blair? Somewhere, Doug Franz weeps. To be fair, the Suns also got Leandro Barbosa in a trade with the Spurs that night.

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