Chris Paul trade leads Suns to draft Devin Vassell in new ESPN mock draft
Nov 17, 2020, 10:52 AM | Updated: 9:13 pm
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The Chris Paul trade, and the handful that have followed since Monday, have altered the NBA landscape to say the least.
And most definitely the upcoming NBA Draft.
With the Suns adding a veteran point guard at the cost of losing four players and a pick, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Phoenix selecting Florida State guard/forward Devin Vassell with the 10th overall pick.
The Suns will need to replenish some of the backcourt and wing depth they lost by trading Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre and Ty Jerome in the Chris Paul deal. Vassell is the type of strong 3-and-D role player every NBA team is looking for. A late bloomer physically who showed significant versatility both on and off the ball at Florida State, Vassell has some offensive upside to grow into thanks to his above-average passing and ability to shoot off the dribble.
In 30 games last season, Vassell averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game as a sophomore at FSU. The 6-foot-7, 194-pounder shot 53.2% from the field, 41.5% from 3-point land and 73.8% from the charity stripe.
He ranks as the 11th top prospect in the draft, per Givony.
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While Givony has Vassell pegged as a 3-and-D guy, the analyst believes he has a little more shot creation than the typical player usually has in that role.
Givony adds that while Vassell possesses ability to create, the game moves a little quickly for him at times. He also notes that his feel for the game on both ends is a work in progress.
Before the Paul trade, the Suns were mocked as selecting guard Kira Lewis out of Alabama.
But after the deal was made official, Lewis dropped three spots to the New Orleans Pelicans, who added a ton of draft capital and point guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill on Monday after dealing star guard Jrue Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks.
