Empire of the Suns Round Table: What to do with the 4th pick?

The 2016 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching despite the season just coming to a close.

Thursday will mark a new day for team’s across the league as they start to shape their rosters for the 2016-2017 season. The Suns hold the fourth pick and the people from Arizona Sports 98.7 FM give their thoughts on what’s going to go down.

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1. Who do you think is the best fit for the Suns at No. 4?

Doug Franz – Co-host of Doug & Wolf

Dragan Bender

Vince Marotta – Co-host of Bickley & Marotta

Jaylen Brown. I think Brown has a ton of potential even though he hit the wall late in his one and only season in college. Over his last five games, including the Pac-12 and NCAA Tournament, Brown hit just 20.8 percent (10-of-48) of his shots, averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 turnovers and fouled out twice as Cal went 2-3 in that span. I do like Brown’s size (6-foot-7, 225 pounds), wingspan and athletic ability.

Craig Grialou – Arizona Sports reporter

The Suns need a big — specifically a power forward — and that’s why Croatia’s Dragan Bender makes so much sense.  He’s 7-foot and has shown the ability to stretch the floor, with an outside shot that is decent, yet needs to be more consistent.

Kellan Olson – Empire of the Suns contributor

There’s no doubt it’s Dragan Bender. The Suns currently do not have a power forward on the books for next season and Bender’s unique skill set would be very valuable in Phoenix.​ He can defend multiple positions, block shots, shoot threes and is a smart and willing passer. I believe he’s the third-best prospect in the draft and there’s a significant drop-off after him, so the Suns should be dancing in the streets if he falls to No. 4.

Kevin Zimmerman – Empire of the Suns contributor

Dragan Bender. He fills a need, is already a polished prospect despite being physically underdeveloped (because of his age) and has the dynamic game to become an NBA player for a long time.

Bryan Gibberman – Empire of the Suns contributor

I’m going with Dragan Bender. Outside of a superstar player the most valuable part of constructing a team is a stretch five on offense who can protect the rim and at worst help keep it even on the boards. Is Bender going to be that guy? It depends on how he grows into his body, but there’s at least a chance it happens. Even if he doesn’t reach his ceiling, a four with the ability to shoot threes, attack closeouts and defend well enough on the perimeter to switch onto guards is a good piece to have.

Steve Zinsmeister – Doug & Wolf producer

Dragan Bender

Andy Greenberg – Off the Edge with B-Train producer 

Domantas Sabonis. I’d prefer to see the Suns trade town to take him but would not be disappointed if he goes 4th.

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2. Who do you think is the worst fit for the Suns at No. 4?

Doug Franz – Co-host of Doug & Wolf

Skal Labissiere…he’ll be broken in half in his first two years in the league

Vince Marotta – Co-host of Bickley & Marotta

Buddy Hield. Based on what he did during his college career at Oklahoma, Hield is one of my favorite players in this draft and a guy I’d normally love to see in the purple and orange. But as a two-guard, he plays the same position as the Suns’ most exciting piece, Devin Booker. Then again, you can never have too many shooters, can you?

Craig Grialou – Arizona Sports reporter

Drafting for need is never good but the Suns do not need another shooting guard, not with the emergence of Devin Booker and the expected arrival of Bogdan Bogdanovic.  That’s why I would stay away from Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield, who may not be able to get his shot off in the NBA as quickly as he did college.

Kellan Olson – Empire of the Suns contributor

Buddy Hield could be the league’s next great scorer and sharpshooter off the bench. The problem with the Suns taking Hield is they already have Devin Booker, who is already a better player than Hield despite being more than three years younger than him. Even if Hield were to come off the bench, his major issues are defending and playmaking, the same flaws T.J. Warren has on the other wing spot.

Kevin Zimmerman – Empire of the Suns contributor

Jamal Murray is redundant with Devin Booker, but he’s also got a low ceiling due to his athletic limitations, questionable position and poor projections as a defender.

Bryan Gibberman – Empire of the Suns contributor 

I’m cheating and using two players here — Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and Kentucky’s Jamal Murray. I’d disagree pretty strongly with taking either of them at four. College shooters that don’t contribute in other areas can have a tough time transitioning to the NBA. I prefer a more well-rounded skill set. Neither can guard multiple positions (most likely a net negative on that end overall, too), neither are elite shot creators and both have limitations as passers.

Steve Zinsmeister – Doug & Wolf producer

Buddy Hield

Andy Greenberg – Off the Edge with B-Train producer 

Kris Dunn. I’m sure he’d play well for the Suns but they would be foolish to take him and still hang on to both Bledsoe and Knight.

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3. Who do you think the Suns will select at No. 4?​​

Doug Franz – Co-host of Doug & Wolf

Dragan Bender

Vince Marotta – Co-host of Bickley & Marotta

Dragan Bender. I think this will end up being the pick for the Suns at #4. There’s upside. He’s pretty fluid for a player his size. He’s young – in fact, he’s the youngest prospect in this class. But that also means he’s likely a few years from making any kind of contribution to the Suns.

Craig Grialou – Arizona Sports reporter

Jamal Murray because, well (tongue firmly planted in cheek), he’s a Kentucky combo guard and we know how much the Suns like their Kentucky guards with Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Archie Goodwin and Booker already on the roster.

Kellan Olson – Empire of the Suns contributor

If Ryan McDonough taking the best player available is the strategy in this draft, that best player very well may be Kris Dunn. An electric player with the ball in his hands, Dunn has the potential to be the best player in this draft class. He might only fit with Devin Booker, however, and that could mean more moves in the future if he is selected, something some Suns fans believe should be done regardless.

Kevin Zimmerman – Empire of the Suns contributor

Bender seems safe, realistic and a player with high upside. After Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, no other player save for maybe Kris Dunn can say that.

Bryan Gibberman – Empire of the Suns contributor

I’m going to guess the Celtics go with Marquese Chriss leaving Bender for the Suns.

Steve Zinsmeister – Doug & Wolf producer

Jamal Murray

Andy Greenberg – Off the Edge with B-Train producer 

Dragan Bender. He’ll be expected to be Porzingis but will probably be more like Darko, at least for the first year while he rides the bench and plays in the D-League because he isn’t ready yet.