My Phoenix Suns draft dreams
Jun 22, 2016, 1:33 PM | Updated: Jun 23, 2016, 12:31 pm
(AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
It’s impossible to narrow down all of the possibilities when it comes to potential trades of veterans, trades for veterans and trades of picks for the Phoenix Suns. Speculating on trades seems like a useless exercise, so here are two “non-trade” scenarios that I like for the Suns. Feel free to offer me your “Suns hopes” on Twitter @doug987FM.
SCENARIO No. 1
Celtics are Dunn
Suns draft Dragan Bender at No. 4 if Providence point guard Kris Dunn is gone. I love what I’ve seen from Bender. I say “what I’ve seen” because my knowledge of college players far exceeds my knowledge of foreign players, but Bender does so many things well. He’s a true stretch 4 that’s not afraid to take the ball to the rim. If I’m paying Tyson Chandler all this money to be a leader, I’m taking advantage of the situation so Bender can learn from him.
Double down at No. 13
This ensures the 4/5 spot is taken care of for years. The Suns should hedge their bet at No. 4 and select a big man again. Between Bender, Gonzaga’s Domantas Sabonis, Washington’s Marquese Chriss, Michigan State’s Deyonta Davis, Kentucky’s Skal Labissiere, Utah’s Jakob Poeltl and Marquette’s Henry Ellenson, there’s going to be a talented big sitting there at 13. Now they’re both learning from Chandler, competing with Len and competing against each other.
Get nasty at No. 28
I don’t care which one is available, but I love a tough-nosed defender like Saint Joseph’s DeAndre’ Bembry or Baylor’s Taurean Prince. Both can score, and while these guys are likely bench players, they add outstanding depth. If you want to draft-and-stash, there are centers from Greece, Croatia or China but since I went big at No. 4 and No. 13, I’m going with a small forward who isn’t afraid to defend.
SCENARIO No. 2
Knight time
I’m going into the draft knowing the trade market for Brandon Knight. If Dunn is available at No. 4, I’m re-checking what I can get for Brandon Knight. If I’m getting absolute junk for Knight, then see above and follow scenario No. 1. If I can get anything for Knight (and my expectations aren’t very high), draft Dunn. Dunn is an instant contributor coming off the bench for Eric Bledsoe — or I go small in the backcourt and start Dunn with Bledsoe off the ball and Devin Booker as a small forward. I can get away with it since I would start Chandler and Len for rim protection.
As we’ve seen, either Bledsoe will get hurt and Dunn is needed as a starter or Bledsoe will, finally, reach his potential. A successful Bledsoe could benefit Phoenix with wins or windfall. The Suns could leverage a trade to the highest bidder with two years left on his deal to clear space, or keep him and reap the reward.
Please slide down to No. 13
There are four terribly underrated players in this draft compared to their mock draft positions: Jakob Poeltl, Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, high schooler Thon Maker and Iowa State’s Georges Niang. Poeltl is mostly considered a top-10 pick. He’ll outplay his draft position but since he’s continually viewed by experts below where I’d have him, I would love to see him slide to 13 because Phoenix must go with a big man if they’re drafting Dunn fourth. If Poeltl and Chriss are gone, I’d trade down from 13 to acquire a 2017 1st round pick and take Kansas forward Cheick Diallo with a pick between 18-23.
Betting on Maker
I already explained the Chandler factor in scenario No. 1. It applies here too. I’m drafting Maker at 28 to pair him with Diallo. I love Maker. Not in the immediate future. He’s a project. I think he’ll be a force in three years with the right coaching. If Earl Watson can get this team to share the ball and Maker takes to Chandler’s teaching, Maker will get some GM’s fired for passing him up.