The Phoenix Suns have a pretty good roster that adds up to an average team in the NBA. They have impact players with legitimate talent. Unfortunately, most of that roster is quite inexperienced. This caused serious breakdowns in crucial stretches of games and brutal losses.
To get to the next level and the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference, the Suns need that star player to change the scales in their favor. Alex Len could be that player in a couple years, or Eric Bledsoe could if he steps up his game. It could even be T.J. Warren.
However, that impact player is usually found through the draft. It won’t be found where the Suns are currently projected — the 13th overall pick. To find that player in the 2015 NBA Draft, they’ll need to trade up.
In a Sports Illustrated common sense mock draft, the obvious choices going No. 1 and No. 2 are Karl Anthony-Towns and Jahil Okafor. Now, these two prospects are the ideal players to fill the Suns’ needs. They need players with defensive ability, room to grow on the offensive end and a high upside. They need to fill the frontcourt more, seeing as they only have three quality big guys (Alex Len, Brandan Wright and Markieff Morris).
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That frontcourt could look even thinner as Wright is an unrestricted free agent, Keef has an off-the-court issue with the aggravated assault charges, and Len has a litany of injuries dotting his short NBA career thus far.
But the Suns are not getting Anthony Towns or Okafor. The teams at the top need much more help than the Suns and will take those two guys right at the beginning of the draft with no hesitation.
So what should Phoenix do?
First we need to delve further into whether the Suns should trade up at all.
It’s all about probability. Of course a talented, game-changer can be found late in the first round or even into the second round (at or later than Phoenix’s current spot). I mean, potential Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili was taken 57th overall in his draft year.
However, generally most of the talent is found in the lottery (the first 14 picks). Phoenix has some more established pieces that could be traded in return for an insignificant role player and a first-rounder. Just looking at the odds, the Suns will be much better off in the long run picking earlier in the draft, even if they give up a piece for it.
But who should Phoenix target in the draft?
I’d say Justise Winslow or Willie Cauley-Stein.
“In my opinion, in 15 years Justise Winslow will have proven to be one of the four best players to come from this draft, along with Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Willie Cauley-Stein,” said Matt Norlander, CBS college basketball writer (and my cousin, for full disclosure).
If the Suns could get one of the top-four prospects in this draft it would obviously go a long way in helping them be more competitive in the brutal Western Conference.
Justise Winslow
Winslow is what the Suns need. While he may be somewhat redundant alongside P.J. Tucker and T.J. Warren at the small forward position, if he is in the mold of Kawhi Leonard or Jimmy Butler, he’d be the immediate starting three for Phoenix. He is 6’6” with length and has a great knack for defense. Here is an excerpt from Draft Express on Winslow:
"“Winslow has strong physical tools for either NBA wing position. He’s a good athlete on top of that, showing nice quickness, a strong first step, and both the ability and willingness to punish weaker opponents with his imposing physique and outstanding toughness.”"
All of his physical attributes along with his intangibles make Winslow a great candidate for the Suns to trade up for.
Willie Cauley-Stein
Cauley-Stein is a defensive stalwart who will help make the Suns an elite team on that end of the court. Here is part of Draft Express’ evaluation of the big man:
"“Cauley-Stein has tremendous tools for a modern-day NBA big man, standing over 7-feet in shoes, with a 7-2 wingspan, and a 240 pound frame. He’ll be one of the most athletically gifted big men in the NBA right off the bat, as he runs the court like a track star, and is incredibly fluid, agile, quick and explosive.”"
Alongside Len, Cauley-Stein would really make Phoenix elite on the defensive end.
What would Phoenix have to give up to be able to pick either of those prospects?
For me, the untouchable players in terms of trading for draft picks are Eric Bledsoe, Alex Len, Archie Goodwin and T.J. Warren. On draft night, I’d say trade Markieff and Marcus Morris in return for the first rounder and whatever filler you need to make the money work.
In this scenario, Phoenix would get two picks to build their team. The other, more possible, scenario is trading the Morrii and the Phoenix pick for a higher pick and a more substantial piece — though a trade for the Morrii may be problematic given their current legal situation.
Either Cauley-Stein or Winslow would be a great addition to the Suns, even if Phoenix needs to give something up to move up in the draft. General manager Ryan McDonough and company should consider seeing if they can make a deal come the end of June.
What do you think? Let me know on Twitter at @Eric_Saar!
Next: Should The Suns Re-Sign Brandan Wright?