Valley of the Suns
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Suns 5-On-5: Preparing For The NBA Draft Lottery

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) celebrates with Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) celebrates with Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phoenix Suns
Jan 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Amar’e Stoudemire (1) controls the ball against Phoenix Suns power forward Markieff Morris (11) and shooting guard Gerald Green (14) during the second quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Who was the Suns’ best draft pick over the last 15 years?

Bourguet:  Amar’e Stoudemire by default since Shawn Marion falls just outside the confines of the question. Not bad for the No. 9 pick in his draft.

Hann:  Amar’e Stoudemire and it’s not even close. Outside of Charles Barkley, Stoudemire may be the most offensively gifted power forward to ever step foot in the Purple Palace. He won Rookie of the Year, averaged 37 a game in the 2005 Western Conference Finals, recorded countless jaw-dropping dunks and teamed with Steve Nash to produce the greatest 1-2 punch in Phoenix Suns history.

The Suns have made a LOT of mistakes in the draft over the last 15 years, but picking Stoudemire ninth overall in 2002 was not one of them.

Chasen:  Shawn Marion was was selected 16 years ago, and Nash was selected 19 years ago, so there’s really only one choice here: Amar’e Stoudemire. Stoudemire’s career numbers are obviously impressive, as he has over 15,000 career points and 6,000 career rebounds, but that’s only scratching the surface. In his prime, Stoudemire was a top-3 big man in the NBA, posting five consecutive full seasons with a true shooting percentage above 61 percent.

In fact, in the 2007-08 season, he averaged right around 30 points and 11 rebounds per 40 minutes, with a true shooting percentage of 65.6. Here are a list of players who have NEVER posted a TS% that high in a season, playing at least 40 games: Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, LeBron James, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, etc. etc. etc.

To get that production with the ninth pick in the draft is absurd, and it is definitely the Suns’ best pick over the last 15 years, not to mention one of the best pound-for-pound value picks in that period for any team.

Saar:  Shawn Marion is just out of the “range” but it’s probably Amar’e Stoudemire anyway. He was so good for so many years in Phoenix. Alex Len certainly has what it takes to pass all of them. Looking at the list there are a lot of good players we traded the rights to on draft night. I mean Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Nate Robinson, Rudy Fernandez, even Marcin Gortat before he played in a Suns uniform for a bit.

Next: No. 3

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