Dakari Johnson: Phoenix Suns 2015 Draft Profile

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) looks to shoot against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) looks to shoot against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Traevon Jackson (12) tries to pass the ball away from Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) , guard Tyler Ulis (3) and guard Aaron Harrison (2) in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Traevon Jackson (12) tries to pass the ball away from Kentucky Wildcats center Dakari Johnson (44) , guard Tyler Ulis (3) and guard Aaron Harrison (2) in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Fit

Alex Len is center of the future. There is a good chance he is in the top five centers in the NBA in a couple years. Now the backup center position is interesting. If I were the Suns front office, I wouldn’t draft a backup center with the first-rounder. I’d try to bolster the roster somewhere else.

Odds are that Phoenix will re-sign Brandan Wright, making Johnson the third big. Basically, put him in a glass box that says “break in case of blowout.” But that’s okay, he’ll develop. I wouldn’t send him to the D-League either. I’d rather have Dakari Johnson as my third big rather than Earl Barron, especially since Johnson is 19 years old. That fact alone means he has a higher upside.

It’s always better to have big man depth, because they are more prone to foul trouble and one might be able to make the case they can get injured more easily as they are battling down low against such large people so often.

Next: Conclusion