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Suns 5-On-5: Looking Ahead To The 2015 NBA Draft

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) shoots over Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) celebrates after defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 71-64 in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Which first round prospect (within the Suns’ range) do you think will be a bust?

Chasen:  I think Sam Dekker has the biggest potential to be a hit or miss guy, but I think if he went at 13, 14, 15 or so, you wouldn’t exactly consider him a bust, because by definition he’s a guy you’re taking a chance on. I will say that Kristaps Porzingis, who is projected a little higher than where the Suns pick, could end up being a bust if he never fills out (weight wise), and I also think there’s a chance the same could be true for Kelly Oubre if he never fills out, though I think both cases are not very likely.

Hann:  I don’t necessarily believe Emmanuel Mudiay will be a bad player in the NBA, but I don’t believe he will live up to the billing of being a top 5 draft pick (where he is projected to go). The 6’5″ point guard has shown extreme athleticism, a 6’9″ wingspan and has even been compared to John Wall.

I think the brakes need to be pumped on that talk, since Mudiay only played 12 total games in China this past season and while he did average 18 points on the season, it took him 15 shots a game to reach that total. Not to mention he shot 57 percent from the free throw line. Those totals (especially coming against inferior competition) would alarm me if I were an NBA GM. Right now, Mudiay is a poor man’s Michael Carter-Williams, and to me, that’s not good enough for where he is expected to go in the draft.

Schall:  Kelly Oubre would be the best bet, just based on his pedigree. We’ve seen highly hyped wings from Kansas like Josh Selby, Xavier Henry and Julian Wright struggle at the NBA level over the last decade. While it’s unfair to compare Oubre to those guys just because of their shared alma mater, the fact that he scored in double figures in just 15 of his 36 college games is a legitimate cause for concern.

Harris:  Someone who could be a possible bust is point guard Cameron Payne out of Murray State. Luckily, the Suns have enough point guards, so it is doubtful that he will end up in Phoenix. My reasoning for his bust potential is that he played against inferior competition out in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Saar:  Kevin Looney seems to have the most bust potential in that range as well as nearly the most upside. His slender frame could be a problem or he can just follow the likes of Kevin Durant and flourish despite it. I don’t necessarily expect him to be a bust, but it’s certainly possible.

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