4. Myles Turner
Based on fit alone, Myles Turner would be No. 1 on the list. His combination of upside, ability to play the 4 or 5, shot-blocking prowess and potential to spread the floor as a stretch-4 or stretch-5 would make him a no-brainer for the Suns. He’s a 6’11” power forward with a 7’4″ wingspan that can score from anywhere on the floor and is more than capable of passing out of double-teams.
Unfortunately for the Suns, it’s highly unlikely he slides all the way to No. 13, with the Utah Jazz (No. 12) or Indiana Pacers (No. 11) giving him serious consideration. But if he does make his way to the Valley of the Sun somehow, is there any training staff better suited to alleviate concerns about the durability of his knees?
Turner is not an explosive leaper, but his high basketball IQ and excellent anticipation on defense helped him average 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman at Texas…despite only logging 22.2 minutes a night. He needs to get stronger and tougher down low, but the elite shot-blocking instincts are readily apparent:
Another criticism of Turner — the awkward way he runs, believe it or not — is a little more worrisome in regard to his knees, but the guy still covers ground. This long and athletic big man could really help the Suns with some added depth behind Len and Keef, and perhaps one day he’d be good enough to overtake one of them for the starting job.
Phoenix brought Turner in for an unscheduled workout that was unavailable to the public, which could signal the front office really likes him just as easily as it could be due to scheduling conflicts. But whatever the case, if this 19-year-old is on the board, the Suns will take him and not think twice about it.
Thank you to the @Suns for having me in to workout today learned a lot and had a great time out here In Phoenix!
— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) June 17, 2015
Next: No. 3