Re-Drafting Every Suns 1st Rd Pick Pt. 1: 68-76
By Tim Holstad
1970, 10th Pick
Who The Suns Took:
Greg Howard, Power Forward, New Mexico
Career Stats:
92 GP, 3.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.6 APG, 38.8% FG
Who The Suns Should Have Taken:
Dan Issel, Center/Power Forward, Kentucky – Originally taken by the Detroit Pistons with the 122nd overall pick
Career Stats:
718 GP, 20.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 50.6% FG
Howard was a total bust for the Suns, especially when a player like Issel also fell past them in the second and third rounds of the draft. It stings even more knowing they missed out on Kareem the year before. Issel played in the ABA for 6 years before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1976, but he ranks in the top 15 on the all-time ABA/NBA scoring list, with over 27,000 points.