Valley of the Suns
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The 5 worst Draft Lottery results for the Phoenix Suns

By Tim Holstad

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts to getting hit in the face by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (not pictured) during the second quarter at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) reacts to getting hit in the face by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (not pictured) during the second quarter at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The Suns Get the 5th Pick

This is one of the worst-case scenarios imaginable. The Suns drop as far down as they can in the draft lottery, falling all the way from the projected second pick to the fifth pick. The talent level at fifth overall is decent, better than a lot of other drafts. However, the names that are there, are in positions the Suns don’t need, or already have a player with a higher ceiling in.

Malik Monk will be there, but Devin Booker is the starting shooting guard for this team for hopefully the next 10 to 12 years. Moving Booker to SF doesn’t make sense, both for Booker and the organization. Putting Devin up against physical specimens like LeBron, Durant and Kahwi is the last thing this team should do.

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    • De’Aron Fox is a good PG prospect, but he doesn’t fit into the Suns’ style, and the Suns would rather keep Eric Bledsoe than take Fox at that point. The team won’t take Fox over Ball or Fultz, and Dennis Smith Jr. is in the same boat as Fox.

    Lauri Markannen is basically a less defensively diverse, more offensively polished version of Dragan Bender. He’s limited defensively, and while his offensive upside is very high, the Suns need a rim protector, not another shooting big man. He would have to fight Chriss and Bender for playing time.

    Johnathan Isaac is an intriguing prospect, as he can play either forward position. He needs to improve offensively, but he shows a lot of flashes on both sides of the ball, and at 6’10” is one of the bigger small forwards in the league. He’s the most likely choice out of the remaining prospects at fifth overall. But even if they take Isaac, does he start over T.J. Warren? Does he really fit the Suns’ preferred style? Will he improve as much on both sides of the ball as he’s projected to, or will he become a Jonathan Bender or Brad Sellers type of player, tall but not skilled enough at anything to succeed as a star in the NBA?

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