Re-Drafting Every Suns 1st Round Pick Part 3: 1989-00
By Tim Holstad
1989, 24th Pick
Who The Suns Took:
Anthony Cook, Power Forward, Arizona
Career Stats:
116 GP, 3.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, 43.9% FG
Who The Suns Should Have Taken:
Vlade Divac, Center, Serbia – Originally taken by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 26th overall pick
Career Stats:
1134 GP, 11.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 49.5% FG
Cook was traded by Phoenix for Kenny Battle, the 27th pick in that year’s draft, and Michael Williams. Both Cook and Battle had similarly unimpressive careers. Out of that trade Michael Williams had the best career of the three players, although he didn’t even play a full season for Phoenix.
Divac was a very talented center, although he is most notably known for being the centerpiece of the 1996 draft day trade that sent Kobe Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets to the Los Angeles Lakers. Divac was a great passing big man, and he would have brought a good interior presence to Phoenix. Would he have been our GM today if that were the case? We can only guess (and hope not), but it’s an intriguing thought to ponder.