Re-Drafting Every Suns 1st Round Pick Part 4: 2002-09

Mar 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Amare' Stoudemire (1) stretches on the baseline during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Amare' Stoudemire (1) stretches on the baseline during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
9 of 12

2007, 24th Pick

Who The Suns Took:

Rudy Fernandez, Shooting Guard, Spain

Career Stats:

249 GP, 9.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 39.9% FG

Who The Suns Should Have Taken:

Arron Afflalo, Shooting Guard, UCLA – Originally taken by the Detroit Pistons with the 27th overall pick

Career Stats:

709 GP, 11.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 45.1% FG

Similar to the year prior, the Suns traded this pick to the Blazers for cash. They took Rudy Fernandez, who started off pretty well, but quickly tapered off and eventually fell out of the league. Arron Afflalo is certainly no star, but he’s a solid Three and D wing player, something the Suns certainly could have used in the playoffs against the likes of Kobe, the Spurs, and the Mavs. Having him would have taken the pressure off of Raja Bell and Grant Hill defensively.