The Suns are on the clock – but then they get a call.
By Adam Maynes
It’s about 4:25pm and the Phoenix Suns are on the clock. After months of speculation, and more mock drafts than grains of sand on a beach, finally Josh Jackson is available and the Suns are writing up the card to draft him – until the phone rings, and on the other line is Phil Jackson.
Wow. According to @WojVerticalNBA 29 teams called the Knicks in regard to Porzingis #Knicks
— Daniel Wexler (@WexlerRules) June 21, 2017
The Phoenix Suns tanked the 2016-17 season to land a top three pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Presumably they did so originally with the intention of drafting Lonzo Ball. But when the lottery balls bounced against the Suns and they landed with the fourth overall pick, fan’s dreams of possibly landing Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, or Josh Jackson seemed to disappear.
Yet as the excruciatingly hot summer days have melted away leading toward the draft finally beginning at 4pm AZ time on Thursday, June 22, it appears that the Boston Celtics, who are now drafting a pick ahead of Phoenix at third, might actually select Jayson Tatum leaving Josh Jackson wide-open for Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough to select.
I believe that the Boston Celtics will be selecting Jayson Tatum, don't think they'd pick Jackson without working him out.
— Jake (@jakeweingarten) June 21, 2017
But as Boston makes that pick and Ryan McDonough calls in his pick with Jackson’s name, his red desk phone rings, and the Phoenix war room goes silent.
On the other end is New York Knicks President of Operations Phil Jackson. He wants the number four pick. He wants Josh Jackson. He is willing to trade Kristaps Porzingis to get him.