The Suns have finally done it! For the first time in franchise history, the Phoenix Suns will be picking first in the NBA Draft. Now that the lottery is settled, it’s really time to look towards the future.
It’s official. On June 21st the Phoenix Suns will have the first selection in the NBA Draft. Now, I’m not here to join the DeAndre Ayton vs. Luka Doncic debate. I’m more interested in what having the number one pick means for the rest of the summer.
The Suns have the first pick, and that means they should keep it. They’ve earned this pick. We all, the fans and the players, suffered through this season together. I just don’t see the Suns giving this pick up.
Phoenix Suns
The first pick isn’t the only pick the Suns will have in the draft too. They also have the No. 16 pick in the first round, and picks 31 and 59 in the second round. That’s four picks to play around with.
With that being said, I want to look at the big picture. The holes that need to be filled are very clear, and with the No. 1 pick, there’s a lot of ways to go about filling them. They obviously need a center, a point guard, and a few veterans to help take that next step.
So how do they go about it? Obviously they have to draft either a center or point guard, sign or trade for the other, and then get some veteran role players.
For me, it makes the most sense to draft a big with the No.1 pick, whether that’s Ayton or Marvin Bagley. It’s much more likely that a point guard will be left if they keep that 16th pick, or even in the second round. There’s also a lot of four-year guards that could be left in the second round that the Suns can snag if they decide to trade the 16th pick in a package for an established player.
Basically my logic is that by drafting a big first overall, they could essentially pick a “veteran” guard later in the draft, and achieve multiple objectives at once.
There are a handful of guards that could possibly be available for the Suns to take at No. 31 that could be very capable of starting at point guard should they decide to trade the 16th pick. I’ve spent a lot of time watching Duke’s Grayson Allen and Kansas’ Devonte Graham over the last four years. They have the ability to score, but they’re also really good ball handlers and distributors. They’ll feed the hot hand if they can’t get it going, but they also have the ability to make a big shot or take over a game offensively. They’re talented players, and if either are left at No.31 and it fits with what the Suns are doing, I would be happy.
Of course there’s the argument of drafting Doncic and then going out to sign a center at the max, but I really think that money could be used elsewhere – like extending Devin Booker.
Drafting a big and four-year guard would save money that could then be spent on more talented veteran players. Someone like J.J. Redick comes to mind. He’s a guy that could start or come off the bench, would be good for over 15 points a night, but also adds another veteran voice to the locker room. It might not be possible for the Suns to get him, but they need someone like him. He’s a vocal leader, and he’s going to score.
The Suns were missing established players this year; they only had two guys over the age of 30 that have experienced the playoffs. They need more guys like Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler who will hold the team accountable and act as mentors to the young core, but also really contribute to help the team win.
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I look at this situation post-lottery, and think this would be an intriguing way to go. Draft Ayton at No.1, trade the No. 16 in some package for a veteran since it’s the most attractive pick they have to offer, and draft a four year guard at No. 31. Then, fill the remainder of the holes with more established players.
The best part about having the first overall pick is that the Suns have so many ways they can go this summer. They aren’t cornered or in a hole, they have a lot of freedom to fill the holes they have the way they want to. The more I think about it, the more alternative directions come to mind. We can’t predict what exactly the Suns have planned, but what they do at the draft should give us all a really good idea of what’s to come.