The Phoenix Suns should trade up to draft Mo Bamba

3 of 4

HOUSTON – 1984: Hakeem Olajuwon #34 and Ralph Sampson of the Houston Rockets during an NBA game at the Compaq Center circa 1984 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1984 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Why the Phoenix Suns should do it

When you hear the term “Twin Towers,” you likely immediately think of at least one of two former NBA great duos of Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, or Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Each of those sets terrorized and dominated froncourts in the NBA for many years (the Rockets’ set not nearly as long as it should have had Sampson remained healthy), and for the Phoenix Suns who have never had a formidable frontcourt, those towers were often the bane of their existence.

Having never had a franchise center too, the Phoenix Suns have never even had the opportunity to pull off such a combination and have two legitimately good centers on the roster at the same time. Now that they have the chance to get their first one in DeAndre Ayton, it would only make sense to go all-in and find a second one, building a frontcourt of the future that are the dreams of all 30 NBA teams.

What makes this combination so intriguing is that they each have different qualities that would allow Suns coaching to play with defensive matchups depending on the opponents.

While Ayton is oft compared to the likes of Robinson, Olajuwon, even Shaquille O’Neal, and modern players such as Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns, his game is mainly offensive. Coming out of the University of Arizona, he does not come with the defensive credentials that one might like to have of a player his size. Can he improve? Sure. He’s only 19 and it’s only fair to reserve judgement on the matter until he’s had a couple years of growth, maturity, and NBA coaching under his belt.

However, Bamba could come into the league immediately and block shots, potentially leading the league in the category his rookie season, compared to Rudy Gobert and even Serge Ibaka. Bamba led college basketball in blocked shots per game last season at 3.7, and his incredible wingspan (measured anywhere from 7’10” to 8’0″) would allow him to block shots at a prolific rate in the NBA, even while his game develops.

For Ayton, being a premiere offensive talent, having Bamba on the court as well will help relieve pressure on Ayton on the defensive end, allowing him to focus on what he does best: score. Bamba, on the otherhand, is not nearly the polished offensive player that Ayton is, and would be able to focus on what he does best: defense.

Of course, one would hope and presume that Ayton will improve on the defensive end and Bamba on the offensive end, meeting somewhere in the middle. Ayton will likely always be the better offensive player and Bamba defensive, but if the two can improve enough on the side of the ball that they currently lack, then over time that dynamic duo should grow into one of the greatest duos in NBA history.

Home/Suns Draft