Most recently Devin Booker, most notably Steve Nash; the Phoenix Suns have had their highs and lows when it comes to drafting between picks 10 and 20. On June 21 all focus will be on the top pick – and rightfully so – let us not forget the vast talent that will be available at 16.
While there is less debate about who the Suns will select first, the 2018 draft class still provides extensive talent; multiple players who many believe will become stars at the top; possible gems in the mid-rounds; second round projections who could impact rosters immediately, there is talent to be had in what many believe is the deepest draft from top to bottom in a very long time.
That means more possible players like Draymond Green (selected 35th overall), Donovan Mitchell (13th), Devin Booker (13th), so on and so forth. So as draft day quickly approaches, the Suns must pay close attention to their mid-round pick, avoiding players like Earl Clark (14th) and Kendall Marshall (13th) at all costs.
In their 50 years, the Phoenix Suns have only held the 16th pick once, 1975, in which they selected Ricky Sobers in a draft that also gave them Alvan Adams (4th). The following season, the Suns made a run past the Rick Barry-led defending champion Golden State Warriors to the NBA Finals where they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics.
So even though the Suns are one-for-one making it to the championship immediately after having the 16th pick, they should still be focused on finding their Steve Nash per say.
You know, except one pick later – Nash was selected 15th overall.
Other than Sobers and Nash, the 15th pick in the 96 draft *cough* best draft of all-time *cough cough*, other notable mid-rounders drafted by the Suns include the aforementioned Devin Booker (13th), T.J. Warren (14th), Markieff Morris (13th), Robin Lopez (15th), Dan Majerle (14th), and Larry Nance (20th).
The most notable 16th overall picks of all-time include: Sobers, Rickey Green, Tony Delk, Ron Artest and John Stockton…
And while countless eventual stars have fallen outside the first 20 picks in their drafts, other mid-round selections that have certified their greatness in the NBA consist of: “Tiny” Archibald (19th), Joe Dumars (18th), Clyde Drexler (14th), Karl Malone (13th), Kobe Bryant (13th), Kawhi Leonard (15th).
Next: The Phoenix Suns should draft Marvin Bagley III as well as DeAndre Ayton
So yeah, lets do everything to NOT pass on Kawhi Leonard for a Morris bro…
In a loaded draft that is certain to have future studs fall outside of the top-10, the Suns front office needs to do whatever it takes to replicate the selections of Nash and Booker, because at the end of draft day – if the 16th pick is retained – why settle for a 1st overall pick, when you could have a first overall pick and John Stockton.