Valley of the Suns
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Ten sleeper prospects for the Phoenix Suns at draft’s end

By Khaleel Abdullah

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 7: Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) looks on during the first round game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on March 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 7: Arizona State guard Tra Holder (0) looks on during the first round game of the mens Pac-12 Tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Arizona State Sun Devils on March 7, 2018, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Purdue Boilermakers center Isaac Haas (44) acknowledges a teammate after an offensive play during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship First Round basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Cal State Fullerton Titans on March 16, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Purdue Boilermakers center Isaac Haas (44) acknowledges a teammate after an offensive play during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship First Round basketball game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Cal State Fullerton Titans on March 16, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

9. Isaac Haas (7-3 303) from Purdue

Season Stats : 62-76 shooting splits for 14.7 pts, 5.7 rebs and 1.3 blks in 23.4 mins.

He is a massive big-bodied center with terrific size and strength that makes points and rebounds in the paint look easy, all while setting good screens for his teammates when his scoring isn’t needed.

Several years ago he’d be much higher in the pecking order of the draft. Now, bigs of his size are a dying breed. He has a lack of mobility and needs to improve his conditioning and extend his range. He’s a decent shot blocker but could be much better given his size. He also fractured his elbow in the first round of the NCAA tourney so there are injury concerns on whether he will be ready when the NBA season begins. Though, to his credit, he showed courage, determination and heart as he tried to get a brace made and approved so that he could play through his injury.

Another issue for him is legal troubles. He faces a $1M civil lawsuit for knowingly infecting multiple women with an incurable STD. The state of Indiana states “it’s a carrier’s duty to warn persons at risk from dangerous communicable diseases.” So, he could miss time for court dealing with his case.

On the court though, he has a rock solid motor and he can play. On two separate occasions this season vs DeAndre Ayton and Jaren Jackson Jr., he shot 55% from the field for a combined 37 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks in 45 minutes. That’s impressive, especially against two of the top bigs in this draft.

Add to that his draft combine measurements of the biggest hands on all entrants along with a 9’3.5″ inch standing reach (3rd at the combine) and a7’5″ wingspan (4th overall) and you have a very intriguing specimen.

He could be at worst a Boban Marjanovic with a ceiling of maybe a Jusuf Nurkic or Al Jefferson. Anyone remember Nikola Pekovic during his you can’t stop me I’m too big  season? That’s not half bad and for a team lacking size. Sign me up.

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