#1 Bruno Caboclo (6-9 205, 22 years old)
Now, there’s a name.
Remember him?
A surprise in the 2014 draft when chosen way out of left field and dubbed as being 2 years way from being 2 years away but with potential of becoming a Brazilian Kevin Durant by Fran Franschilla.
Well, you know what? It’s been 4 years so that time frame puts him as being ready.
On a 2-way contract, if he agrees, why not roll the dice? Before you look at his NBA stats, or lack thereof, consider this.
He was plucked from Brazil when just a teenager and put in a foreign country without knowing English and thrown into more brighter lights than he’d ever seen.
The Raptors 905 G-League club wasn’t there for him at first and was mixed with other teams not really giving him a chance to develop when he first arrived.
But at 22-years-old, even with a team loaded with forwards, yes he’s worth a look. Why? The same reason he was drafted in the first place. Potential. He’s an athletic freak with a 7’7″ wingspan.
On offense he has good shooting mechanics, a silky shot and a quick release that bring comparisons to Channing Frye.
On defense he is an intriguing prospect that gets a hand in the lane, disrupts passes and understands timing to swat shots. Last season in the G-League he had a 40-34-83 shooting line with 2.4 made triples per game that was good for 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks in 30.2 minutes.
Bruno needs time and gentle encouragement but can play positions 3-5 in the future. Maybe with a head coach like Kokoskov, this would be the fit he needs to prove himself and show why he belongs.
Those are my options for the Suns second 2 way contract. I think any one of them would be a good choice. What say you? Any one you would like to add?