5. Kyle Kuzma (6-9 220, 23-years-old – 27th pick)
2018-19 Stats : 47-30-76 shooting line, 1.7 treys – 18.4 points, 5.1 boards and 0.8 blocks
Kyle Kuzma is a stretch-four that can provide legit scoring as well as space for Ayton to operate in the paint.
Look beyond the 30% shooting from deep this season. So far in his young career he’s shooting at a 36% clip. Basically, what Ryan Anderson was supposed to be, except only 23-years-old, athletic, flashy and he plays defense.
Okay, they’re completely different but much better.
He’s scored 25+ points in 12 games, made at least 4 treys in 13 games, pulled down 10+ rebounds in 17 games, and swatted at least 2 shots in 10 games. You don’t have to look far for an explosion.
When he faced the San Antonio Spurs this season, he shot 60% from the field, made 4 treys and went off for 37 points and 8 rebounds.
He can run the floor, get out in transition and provide highlight plays. How did he drop to 27?
The Phoenix Suns missing out on Kyle Kuzma is one of those situations like that of Giannis Antetokounmpo and even Devin Booker: sometimes talent slips through the cracks because of extraneous issues that are either entirely unforeseen or mis-read.
But then again, Ryan McDonough was supposedly an excellent reader of talent in the college and international ranks and yet he missed on (and missed out on) a number of very talented players who could have been helping the Phoenix Suns make playoff runs this season.
Kyle Kuzma, while never a top-five candidate, is one of those players that as we watch him play now, we think: “what if?”