The second round is always a big gamble and there’s a very tantalizing prospect that should be there. The Phoenix Suns should consider Tacko Fall.
One of the biggest issues for the Phoenix Suns this past season was size. The team was often seen playing a small forward at power forward or the likes of Dragan Bender or Ray Spalding. They possibly could have put Richaun Holmes next to Deandre Ayton in the frontcourt but then they really wouldn’t have a center off the bench.
You don’t draft just because of size, at least not in the first round. However, the second round of any draft is a complete shot in the dark. The vast majority of second round picks end up not making it in the league. So, if a player stands out in a category where the team could use improvement, even if that’s simply size, why not take a risk?
The Phoenix Suns need to add size. Tacko Fall provides plenty of that.
He spent his college career described as a 7-foot-6 athlete with serious athleticism for someone his size.
How tall is Tacko Fall?
Thanks to the NBA Draft Combine, we have official answers. They’re jaw dropping numbers.
He broke combine measurement records.
Without shoes, he stood at 7-foot-5 1/4. With shoes, he’s 7-foot-7.
A lot of tall players don’t exactly fill out their height. He weighed in at 289 pounds, which is a very workable weight for him and helps his stature. His body fat is at 6.8 percent.
You want wingspan? How about 8-foot-2 1/4. A little more than 4 inches longer than the previous record (Mo Bamba at 7-foot-10).
Standing reach? 10-foot-2 1/2. He can put his fingers in the basket standing flat footed.
Jonathan Givony of Draft Express reported that Fall “just broke every figure in our database for height, wingspan and reach dating back to the 1980s.”
Dude, that’s impressive and scary.
How’s his coordination at that size, though? We’ve seen many big men that can’t move too well.
A former GM, Wes Wilcox, said it pretty well.
"“I’m impressed with how easily he moves,” Wilcox said of Fall. “He runs well and has great coordination and balance. Having no base of knowledge, other than TV, I’m very much impressed. You don’t see 7-foot-5 guys with that coordination move the way that he does. I’m intrigued.”"
How does he do against the type of competition there is modern day in the frontcourt, with how the game has changed. Well, just look at how he did in a very close second round game against Duke in the NCAA Tournament. He went up against Zion Williamson and nearly stole the show and won the game. Tacko said he would not let Zion dunk on him and he did not.
His measurements are impressive, his game definitely shows promise and with the right coaching (Monty Williams?) he could deliver on the professional level. Come draft time, the Phoenix Suns could do a lot worse than looking Tacko Falls way in the second round.