The site experts in the FanSided NBA Network put together a mock draft. With the sixth overall pick, the Phoenix Suns select Sekou Doumbouya.
The FanSided NBA Network Mock Draft features site experts from each of the NBA blogs making their draft selections for the teams they represent. Check this link for day by day picks and analysis by The Step Back leading up to the actual NBA Draft.
With the sixth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Valley of the Suns for the Phoenix Suns select Sekou Doumbouya. He’s a power forward from France.
Here’s what The Step Back had to say when analyzing this pick.
"Doumbouya is one of the most athletic prospects available in this class, but also one of the rawest and unknown. He has the size and length to defend bigger forwards and the quickness and athleticism to defend smaller forwards in space. He’s already an excellent transition finisher and straight line-driver who has flashed a reliable outside jumper as well. All the finer parts of his game still need work though. He’s not a great passer and his ball-handling is still fairly rudimentary. If he hits his ceiling he has a chance to be one of the best players in this class but it may take a while to get there."
With the Suns missing out on the first and second picks, they miss out on Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. The Knicks take R.J. Barrett with the third pick. The top three prospects in the draft are gone with the first three picks. It’s really a toss up from there.
As I’ve written, the Suns should not take a point guard with the sixth pick. The top two positions of need are point guard and power forward.
I considered DeAndre Hunter but he’s a little undersized for the four and the Suns already have Mikal Bridges. Rui Hachimura isn’t the best fit next to Deandre Ayton. Bol Bol is intriguing but his size and foot injury worry me.
With who was left on the board (Cam Reddish and Jarrett Culver were already taken), I think the best picks the Suns could make in this situation is either Brandon Clarke or Doumbouya.
Clarke is more proven and could be a great fit next to Ayton as well as a good backup for him. However, he’s only 6-foot-8 and will be 23 when the season starts.
With no one a sure thing, why not take a complete stab in the dark at a player that has the potential to be one of the best players in this draft? He’s athletic, long and can play and defend multiple positions. He’s great in transition and very fun to watch.
Sekou is a new age, two-way forward with great defensive upside. He’s 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan and could still be growing. He has good shooting mechanics and can shoot at a good level when his feet are set. He doesn’t shy away from contact but rather seems to look for it and likes to finish strong at the rim.
He can start the break and make the occasional coast to coast. The kid has all the tools to be an absolute beast.
His statistics don’t jump off the screen but he’s shown enough to prove he has what it takes. What one must know is young prospects in international leagues are typically playing against grown men and grizzled vets, not competing against other kids like the college basketball players entering the draft.
Due to an early soccer back ground, he has nimble feet that help him be as graceful as a gazelle. While he doesn’t have one specific area of strength, his overall versatility is part of what makes him so intriguing.
He’s a ball of energy and his effort and drive are contagious. He’s constantly looking to improve, continuously studying and learning. That bodes very well for him and is exactly the type of young player that this team needs.
Doumbouya is only 18 years old and has a very bright future ahead of him. In the right system and with the right coaching and development, he can be a truly special player.
His agent Bouna Ndiaye knows how to draw you in on him
"“This is probably the most exciting player I have ever gotten into my hands.”"
Yeah, that could be a good agent simply trying to leverage his player into the earlier portion of the draft. However, something you must know is that agent has worked with Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Clint Capela, Rudy Gobert and others.
A recent game showed signs of how good he can be. He made 13 of his 18 field goals, nailed 5 triples and scored 34 points in 29 minutes, while grabbing 9 boards with 1 steal and 1 block.
His name is also pretty cool. Think about his last name, Doumbouya. The first part is “Doom” and the second part is “Boo-yah”. Imagine alley oops. Booker shouts “Doom” while he tosses the ball up and Sekou shouts “Boo-yah” as he throws one down. Or Ayton needs help on defense and shouts “Doom” while Sekou shouts “Boo-yah” as he swats the offering to the stands followed by a Dikembe Mutombo finger wag. Just saying.
If he is able to maximize his potential, he could be a great player and end up being one of the best players in this draft. It’s hard to make a player comparison for him but I’ve seen anything from the likes of Pascal Siakam and Giannis Antetokounmpo lite.
The Phoenix Suns could do a lot worse than taking a chance on him. With the sixth pick in the FanSided Experts Mock Draft, Valley of the Suns select Sekou Doumbouya.