Could Nickeil Alexander-Walker be a combo guard selection for the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are reported to wanting to find a combo-guard this offseason. Nickeil Alexander could be a solid acquisition to develop as a backup.
The Phoenix Suns need a combo-guard and if they find him in the draft, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is one of the more intriguing prospects in my mind.
First of all, he is related to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who the Suns had targeted in the 2018 draft and who proved his value in his first season.
Similar to Shai, Alexander-Walker is a bigger guard at 6’5” with length, athleticism, and a knack for playmaking. He is also interesting in that he doesn’t really have one ELITE skill but does do everything really well.
Phoenix Suns
Alexander-Walker’s stats paint this picture as he is good but not great across the board.
The chief skill he will bring to the NBA is as a secondary playmaker and creator who can create for others and deliver accurate passes, especially in the PnR. Alexander-Walker posted an assist rate of 24.6% which is good especially for someone not used as a primary guard.
He is also a solid spot-up shooter and he hit 37% of his 3s, although he struggles to shoot off the dribble.
Alexander-Walker also flashed the potential for playmaking and scoring out of the post a la what we saw from Evan Turner in the playoffs this year and specifically Game 7 in Denver. He also was able to draw 4.7 fouls per 40-minutes in conference play and posted the 7th highest FT rate in conference play.
Nickeil is also extremely competitive on the defensive end and he uses his length effectively in that regard. Alexander-Walker posted a steal rate of 3.4% and also a block rate of 2.3% which is impressive for a guard.
He can get his hand on a lot of balls and figures to be effective in creating havoc by getting deflections and complicating passing lanes.
For all of those positives, he also has some struggles.
His athleticism is merely average and this hurts him in a variety of ways. The clearest way is tht he struggles to finish at the rim.
He only shot 54% from 2 this season which is partly a result of these struggles to finish when getting into the paint.
His average athleticism also limits his ceiling as a creator and why I constantly refer to him only as a secondary creator. He lacks the first step or burst needed to get by defenders and because of this, his ceiling as not only a creator but also a defender is limited.
Must Read. Suns Squared: Bruno Fernando. light
Alexander-Walker has a clear upside and place to fit in the NBA, but he could fall because of his lack of an elite skill.
While that doesn’t sour me on his game, although it is reasonable that it would cause hesitancy. Still, he has a place in the league and potentially a solid backup for the Phoenix Suns, even if it is as a role player/3rd guard who relieves pressure and can make great plays off a closeout or disadvantage situation.