Lauri Markkanen would be the impossible dream PF for the Phoenix Suns

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Lauri Markkanen Phoenix Suns (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)(Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Just imagine would could have been, and what could be in this dream scenerio

Taken with the seventh overall pick in 2017, Lauri Markkanen was a steal for the Chicago Bulls.

Ryan McDonough and the Phoenix Suns famously screwed with the Boston Celtics to force them to take Jayson Tatum while McDonough took who he claimed was the best player in the draft, Josh Jackson.

My sincerest apologies for having to remind you of that fact.

By selecting Jackson, McDonough of course passed on literally every other player in the draft selected from five to 60 as Jackson can currently lay claim to the worst Win Share in his entire draft class with a -2.4.

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Superstar Donovan Mitchell went nine picks later, power forwards Markkanen Kyle Kuzma and Markkanen went three and 23 picks later, each among a long list of significantly better players who were taken well after Phoenix picked.

It is impossible to say that had the Suns taken Markannen, and instead of Jackson’s -2.4 Win Share, if they had a player who actually produced if they would have still landed the first overall pick in 2018 and had the opportunity at taking Deandre Ayton (although had they maybe had the second overall pick they would have still taken Ayton as the team who potentially went first may have taken Luka Doncic, and if they selected later they would have had the chance to snag Trae Young, but who knows), but for a moment, let’s still place Lauri on the Suns right now:

Excluding everyone else in the lineup, a trio of Markannen, Booker, and Ayton would be a formidable offensive force.

Of course with Markannen’s shooting, whoever is at point would have two very good outside threats on the wings at all times with he and Booker, allowing Monty Williams to set up a “bomb’s away” approach in a sped up offense.

Keeping Markannen away from the paint would then open up the offense for Deandre Ayton who would be able to dominate the post (presuming he actually started taking fouls and hit the free throw line at a much greater clip than his rookie year).

That inside/outside game would be very difficult to stop, and if Jones was able to get a point guard to facilitate it – which in this scenario I feel they are far more likely to do – the future would be far brighter in the Valley of the Suns.

Defensively, Ayton (already a double-digit rebounder) and Markannen (who average 9.0 last season would soak up a huge number of defensive rebounds, not only preventing second chance opportunities which would limit possessions for the Suns’ opponents (an imperative necessity for a team that is not likely to be one of lock down defense regardless), but lead to many more fastbreak opportunities, and more scoring chances for Booker and other shooters to take advantage of.

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