The Phoenix Suns should draft a PF then target a PG in trade/free agency

The Phoenix Suns need a solid and legitimate point guard more than anything this offseason. But that point guard should not be acquired in the draft.

It is easy to say that the Phoenix Suns should “draft the best available player” because, for the Love of God,  they need to just get some actual NBA talent on the roster to help begin competing to win games.

Yet at the same time, the question of “who will help us now”” should be just as pronounced a question as “who will help us in the future?”

In fact, with the draft, the heaviness placed on the idea of drafting players who will help the team win games this coming season  should be that of a neutron star as that would imply NBA ready talent, versus a projection that, like so many other recent Phoenix Suns draft picks, may never pan out.

That is why, then Adam Silver says “the Phoenix Suns are now on the clock,” whatever James Jones‘ draft board looks like, it should by no means have a point guard at the top of the list, but instead should have a forward, preferably a power forward, who has at least a decent enough chance (as far as that ever goes for would-be-college-sophomores) of starting on opening night, providing productive minutes right away.

The chances are that a power forward (one of Phoenix’s two most pressing needs) is more likely to favorably impact the team as a rookie that a point guard. The responsibility of running an NBA offense with exceptionally talented NBA players when only six months prior he was running a college team where he was the only potential NBA player on the roster, is light-years different from a power forward who can more easily use his athleticism to get to the rim, size to get in his opponent’s way, and (hopeful) shooting ability to score off of a screen.

Unfortunately for the Phoenix Suns, there are no Luka Doncic‘s in this draft. The closest to being a day one impact point guard is Ja Morant who will be long gone prior to James Jones getting the call to make his pick.

Phoenix Suns

While there are no guarantee’s either that Phoenix will land a difference-making point guard in trade or free agency, they are even more less  likely to find a difference-making power forward.

As much as we would all love Tobias Harris or Julius Randle (who said he’d like to play in Phoenix), both of whom would be welcomed with open arms by fans, the drop off in talent from them if the Suns strike out on signing either of them is far more stark than the pool of mediocre point guards who are going to be available to sign, versus the point guards who are likely to be available to be drafted.

I say this with one nagging thing in the back of my mind: the Suns are not going to acquire a top flight point guard in either trade or free agency.

Even if they landed Ricky Rubio (who I have been a fan of signing for some time), he is a serious  upgrade over who they have had since Eric Bledsoe left, yet he is not a Championship-maker.

That said, while James Jones may not acquire a point guard who is going to carry them over the top and into the playoffs, the recent play at the position has been so bad,  that even a modest improvement will make a world of a difference.

However, by selecting a power forward in the draft (specifically DeAndre Hunter or Rui Hachimura if available), Phoenix could then mainly use their remaining assets to acquire the best possible point guard, someone who will walk onto the court on day one and both manage and lead the offense successfully.

If James Jones selects a point guard with the sixth overall pick, then I really  hope he found someone who is going to blow fans of the Phoenix Suns away. But as I am personally not sure that that player will be available to them without trading up (which I do not believe he will do), drafting a power forward should be the goal, then using all remaining assets to acquire a veteran point guard to lead the team right away.

Honestly, James (and Robert Sarver): what the heck is wrong with going all in on D’Angelo Russell if he is made available??