Arizona State guard Luguentz Dort could be a Draymond Green-type pick for the Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have a number of options with the 32nd overall pick of the NBA Draft. One could be Arizona State guard Luguentz Dort.

The Phoenix Suns have serious adjustments to make for the upcoming NBA season, with one of those being a revamp of a struggling defense.

That’s where Luguentz Dort comes in.

His first season at Arizona St., Dort served as the defensive anchor of head coach Bobby Hurley‘s team and was rewarded for it when he was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive team, the only freshman to receive the honor.

Not only did Dort prove himself as a talented freshman, but it soon became evident to NBA scouts he was going to transition into an elite defender at the next level.

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds Dort is already built like an NBA player with a wide frame that works to his advantage.

One comparison of Dort’s energy and impact on defense would be that of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. Like Westbrook, Dort doesn’t shine away from contact and possesses an explosive first step off the ball.

A native of Montreal, Quebec, Dort racked up 45 steals in 34 games at ASU making it a habit to trouble opposing guards. Even better, he was a menace at the perimeter often limiting team’s top shooters and forcing them to attack the paint instead.

These are skills the Suns desperately need.

Not only does Phoenix need major help on defense, but one place in particular that hurt last year’s roster laid beyond the perimeter – major upgrade to a problem that last year plagued the Suns.

With a 6-foot-8 1/2 wingspan, Dort is a tenacious defender, who suffocates shooters and limits their abilities to create space.

Should Dort carry over that impact to the pros, Phoenix could be looking at a diamond in the rough.

Even more impressive than his defense is the potential offensive prowess Dort can bring to the table.

In his lone season at ASU, Dort led the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game, while dishing 4.5 assists a contest.

A 40.1 percent shooter from the floor (he was a generally inefficient scorer), Dort found a knack of attacking the basket whenever he saw an opening. While he doesn’t bring elite 3-point shooting (31.1%), Dort is better utilized as a distributor and mid-range shooter – the type of skill-set that could be perfectly paired with the Suns’ second-unit.

Ideally Dort could run as the two-guard with either Elie Okobo or De’Anthony Melton, two points  that are more ball-orientated and need a scoring option on the floor. With Dort, the Suns would have a player that could provide that boost off the bench, while serving as a defensive anchor.

After early projections placed Dort in the late-20s of first round, many sites have him falling into the second round of the NBA draft. Should he be there at pick No. 32, James Jones and the Phoenix Suns could add not only an elite defender, but multi-dimensional player who just might turn into something special.

Could he be the next Draymond Green?