Phoenix Suns 2016 NBA Re-Draft: Pick #4
Jae Crowder fills out the power forward position relatively well for the Suns, but with his undersized frame, he remains the weakest link within the starting five right now. With this pick though, the Suns fortify their lineup, maintain their floor stretching abilities, and add a championship-winning presence to the team.
Even though Jamal Murray might feel snubbed if dropped outside this draft’s top four picks, Pascal Siakam fits with Phoenix far to well to confidently pass up on. He operates as a strong and highly intelligent defender, certain to mesh with both Monty Williams and Chris Paul.
He also averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last year, emerging from Kyle Lowry’s shadow as a bonafide NBA star. However, Siakam remains most well known for his incredible defense against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who singlehandedly beat the Suns during the NBA Finals a few months ago.
While guarding him during the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam twice forced Antetokounmpo into a sub .400 shooting night. He also only allowed Antetokounmpo to average only 20.5 points per game during that series’s final four contest, helping the Raptors close things out. For a guy who averaged 35.2 points per game against the Suns, Phoenix would take Siakam’s defense on him any day of the week.
If the Suns drafted Siakam five years ago rather than Bender, and carry him into the 2021 NBA Finals, they likely slow down the Greek Freak, beat the Milwaukee Bucks, and walk away with their first ever Larry O’Brien trophy. You simply cannot ask for better results than that.