Phoenix Suns: 5 Most Disappointing Draft Selections This Century

4. Alex Len

The Ukrainian has carved out nine solid seasons without ever living up to the billing of a number five overall pick. After taking him in 2013, the Suns had high hopes for Len as he started a combined 90 games over his second and third seasons in the league.

But the 7’0″ big man always struggled to find a major difference-making facet to his game. He possesses some offensive skill but can be largely inefficient for his position, while his defense and ability to protect the rim has never been a strength.

He left Phoenix after five seasons before signing with the Atlanta Hawks, having a nice year in 2018-19 where he averaged a career-high 11.1 points per game. He’s since bounced around the league at multiple different stops, last averaging just under 16 minutes per game at the Sacramento Kings to conclude 2021-22.

It’s certainly a solid career he can be proud of, but certainly not one you’d envisage as a franchise when using a top five pick. The next few picks weren’t great either, before CJ McCollum was taken at ten and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo at 15.

3. Josh Jackson

The fourth overall pick in 2017, Jackson has always held the ability to put the ball in the hoop. The efficiency he does that with, and almost every other aspect of his game, has mostly been disappointing through just five seasons in the league.

After just two years in Phoenix, Jackson was traded along with De’Anthony Melton and a couple of second-round picks for Jevon Carter and Kyle Korver (who was immediately waived). No matter how you try and slice it, that’s nothing short of an abysmal result for a top four pick.

Jackson is an athletic wing who’s lacked a three-point shot and any major defensive presence, making him an incredibly limited NBA player. He was sandwiched by an ascending superstar, Jayson Tatum, and another productive potential future All-Star, De’Aaron Fox, whom were taken with the third and fifth picks respectively.