Building a ‘Dream’ Suns team with perfect NBA Draft picks
By Oliver Fox
No. 11 Pick in 2019: Brandon Clarke (F/C, Gonzaga) (21)
Original Pick: Cameron Johnson (G, UNC)
Johnson may actually be the better player here, but I’m going with Brandon Clarke for his rebounding chops. While Dončić and Sabonis have been known to grab a solid amount of rebounds, I want a violent rebounder. Someone who is going to fight tooth and nail for every floating orange orb he sees ricochet off of a hard object. And Clarke is my guy.
We definitely needed a Power Forward here, and a couple of options piqued my interest: Grant Williams for his defensive gadget role and ability to space the floor or Nic Claxton for some rim protection were solid options.
But Williams’ stock is down lately after this season, and Claxton’s total inability to shoot free throws is not going to cut it on the outscore-everyone Suns team we’re building, so Clarke takes the spot.
He’s still a bit raw physically, but that’s fine. I couldn’t care less if Clarke scores a single point for this team, he just needs to fly around getting rebounds. Think an 80s Kurt Rambis or a mid-2010s Tristan Thompson. Board men (as Kawhi Leanord likes to call them) have a special place in my heart, so we’re getting one here.