Valley of the Suns
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3 biggest draft misses from the Phoenix Suns since 2010

By Luke Duffy

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 24: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during a timeout in the first quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on March 24, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 24: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers reacts during a timeout in the first quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on March 24, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings dribbling the ball while being closely defended by Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 24: De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings dribbling the ball while being closely defended by Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3 biggest draft misses from the Phoenix Suns since 2010.

3. De’Aaron Fox

We’re going to jump straight in here with the ugly stuff, because De’Aaron Fox (sixth pick in 2017) was a bad miss. The Suns were up at fifth that year, and having just watched Jayson Tatum go to the Boston Celtics they decided to take… Josh Jackson. In the moment this didn’t feel like a disaster, but pretty quickly it was apparent it wasn’t going to work out for him with the Suns.

Jackson’s time with the franchise isn’t quite as bad as you’d think, and in 156 games played (64 starts), he averaged 12.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in just over 25 minutes of action per game. Pedestrian numbers that unfortunately came at a time when the team needed a lot more from such a high lottery selection.

Related Story. 7 players the Suns gave up on too soon. light

Jackson only missed eight games total across his two seasons with the Suns, but his motor and desire were called into question often. At a time when the organization was figuring out which direction they were going and gave Jackson ample opportunity to be a foundational piece next to the blossoming Booker, he floundered.

Fox has since gone on to rightly draw comparisons to the explosive Russell Westbrook, and just helped the Kings end a postseason drought last year. He has been an All-Star, and at this point in his career it is fair to peg him as the second best player on a team that has hopes of making a postseason run for the next number of years.

In other words, he is exactly the kind of guard who would have thrived next to the do it all offensive force that is Booker. Jonathan Isaac and Lauri Markkanen were the two selections taken after Fox, and even both of them would have turned out better than Jackson. That includes the injury-plagued Isaac, because his defensive upside is so good. An awful pick at an important time.

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