Should the Suns Trade up in the NBA Draft?
By Eli Burk
It seems like the draft order is starting to shape up in terms of player selections.
All rumors indicate that Karl Anthony-Towns out of Kentucky will be selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Jahlil Okafor being selected second. Things start to get a little interesting once the New York Knicks are on the board, if they want to be.
If Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell is still on the board at 4 (which most think he won’t be), I would assume the Knicks will select him but if he is indeed not on the board, it is no secret that the Knicks would be willing to trade the pick. Enter the Phoenix Suns with a very valuable trade piece, Eric Bledsoe.
Apr 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) dribbles the ball past New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Gordon (10) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 90-75. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Having locked up Bledsoe during last years free agency period, Phoenix could entice the Knicks with the point guard [New York] so desperately need and having him for a long period of time. Along with Bledsoe, the Suns would likely need to ship off the 13th overall pick. But with the possibility of receiving the number 4 pick in return, the Suns could get a serious upgrade at nearly any position they want position.
In many mock drafts, I have seen the following players in contention for spots 1 thru 3: Karl Anthony-Towns, Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell, Kristaps Porzingis and Emmanuel Mudiay. But that leaves players like Justise Winslow out of Duke, Mario Hezonja from Croatia, and Stanley Johnson from Arizona on the board, but the one player the Suns should absolutely take is Willie Cauley–Stein from Kentucky.
Mar 15, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Rashad Madden (00) drives against Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) during the first half of the SEC Conference championship game at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky Wildcats defeated Arkansas Razorbacks 78-63. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns have needed a dominant post presence for the past 3 seasons and should they trade up to make a selection at 4, Willie Cauley-Stein would be the perfect selection.
Having already received high praise from Celtic great and current Pacers president Larry Bird, Cauley-Stein has the opportunity to be an elite shot blocker by his second season in the NBA. His offensive game started to show in the second half of the season, but with the Phoenix Suns run and gun type offense, his ability to run the floor on the fast-break would help transform the Suns offense without losing much on the other side of the ball.
But we as fans of basketball have officially begun the pre-draft week rumors and when the clock strikes 4 o’clock on this upcoming Thursday, June 25th, it will be up to the Phoenix Suns front office led by Ryan McDonough, to make the moves that will make the Phoenix Suns a power team in the already stacked Western Conference.