30 Teams, 30 Days: Phoenix Draft Preview

RealGM Analysis

Jun 11, 2008 12:28 PM

2007-2008 Finish: 55-27
2008 Draft Picks: 15th, 48th

Pre-Draft 2008-09 Projected Starters:
PG Steve Nash
SG Raja Bell
SF Grant Hill
PF Amare Stoudemire
C Shaquille O?Neal
Key Reserves:
PG Leandro Barbosa
SF Boris Diaw
SF Alando Tucker
SG D.J. Strawberry

What the Suns Do Well:

The Suns had an ugly ending to the season. Coach Mike D?Antoni is gone. Shaq failed to deliver a first round series win, let alone a title he preached to the fans of Phoenix. Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and Shaq are all a year older. However, they have a new head coach in Terry Porter and are ready to gear up and give it one last shot with this aging core.

After the trade that sent Shawn Marion to the Miami Heat for The Big Fella Shaquille O?Neal, Amare Stoudemire elevated his game to levels never before seen from the talented mobile big. Finally being able to move from the center position to his naturally innate power forward position, the 25-year old superstar put up a gaudy 25.2 pionts, 9.1 rebounds, and a career high 2.1 blocks per game. He was a monster in January and February, averaging over 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.

Shaq did his thing fitting in with the fast-paced Suns after the trade. He led the team with 10.6 rebounds per game and added a spark in the locker room to go along with his 12.9 points and 1.21 blocks per game.

Steve Nash was at it again this year, posting a double-double on the season: 16.9 points and 11.1 assists per game. Strangely, he was one of few players in NBA history to average more than 11 assists per game and not lead the league. Chris Paul edged him out with an astounding 11.6 in the Hornet point guard?s third season as a pro.

Greatest Areas of Improvement:

Backup Point Guard
With Steve Nash getting older and Leandro Barbosa more suited to play the off-guard position, the Suns really need to pick up a floor leader who can give Nash and his ailing back a few minutes to breathe on the bench.

Youth on the Wing
While the point guard slot is a vital position that needs some added depth perhaps, more of a concern is the lack of options for the Suns on the wing. Sure, they drafted Alando Tucker and D.J. Strawberry last year to play behind Raja Bell and Grant Hill?s slowly dying legs, but another young body with a top-15 talent might prove more beneficial in the short term for this team.

Who?s Gone Number 15 Recently?

Over the past five years, the 15th pick hasn?t been the most stellar of selections. But it did yield two picks that could become eventual staples in the All Star Game. Both Al Jefferson and Rodney Stuckey have proven that they have the skills to get the nod to represent the league?s best.

2007
Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons

2006
Cedric Simmons, New Orleans Hornets

2005
Antoine Wright, New Jersey Nets

2004
Al Jefferson, Boston Celtics

2003
Reece Gaines, Orlando Magic

Who Should the Suns Target?

For more in-depth analysis and background regarding the players whom the Suns should target in this year?s Draft, click on each player name to be redirected to Christopher Reina?s Prospect Report piece.

- Brandon Rush of Kansas

The Suns are in win-now mode, and Brandon Rush is one of the most NBA-ready players at this stage in the Draft. He can play both the shooting guard and small forward position and would be a welcome addition to a team lacking defense on the wing since trading away Shawn Marion. Rush brings a winning pedigree and would fit perfectly in Phoenix.

- Robin Lopez of Stanford

The knock on the Suns in recent past is that they don?t have enough big men coming off the bench. When they were running up and down the court hoisting 3-pointers left and right, it wasn?t that much of a deal. Now that they are evolving into a half-court team, they need some guys who are going to come in and get nasty under the rim. Robin Lopez is that type of guy.

- Javale McGee of Nevada

As mentioned earlier, the Suns could use some depth at the big man position. Javale McGee is a bit raw but has some very nice post moves and can block shots with the best of them. What better tandem to learn from for the Nevada big man than Shaq and Amare?

- Marreese Speights of Florida

There is a very likely chance that Speights is way off the board when this pick rolls around, but he would be another option at the big man depth position that the Suns could target. His upside might be too much for them to pass on, and he would be forced to keep his head in the game and contribute immediately with Shaq looming over him during practice. The Suns could also turn to Donte Greene, but he might be too raw to contribute immediately next season ? something the Suns would rather avoid with their win-now approach. Other options at the point would include Ty Lawson or Mario Chalmers, but at pick 15, both of them seem like reaches this early.

Picks Over the Past Five Years

The Suns are quite disgraceful when it comes to the Draft over the past five years. They have continually dealt away first round talent for cap savings and have zero titles to show for it. They could have had Luol Deng, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo, Sergio Rodriguez, and Rudy Fernandez. Instead, they have?Alando Tucker.

2007
Rudy Fernandez, 24th (traded to Portland)
Alando Tucker, 29th
D.J. Strawberry, 59th

2006
Rajon Rondo, 21st (traded to Boston)
Sergio Rodriguez, 27th (traded to Portland)

2005
Nate Robinson, 21st (traded to New York)
Marcin Gortat, 57th (traded to Orlando)

2004
Luol Deng, 7th (traded to Chicago)

2003
Zarko Cabarkapa, 17th

Previous Editions of the 30 Teams, 30 Days Series

Whom do you want the Suns to draft at number 15? Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments and questions.

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