Regardless of whether rookie Alton Ford makes the 12-man roster to start the season, he already has shown in the preseason that he can give the Suns something they haven't had in recent years.


A banger.

The Suns knew when they took Ford, 20, in the second round of June's draft that he would be a project.

Some were concerned that the 6-foot-9, 270-pound power forward might have a weight problem. He's raw, but not soft.

"Look at the guy. He's ripped," said Suns president Bryan Colangelo.