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Phoenix Suns Draft: No. 13 Can Be Extremely Lucky

By Michael Dunlap

Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA former player Karl Malone shoots during the 2014 NBA All Star Shooting Stars competition at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA former player Karl Malone shoots during the 2014 NBA All Star Shooting Stars competition at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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I know that Phoenix Suns fans were holding out hope that the .6 percent chance came to fruition — that the franchise would strike gold and ascend to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. Alas, it didn’t happen and the Suns remained at No. 13 — but maybe that’s not such a bad thing overall.

TEAM HISTORY

The Suns have drafted at No. 13 three different times, with very different results. Back in 1984, the Suns drafted 6-foot-3 guard Jay Humphries out of the University of Colorado. For his career, Humphries was solid but unspectacular. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 11 seasons. For his Suns tenure (the first three-plus years), he averaged 10.8 points, 6.3 assists and 1.4 steals. We’ll ignore the fact that three picks later a different point guard — he goes by the name of John Stockton — was drafted.

Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (left) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes at US Airways Center. The Clippers beat the Suns 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (left) controls the ball against Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes at US Airways Center. The Clippers beat the Suns 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

In 2011, the Suns snagged Markieff Morris out of the University of Kansas. Kieff has been reliable so far in his career, missing just one game in the last three seasons. He’s improved his averages each year, all the way up to 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 2014-15. He was one of the most clutch Suns on the team and although he’s had his fair share of…we’ll call it outbursts…he’s been a really nice addition. So what if Kawhi Leonard went two picks later, right?

The Suns had No. 13 again in 2012 but this time it was quite a flop. They took Kendall Marshall out of the University of North Carolina, as they hoped to find the heir apparent to Steve Nash. Instead, they got a 6-foot-4 point guard that couldn’t defend, couldn’t shoot and ultimately couldn’t stay on the team. He played just one season before being jettisoned to the Washington Wizards. At least we don’t have any near misses right behind him (unless you consider the nine-minute career of Royce White to be a thing).

LEAGUE HISTORY

So, the Suns have had mixed results and unless Kieff turns into an All-Star, we can say that it’s been more near-misses than strokes of luck. League history shows us that there have been some amazing talent at the No. 13 spot, including two players who at one time were the best players at their position and who now should be considered among the 15 greatest players of all-time.

No, I’m not talking about last year’s No. 13 (Zach LaVine), though his bounce and ability to win dunk competitions could keep him relevant for years.

Let’s start with arguably the greatest power forward to ever play — Tim Duncan Karl Malone. He was fairly unheralded out of Louisiana Tech University, and in fact, he went into the draft after playing what amounted to his worst college season (averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists). His draft stock had fallen off and that was awfully lucky for the Utah Jazz, who just drafted Stockton the previous year.

Malone will go down as perhaps the greatest player to never win a championship. He made 14 All-Star games, won two league MVP awards, was All-NBA 14 times, All-Defensive four times and is No. 2 all-time in minutes played and field goals made. He’s the NBA leader in free-throws made and attempted and is No. 1 in defensive rebounds as well. To say that he was a great No. 13 pick would be an understatement (though the zero titles is damning when we look at our next No. 13).

Oh, Charlotte. Was Vlade Divac worth it after all these years? Let’s skip to the 1996 NBA Draft, when the Hornets selected Kobe Bryant and swiftly moved him to the Los Angeles Lakers straight-up for Divac. Oops.

Kobe is a five-time champion who was on the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams so many years they just started printing his name there (for the record, 15 All-NBA and 12 All-Defensive). Bryant brought relevance back to the Lakers, who were trying to bridge the gap between Magic Johnson and the Showtime era with such luminaries as Sedale Threatt, Anthony Peeler, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones.

Bryant was added to a Lakers team that was 53-29 the previous year — think about that for a second. One of the two greatest shooting guards in history gets added to a team that won 53 games. That’s like adding LeBron to the Trail Blazers right now (dream on, PDX).

After Malone and Bryant there’s a bit of a dropoff (to be expected), but there’s still been some quality at the No. 13 spot. Hal Greer, Dale Davis, Richard Jefferson, Corey Maggette and Sleepy Floyd round out the next five best drafted at No. 13.

Could the Suns strike gold with lucky No. 13? Only if you think Frank Kaminsky is the next Larry Bird. Let’s set our sights a little lower and hope to draft the next Jalen Rose (13th in 1994) or Derek Anderson (13th in 1997).

Next: 25 Best Players to Play for the Phoenix Suns

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