Phoenix Suns Draft Grade And Analysis

With another late lottery pick in hand, the Phoenix Suns went into the 2015 NBA Draft with a myriad of options and not a lot of pressure. The Suns could’ve used another big, another bench shooter or a backup point guard. The 13th pick in the draft could’ve netted any of those. The Suns draft was never the end-all, be-all of the team’s rebuilding effort, but they had a chance to take a step in the right direction.

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Their decision to select Kentucky guard Devin Booker was a show of committment to the Suns identity of shooting and pace. Booker was a 41 percent three pointer-shooter at Kentucky. He’s an off-ball threat, which is helpful for a Suns team that has very ball-dominant guards. He fits very well with the Suns, who kind of missed a spot-up threat when Gerald Green was cut from the rotation.

Booker’s skills are greater than just catch-and-shoot though. He has a more versatile skill set than people may realize. He’s a solid athlete, can create his own shot, and can play decent defense. His talent and ability as a more traditional two guard have drawn comparisons between him and Klay Thompson (and not just from Jalen Rose).

Booker also has the ability to drive at the rim and create contact. He’s 6’6″ and showed flashes of some funky around the basket moves in college. Both his size for his position and his ability to do stuff around the basket will be important tools for him in his transition to the NBA,

To be honest, I was a Booker skeptic at first. I was impressed with the shooting numbers, but I didn’t see as much of the all-around game. After watching him in the tournament and delving into him more, I became a fan.

Booker should be a successful NBA layer because he has no glaring liabilities. He’s a quality scorer, can dribble a little, can defend a little, and can pass a little. It’s highlight reels like these that strike me as a little more impressive, particularly with guys who have reputations as shooters. He’s makes a good read to Cauley-Stein, showcases a fancy stutter-step move, and of course, hits some crazy shots like they’re nothing.

Booker is also only 18 years old, and has a significant amount of untapped growth as a player and professional.

The question for the Suns is how to fit him in the rotation. Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight are the starting guards until further notice, and Archie Goodwin has waited for two years to find minutes on the Suns.

Sharing time with Booker off the bench may prove to necessitate moving Goodwin. The Suns can then comfortably slot Booker next to Bledsoe, who can create shots for him. He and Knight could also share the floor and just rain threes on everyone.

The Suns’ other draft selection was the 44th pick, which they used on another Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison. This pick would’ve made sense. The Suns needed a backup point guard, and Harrison has the ability as a distributor to play minutes in the NBA.

Instead, Phoenix opted to send Harrison to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jon Leuer. Leuer is a backup forward who carved out a niche as a stretch four until last season, when he only 24 percent from deep. It seems the Suns figured that year was an anomaly and that a new system that prioritizes creating for open shooters from deep could increase his productivity. It was a bit of a weird move, but not a terrible one, and not one that lowers the grade substantially.

The Suns draft was intended to be a time where Phoenix adds to its superstar-less rotation in the hope that when a star comes along, they’ll have the right team for him. They executed that goal well with Booker, who has a clear primary skill that is becoming more and more important in the NBA. Booker has the tools necessary to have a prosperous NBA career if he’s willing to work, which it sounds like he is.

When you draft a guy who has a good chance to have a productive NBA career, you earn a good grade. Simple.

Grade: A-

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