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Phoenix Suns: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Dragan Bender (right) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Dragan Bender (right) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number four overall pick to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Devin Booker (1) and guard Tyler Ulis (3) against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the semifinals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /

Draft Pick No. 3

Bender and Chriss have incredible potential as high-upside picks, but perhaps one of the biggest second round value picks came at No. 34 for the Suns when they selected the 17th Kentucky guard on their roster, Tyler Ulis.

If not for his tiny frame at 5’10”, Ulis probably would’ve been an early first round selection. After averaging 17.3 points, 7.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in his junior season with the Wildcats, there might not be a more complete guard in this year’s draft.

Despite being noticeably undersized, Ulis uses a unique blend of lightning quick speed, high basketball IQ, defensive prowess and outright charisma to outwork his competition on both ends of the floor. The move also reunites former Kentucky teammates, Ulis and Devin Booker.

“I felt it had been too long since we drafted a Kentucky guard,” McDonough joked after the draft, in reference to Booker, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Archie Goodwin ALL being former Wildcats guards.

Though Ulis had a brutal semifinal against Summer League MVP Tyus Jones in the semifinal game (11 points, four turnovers, 5-of-21 shooting), he was easily one of the best and biggest surprises of Las Vegas, earning All-NBA Summer League Second Team honors.

In six appearances, Ulis averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 2.5 rebounds per game — not bad for the smallest guy on the court at 5’10”. Had Booker, Bender or Chriss played in the semis, the Suns might have advanced to yet another Summer League title game despite Ulis’ off night.

Though Ulis will need to work on his perimeter shooting (5-for-16 from three-point range overall), he rarely turned it over and finished with a 38-11 assist-to-turnover ratio. He had a pair of games with five or more steals, a 20-point outing in a win over the Miami Heat and a deep game-winning three-pointer to beat the Denver Nuggets at the buzzer in overtime.

Ulis is an excellent ball handler, possesses exceptional court vision, can knock down threes, enjoys harassing opponents on the defensive end and makes up for the size disadvantage by outsmarting his man.

For a team like the Suns that needs a backup point guard, Ulis is an exceptional value pick and second round flyer.

What this means for unrestricted free agent Ronnie Price remains to be seen, since having his veteran poise and experience would be useful on this Suns team, especially to mentor Ulis. But even if Price leaves, adding Tyler Ulis represents the cherry on top of the Sunsdae (get it?) of this year’s draft.

Grade: A-

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