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NBA: Top 10 Candidates For Rookie Of The Year Award In 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver holds a basketball while posing for a photo with draft prospects from left Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) , Ben Simmons (LSU), Brandon Ingram (Duke) and Kris Dunn (Providence) before the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss poses for a portrait during media day at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Marquese Chriss

In this year’s draft, the Phoenix Suns not only got the international man of mystery with Dragan Bender, but they also got the domestic mystery prospect in their draft-day trade for Marquese Chriss. Like Bender, Chriss is a raw talent who may undergo a trial by fire simply because the Suns are undergoing a youth movement and don’t have many players available at the 4.

At only 19 years old, Chriss is the fourth youngest player in the 2016 draft class. He was a woeful defensive rebounder at Washington, but got better in every way as his freshman season progressed. Thanks to his 6’10” frame and jaw-dropping athleticism, Chriss could be ready to compete at the next level as soon as — if not sooner than — Bender.

In NBA Summer League, Chriss averaged 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He’s nowhere near as skilled with the ball as Bender, and he shot only 33.3 percent from the field while missing all seven of his three-pointers, but this project player may benefit from not being forced to play out of position like Bender, who might log some time at small forward.

Related Story: Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From Preseason Opener

With Bender being able to play three different positions, Chriss may be the default backup for Jared Dudley at the 4 With positive mentors teaching him the ins and outs of being a stretch-4 in this league, Chriss can go to work proving why so many teams were intrigued by his upside.