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Phoenix Suns: Setting Expectations For Dragan Bender

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Phoenix Suns took Dragan Bender with the fourth pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, but he might be more of a long-term project. Here’s what to expect from him in his rookie season and beyond.

Phoenix Suns
Oct 3, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dragan Bender (35) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson (1) during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

For the first time in six years, the Phoenix Suns may actually make headway on what should’ve been the objective ever since Steve Nash‘s window closed: Build towards a new era of Suns basketball.

Though the returns of Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight will make Phoenix a more competitive team than last year’s 23-win squad, the Suns are still unlikely to challenge for a playoff spot. What’s more, their budding youth movement came to the forefront after the team’s most recent draft yielded three promising rookies.

With Dragan Bender (No. 4), Marquese Chriss (No. 8) and Tyler Ulis (No. 34) all joining the roster, the Suns are one of the youngest teams in the association. Under first-year head coach Earl Watson, who just shed the interim title and aims to usher these youngsters into a new era, the Suns are more focused on long-term progress than short-term goals like making the playoffs.

Winning is still the objective, but the team’s “momentum,” as Watson calls it, places a larger emphasis on getting one percent better every day. For the Suns to restore their reputation as the league’s fourth all-time winningest franchise, a full-scale devotion to developing the youth, fostering a more positive environment and prioritizing the future was necessary.

Related Story: Phoenix Suns: 5 Takeaways From Preseason Opener

Phoenix’s decision to start franchise cornerstone Devin Booker over Brandon Knight is the perfect example of this, but what can the Suns expect from their young rookies, two of which should see significant playing time behind Jared Dudley at the 4-spot?

We’re only two games into the season, but we’ve already seen plenty from the rookies to know growing pains are going to be a consistent theme in 2016-17. For starters, here’s a look at what to expect from Dragan Bender, who might wind up being the biggest project of the three.

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