Phoenix Suns: 5 options for pick No. 4 in 2017 NBA Draft
3. Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
As of right now, Jayson Tatum seems like the potential consolation prize for a Phoenix team that fell to No. 4 in the lottery. Once Fultz and Ball are inevitably off the board with the top-two picks, many Suns supporters are worried that fan favorite prospect Josh Jackson will be gone at No. 3. If that’s the case, Tatum could very well be McDonough’s selection at No. 4.
Though many experts believe Josh Jackson to be the best two-way wing in this year’s draft class, Tatum shouldn’t be overlooked either. He could be a dynamic scorer at the 3 for any team, averaging 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game at Duke.
If the #Suns draft Jayson Tatum, what will they get? @DougHaller takes a look in his draft profile. https://t.co/fyzlH4wwnJ
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) May 19, 2017
Though he’s seen as little else than a go-to scorer at this point, the 6’8″ Tatum won’t turn 19 until next March and shot 45.2 percent from the field in his lone season with the Blue Devils.
However, even though mock drafts from both Draft Express and Tankathon have the Suns taking Tatum at No. 4, there would be reasons for concern with a pick like this, aside from the obvious bummer of missing out on Jackson.
Just think Suns fans, in 24 hours we'll have already convinced ourselves that Jayson Tatum is more than a consolation prize.
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) May 16, 2017
Tatum only converted 34.2 percent of his 4.0 three-pointers per game in college, and the Suns already have a guy who can get buckets without a three-point stroke on the wing in T.J. Warren. Tatum has the tools to be a passable defender, but his focus is usually on the offensive end.
If he could be coaxed into working on the defensive end and rounding out the jagged edges of his game so he’s not just a one-dimensional scorer, Tatum could flourish at the next level.
The athleticism and raw fundamentals are there, but it remains to be seen whether the Suns would feel excited about drafting the Josh Jackson fall-back plan when his need for the ball makes him a potentially poor fit alongside ball-dominant guards like Bledsoe and Booker.