Phoenix Suns: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Adam Noel
Trading the sixth overall pick
Coming out of the NBA draft lottery the Phoenix Suns were one of multiple teams that got screwed.
Rather than landing a top-three pick as projected, the team fell all the way down to No. 6 in a very top-heavy draft. That led to the team parting ways with its top selection on draft day.
The results of the Suns trading away their first round selection was the acquisition of Croatian big man Dario Saric and later drafting Cameron Johnson 11th overall.
But other than that there’s not a lot of positive can be said of the move.
Johnson was a solid selection, but it seems Phoenix pulled the trigger much sooner than other teams expected. Rather than selecting Gonzaga forward Brandon Clarke, the team elected to go with the top-shooting prospect of the class.
While Johnson has yet to suit up for Phoenix, fans have already seen what Clarke can do. Clarke tore up Summer League, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to the championship game and was later named Summer League MVP.
Not a great look for the Suns to say the least.
Saric, on the other hand, is a top-notch upgrade for the Suns at the 4. He should immediately slot in next to Deandre Ayton in the starting lineup and provides much needed spacing on the floor.
Because of him, this trade avoided another disastrous mark.