Phoenix Suns: Draft prospects for the team to consider
By Jono Perilli
Nico Mannion
While his draft stock has dropped a fair bit, Nico Mannion is certainly one of the smoothest and skilled point guards in the draft, and he could be heading to Phoenix in the draft.
Mannion is a 6’3″ point guard, coming straight out of a fantastic freshman season out of Arizona, where he averaged 14.0 points per game along with 5.3 assists. Mannion provides a unique, yet thrashing playstyle, mixing agility with a great offensive toolkit. He has a great playmaking and passing sense that fits the Suns’ wants. Mannion is also a great shot-maker, providing great mid-range and three-point shooting when needed. He has everything he needs to become an elite-level guard, all he needs is the perfect fit. There is no doubt that the Suns can provide that fit.
Related Story. 50 greatest NBA players not in the Hall of Fame. light
Many fans believe Mannion has got potential to succeed in the NBA, however efficiency has proven to become an issue for the Arizona guard. Mannion struggled to consistently score at an efficient pace during his freshman season. It’s more than likely that he’ll look to the pre-draft workouts to prove himself and his unrelenting pace.
It’s not like the Suns haven’t dealt with inefficiency in the past, it’s something that can be fixed.
He fits Phoenix perfectly, allowing for a great mentorship program alongside Rubio, which would be undoubtedly fantastic for the ‘Red Mamba’. It’s a matter of balancing minutes between Mannion and Rubio that would prove to be a bit of a roadblock for the Suns.
Still, drafting Mannion fits all their wishes in a rookie, and while he won’t start out flawlessly, he’s someone that can be become reliable for Phoenix in the future.