To quote Matt Ishbia and James Jones, the Phoenix Suns will return their core five next season: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen, and Jusuf Nurkic. .
Adding a more traditional point guard through the draft, even if it means drafting an experienced college player who is a backup with a promising career, would drastically change the team's dynamic. Dew.
But adding something big is probably the second most important thing.
The center's versatility could come in a variety of ways after Nurkic was restricted in a first-round sweep by the Minnesota Timberwolves and backup Drew Eubanks, who has a player option, was removed from the rotation by Game 4. There is sex.
Drafting a rim-rolling shot blocker with high starting potential is a goal for the No. 22 overall pick, but he's also trash. Will the Suns settle for a small-ball ball mover? Floor spacer? Or will they build on Nurkic's size, offensive core ability, and decent defensive ability?
As with point guards, we prioritize prospects who can jump into an NBA rotation without a developmental period. Here are the players who could fall to the Suns at No. 22.
Big candidates to complement Suns in 2024 NBA Draft
Zach Eady, Purdue
The Suns may be facing the question of whether or not to acquire the most valuable player in college basketball from last season. Eady averaged 25.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game on 62 percent shooting, and his senior year answered some questions about his athleticism and defensive ability. His awareness and desire to improve were outstanding, but in the professional game, where floor spacing and rim rolling are more important than out-maneuvering your opponent, the 7-foot-4 Force is more than just an offensive aid. It is not entirely clear whether this role can be played. post.
wart: Eadie shot a ridiculous 82% at the rim, but noteworthy, 68% of those buckets were assists. That might be a good thing from Phoenix's perspective, given that it doesn't take the ball out of the big three's hands. Still, there are legitimate concerns about whether they need a big man who can score given their limited defense.
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
In a similar role during his two years at Duke, Filipovski made huge strides in assists (2.8 per game), blocks (1.5 per game) and shooting splits as a sophomore. . At 7 feet tall and 248 pounds, he is athletic and looks fluid as a basketball player despite being somewhat limited as an athlete. He's also used to getting the ball up the court and can even tap handles, shiftiness, and eurosteps to avoid traffic jams in transition. Duke put him in a lot of defensive situations where he had to switch up and fight through screens, but the results were understandable considering his size.
Warts: Similar to Eady, Filipovski's loss to the Suns would put the team in a surprising but interesting position. Filipovski's skill set is sophisticated enough to believe he's a solid player in the long-term future, but the problem for Phoenix is that he's a subpar finisher and has some stretch ability offensively. The question will probably be whether a ball mover is too much for Nurkic. But acquiring him would likely allow the Suns to offload the veteran sooner rather than later. Either way, the purpose of Filipowski's acquisition is not to improve the defense, but to add offensive versatility.
Oso Ighodalo, Market
On the big board is Ighodaro from Desert Vista High School, who has a high of as high as a lottery pick and a low of 67. He's a very efficient, complementary offensive piece, but at 6-foot-11 and 235 pounds, he'll function more like the more athletic Dario Saric. A ball mover in the Phoenix offense. He averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals as a senior on 62% shooting over his four-year career. On a team like Phoenix, he's a small-ball changeup center who can roll to the rim and make passes when help comes. Is adding another bench dynamically and increasing switchability high on your wish list? Adding a selfless and smart teammate should also be on your list.
wart: Ighodalo couldn't shoot threes, shooting just 62 percent from the foul stripe over his career, but he had some oomph in short-midrange scoring thanks to a slew of hooks and floaters. According to Hoop-Math.com, he had 52% of his shots classified as two-point jumpers and 46% of his shots in that area. Obviously, adding a jumper would dramatically increase his NBA potential.
Daron Holmes, Dayton
Holmes tested his ability in the previous draft, but he improved again and returned in his third year with the Flyers. His field goal percentage (54% in 2023-24) has gradually decreased as he expands his game, adding 39% on 2.5 3-pointers last year. However, his free throw numbers (71% this year) increased each season. Holmes averaged 20.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season. Throughout his three years in Dayton, he blocked about two shots per game.
wartThe 6-foot-10 big man, who attended Goodyears Millennium High School and then AZ Compass Prep, has had some turnover-heavy games, where he tends to be the center of the game. there were. He's a few inches short of 7 feet tall and isn't the biggest or most athletic, so his limitations are limited, but he's improved over time and is a reliable player in several aspects. A picture is drawn. Can he grow even with a reduced role?
Eve Missi, Baylor
We'll start with Missi, who has a wingspan of 7'6″ and is the first of the two prospects I'll mention who haven't put together multiple strong seasons in college. He has the vertical and horizontal athleticism to be a great defender and uses his power in all aspects. At 7 feet tall and 235 pounds, he has the physicality to play in the NBA. As a freshman, Missi shot 61.4 percent from the field but only 61.6 percent from the foul stripe.
Warts: 1.5 blocks in just 23 minutes per game is impressive in Baylor's zone defense. However, his averages of 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.4 fouls in that short amount of play probably aren't enough to warrant being drafted by the Suns. But he's on the list because he's almost unanimously considered a top-25 prospect and could play right away in a spot role.
Kaelware, Indiana
After playing as a backup with the Oregon Ducks in 2022-23, Ware exploded at Indiana University, averaging 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. His athletic ability will translate to the NBA. He never made more than three triples in a game, but his 43% accuracy showed something scary that matched well with his overall shooting percentage of 59%. Ware is exactly what he is: a 7-foot rim roller.
wart: He tends to have more turnovers than assists. His effort is why he isn't valued more than a late first-round pick. Do block numbers represent his true defensive ability? Probably not. The Suns will need to be confident that his athletic ability can impact the game and provide a concerted effort. There is a big if. The only thing keeping him from being removed from this list is his production.