Amid a time of uncertainty but expected change for the Phoenix Suns, ESPN’s most recent NBA mock draft paired the franchise with two players who can be immediate difference-makers.
Draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo offered two separate picks and perspectives based on each NBA’s team’s biggest need and the best value at their respective position.
Givony mocked Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the Suns at pick No. 29 based on their biggest need, and Woo matched Saint Joseph’s forward Rasheer Fleming to the Suns as their best value selection.
ESPN NBA mock draft: Suns’ pick by biggest need
Clayton had a phenomenal season for Florida, helping them win both the SEC Championship and national championship behind his incredible end-of-season play.
The guard averaged 18.3 points per game, 44.8% from the field and 38.6% from behind the arc.
Givony writes:
The Suns have a lot to figure out beyond the draft, but finding backcourt help would be a nice start, and selecting a senior in Clayton could go a long way. Clayton is coming off a spectacular NCAA tournament in which he showed off his scoring instincts, shotmaking prowess and aggressiveness in a major way, helping Florida win a national championship.
Tyus Jones (who started 58 games, averaging 27 minutes per game) is entering free agency, meaning there are certainly minutes to be had at the Suns’ point guard position.
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Clayton, who was already well known heading into the big dance, made a name for himself on the biggest stage, putting up career numbers en route to bringing Florida its first NCAA championship since 2007.
Across his six March Madness games, Clayton dominated, averaging 22.3 points per game and 44.5% from three.
If the Suns are heading toward a rebuild, Clayton may find himself in a position to get additional minutes in the lineup.
The presence of longtime Suns guard Devin Booker would surely help Clayton ease into ball-handling duties.
ESPN NBA mock draft: Suns’ pick by best value
Woo mocked Fleming as the best value pick for the Suns, citing their lack of defensive wing versatility last season.
With Kevin Durant trade talks swirling, the Suns are likely entering a transition phase with their roster; they badly needed an infusion of length and defensive versatility last season.
This pick could be best maximized with someone such as Fleming, who should be able to knock down open shots and offer passable minutes early in his career. Position and fit aside, simply finding a legitimate contributor at No. 29 would be a win for a team that doesn’t control its future draft capital.
Fleming may have gone slightly under the radar last season, averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 53.1% shooting from the field. The First Team All-Atlantic 10 player was used as a jack of all trades for Saint Joseph’s.
Leading his team in rebounding at 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, Fleming was just as useful shooting the ball as he increased his three-point shooting by nearly seven percentage points, from 32.4% to 39% as a junior.
That significant growth, coupled with his prowess and skills on defense, give the Suns and new head coach Jordan Ott numerous reasons as to why he could fill several roles on the roster.
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