INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 04: Trey Lyles #41 of the Kentucky Wildcats goes up for a dunk late in the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Steppig – Pool/Getty Images)
The sand is falling fast through the hourglass – only a little over a week left until Adam Silver will walk onto the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to kick off the 2015 NBA Draft. And who the Phoenix Suns will select at pick #13 is still up in the air.
One thing that seems to be certain (as certain as these things can be) is that the team doesn’t seem interested in trading down in the draft. So who will be their man at slot #13? Options abound.
DraftExpress, the most definitive voice in the online NBA draft prognosticating industry, has Phoenix taking Kentucky Wildcat big man (and my fellow Canadian!) Trey Lyles with their first round pick. Lyles has great size for a power forward (6’10”, 241 lbs, 7’2″ wingspan) and a high skill set. Downside is he’s had conditioning issues in the past, and has some defensive shortcomings (which the Suns have enough of themselves at this point).
NBADraft.net has Texas center Myles Turner falling to Phoenix at pick #13. Turner is huge (7’0″, 239 lbs, 7’4″!!! wingspan) and young (just turned 19 in March). He brings the typical things you are looking for in a big man (rebounding, shot blocking), with the added bonus of a nice jumper. There are concerns about his strength and toughness, along with him lacking off-the-charts athleticism. While projected to go around the top 10 spot in the draft, Turner’s stock seems to be dropping a bit and might still be on the board when Phoenix’s name is called.
Others in the mix include Wisconsin big man Frank Kaminsky, Murray State point guard Cameron Payne, and Kentucky shooter extraordinaire Devin Booker. Or the Suns could surprise everyone and pick outside the box. Regardless, in nine days another young talent will be added to the team’s mix for next season.
