1 Apr 2000: Armen Gilliam #5 of the Utah Jazz tips the ball during a game against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in Denver Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Jazz 112-92. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
They say you can’t know the future if you don’t know the past. Or something. And who exactly “they” are I can’t tell you. But I needed an intro to this feature, and that’s the best I’m going to do.
With the 2015 edition of the NBA Draft fast approaching, let’s take a look back at the Phoenix Suns draft history (lottery era only). Maybe it’ll give us some insight into what they might do in this year’s draft. But probably not. Whatever.
Phoenix Suns 1987 NBA Draft Haul
First Round:
Armen Gilliam (#2)
Could have had: Horace Grant, Mark Jackson, Kevin Johnson, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen
Armen ‘The Hammer’ Gilliam had a long, solid NBA career, including a few seasons with Phoenix. Kind of like his nickname – a hammer isn’t flashy or spectacular, but it gets the job done. But, ya, look at that list above of All-Stars (some future Hall-of-Famers) the Suns passed on to pick him at slot #2. Ya.
Rest of Draft:
Bruce Dalrymple (2, 46)
Winston Crite (3, 53)
Steve Beck (4, 76)
Brent Counts (5, 99)
Marcel Boyce (6, 122)
Roy Singleton (7, 145)
Could have had: Brad Lohaus, Kevin Gamble, Chris Dudley, Sarunas Marciulionis
The Suns didn’t make up for things in the later rounds of the draft, as Crite played 31 games in the League and the rest never saw a minute.
Overall Suns Draft Grade: D-
Previous Years:
