Suns will draft to fill need ... for really good players
PHOENIX -- The Suns' approach to the draft is unsurprisingly direct in its simplicity . . . and candor.
"As a non-playoff team, I think you need help everywhere," general manager Ryan McDonough said. "So we'll take the best player, even if that goes against what some people think we should do in terms of conventional wisdom."
The Suns' general manager, now presiding over this third draft since arriving in Phoenix, was addressing his best-player-available strategy Tuesday morning after the team's first in a series of pre-draft workouts.
"You know, I think unless you're a championship-level team you always take the best player," McDonough said. "Our philosophy is if he's better than the guys who are on the current roster, maybe he beats them out.
"I think some mistakes in the history of the draft are made drafting for 'oh, we need this, let's draft the best player who does whatever.' When you draft that guy, you tend to reach sometimes; that's where some players, like I said, are reach selections and other players have been left on the board because the team didn't think it was a need at the time."
So even though his team certainly could use more near-the-basket gusto and an upgrade in perimeter shooting, the Suns' biggest need is very basic -- more really good players.
Tuesday's six-player workout probably won't yield anyone of that caliber, although some the anticipated, second-round candidates were highly-regarded prospects coming out of high school.
The roll call was Oklahoma State swingman Le'Bryan Nash, Michigan State forward Branden Dawson, Florida post Chris Walker, Eastern Washington scoring machine Tyler Harvey, Delaware State center Kendall Gray and Colorado point guard Askia Booker.
Unless the pre-draft pundits are tragically misinformed, none of those candidates will be selected anywhere near the Suns' range, which -- for the third time in the last five seasons -- is 13.
For the record, McDonough -- who certainly wouldn't have minded beating the 96 percent odds and moving way up in draft-lottery order -- feels confident the Suns can land a potential contributor where they are.
"I think it's pretty strong at the top," he said when asked about the overall strength of the 2015 draft crop. "You know, I think if you go back and look year to year, coming into the drafts, 2013 probably was considered a little weaker. Last year was considered a little stronger. This year, it's probably in the middle of those two overall.
"There certainly are some good players . . . I think we'll get a good player at 13. I think it does drop off quickly at some point, but I think that point is behind where we're picking at 13."
With the recent rise to stardom of non-lottery picks -- 2014 NBA Finals MVP and 2015 Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard (pick No. 15, 2011) and 2015 Most Improved Player Jimmy Butler (30th, 2011) quickly spring to mind -- it's not exactly foolish to hope for the best at 13.
"If you look at our roster," McDonough said, "a lot of the guys were drafted around that range. Guys like the Morris twins, T.J. Warren . . . Eric Bledsoe was drafted 18th . . . on and on, so we've had some good success in that range.
"Now we're just starting the workout process today. It'll go on for the next couple of weeks. We'll look at guys for the 13th pick, but also for the 44th pick. Really, just try to get in as many guys as we can . . . primarily focused on those picks, but we're looking at guys at all different ranges in case we want to move up or back or out of the draft. We'll try to get in as many bodies in here between now and the draft as we can."
Although draft-specialty sites have been busy forecasting likely selections for the Suns, McDonough provided a strong reminder that the process has a long way to go.
So while fans and well-meaning reporters can imagine how Wisconsin senior 7-footer Frank Kaminsky or Kentucky freshman shooting guard Devin Booker or Arkansas power forward Bobby Portis (and so on) might impact the Suns, there's a considerable amount of evaluation still required.
"If we knew who we were going to take or who we wanted, we wouldn't have to do this," McDonough said of the busy workout schedule. "We watched the guys play all year. We've narrowed it down some, but the process of elimination and really fine-tuning your rankings starts now. We'll do more background on certain guys, we'll do more testing on certain guys. But really, the workouts are really important to see guys against top competition, especially at their position -- some of those positional battles are important."
It also should be noted that the Suns -- who are up to their necks in young players already -- could consider parlaying this year's first-round pick and (perhaps) other assets to acquire an established NBA player.
"I think it's something we're more open to than in the past," McDonough said. "But at the same time, we like the players we think will be there at 13, so we'll go through the process and see what happens."