2011 Suns Draft Workouts

Griffin · Jun 9, 2011

It may be useful to maintain a list of all the players the Suns have worked out this summer. The first draft workout will be held Thursday, June 9th, but it won't include anyone notable, at least not anyone (hopefully) considered for the 13th pick. And without any other pick, one would assume that the Suns are also looking at potential undrafted pickups (or the possibility of acquiring a second-round pick, should they really like someone).

I've included where each player is currently projected to be drafted according to NBADraft.net and DraftExpress.com.

Players presumably targeted for the 13th pick shown in bold.

Completed workouts

June 9th:

Jacob Pullen (PG, Kansas State) -|-
JaJuan Johnson (PF, Purdue) #31|#39
DeAndre Liggins (SG, Kentucky) #46|-
Jon Diebler (SG, Ohio State) -|-
Diante Garrett (PG, Iowa State) -|#45
Alex Tyus (PF, Florida) -|-

June 10th:

Klay Thompson (SG, Washington State) #11|#14
Jordan Hamilton (SG/SF, Texas) #19|#19
Gilbert Brown (SF, Pittsburgh) -|-
Gary McGhee (C, Pittsburgh) -|-
Jeremy Hazell (SG, Seton Hall) -|-
Jeff Allen (SF, Virginia Tech) -|-

June 13th:

Jimmer Fredette (PG, BYU) #13|#7
Marcus Morris (SF, Kansas) #9|#10
Markieff Morris (PF, Kansas) #16|#16
Chris Singleton (SF, Florida State) #17|#12
Tristan Thompson (PF, Texas) #14|#13
Iman Shumpert (PG/SG, Georgia Tech) #51|#22

June 14th:

Kenneth Faried (PF, Morhead State) #22|#21
Keith Benson (PF/C, Oakland) #47|#44
Matt Howard (PF, Butler) -|-
DeAngelo Casto (PF, Washington State) -|-
Taylor Battle (PG, Penn State) -|-
Cameron Jones (PG, Northern Arizona) -|-

June 17th:

Josh Selby (SG, Kansas) #41|#33
Mark Payne (SG/SF, UC Davis) -!-
Donald Sims (PG, Appalachian State) -|-
Chris Warren (PG, Ole Miss) -|-

June 19th:

Alec Burks (SG, Colorado) #10|#17
Delroy James (SF, Rhode Island) -|-
Demonte Harper (PG/SG, Morehead State) -|-
Sam Muldrow (PF, South Carolina) -|-

International workouts

June 3rd (Spain):

Bismack Biyombo (C, Congo) #21|#11

PhxGametime · Jun 9, 2011

Alec Burks, Jordan Hamilton, Marshon Brooks, and Klay Thompson!

Those 4 are the top tier for scoring SG's, that can create. i like each one of them!

JaJuan Johnson has 1st Round talent, athleticism, and length. He's strong but a few more pounds and he could be really solid. 6'10 with a 38 inch vert. ! If the Suns Draft one of the top SG's at #13, I'd look to add a Pick late in 1st Round, if Johnson is on the board.

Tristan Thompson, Chris Singleton, and Marcus Morris! Solid. Would've liked to also have worked out Justin Harper but those 3; can defend, rebound, and score!

and Jimmer Fredette! Selby is missing on list but Fredette could be Mike Bibby-esque. Maybe better. All of the other Prospects (bringing in) are better defenders, but assuming you wanted to play that style again, he'd fit into Nash's role well.

Next to watch is DeAndre Liggins.

leclerc · Jun 9, 2011

Will be interesting with a new scouting team. The previous group did not find much gold... I also hope for Burks or Marshon etc. Looking forward to the draft and I hope we get either a higher pick or an additional first rounder.

WildBB · Jun 10, 2011

Burks would be a nice catch.

slinslin · Jun 10, 2011

Hamilton won't be a SG in the league.

He is really a pure SF.

Griffin · Jun 11, 2011

According to Coro, Kemba Walker was scheduled to work out in Phoenix on Monday but cancelled. Supposedly Walker's stock has fallen enough that he may be within the Suns reach.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...0110611phoenix-suns-need-positions-draft.html

Griffin · Jun 12, 2011

Big workout tomorrow. Fredette, the Morris twins, Singleton and Tristan Thompson.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...x-suns-jimmer-fredette-nba-draft-workout.html

PhxGametime · Jun 13, 2011

Iman Shumpert is no slouch, although #13 might be high but he's my sleeper pick. If Jimmer Fredette can score easily on Shumpert (who is one of the better defenders in this Draft, IMO) that would make the choice that more difficult...

I like all four G/F's bringing in (Burks, Hamilton, Thompson, and Brooks); the 3/4's in (Singleton and Marcus Morris); both PG's - although #13 could be too high for Shumpert, and Fredette I go back and forth with but solid; and I like Thompson and JaJuan Johnson (might be too high at #13).

While the twins can get me a bit frustated, I can probably live with Drafting Marcus because he's a proven scorer but with Markieff, unless they truly feel he's their best option at #13 - the whole getting the other brother again is

Griffin · Jun 13, 2011

Tuesday the Suns will work out Kenneth Faried.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/sun...nix-suns-mickael-pietrus-picks-up-option.html

Potential (non-international) players the Suns have not worked out yet:

Alec Burks (was injured, reportedly will work out in Phoenix right before the draft)
Kemba Walker (cancelled, may be rescheduled)
Kawhi Leonard
Darius Morris
Tobias Harris
Marshon Brooks (may work out later)

JCSunsfan · Jun 14, 2011

Watch the injuries and cancellations. That usually means a promise from another team.

SweetD · Jun 14, 2011

On my flight back from Vegas Keith Benson was on the same flight he said he was going to workout for the Suns. So you can add him to the list... seems like a good kid.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/keith-benson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekNfbYNNswU&feature=player_embedded#at=56

Mainstreet · Jun 14, 2011

SweetD said:
On my flight back from Vegas Keith Benson was on the same flight he said he was going to workout for the Suns. So you can add him to the list... seems like a good kid.

http://www.nbadraft.net/players/keith-benson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekNfbYNNswU&feature=player_embedded#at=56

Nice find. He would appear to be a good addition in the second round. Just needs to put on weight. Not bad for a center prospect.

Folster · Jun 14, 2011

Mainstreet said:
Nice find. He would appear to be a good addition in the second round. Just needs to put on weight. Not bad for a center prospect.

You know. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Suns acquire a 2nd round pick or maybe a late 1st. I also wouldn't be shocked if we traded down and picked up multiple picks, especially if we have a guy like Marshon Brooks within our sights or our targeted players are gone by 13.

PhxGametime · Jun 15, 2011

I like the 1st Round bubble/High 2nd Rounders - the Suns are bringing in. Especially Iman Shumpert, JaJuan Johnson, Keith Benson, etc. - Shumpert is defensive stud at 6'5.5 222; Johnson is 6'10 with length and 38' vert; and Benson is 6'11 and 36' vert.

Johnson and Benson are a bit thin, but both can shoot and are shotblockers; and with a few extra pounds have some post-up ability. Shumpert is the 2nd best athlete in the Draft but has size as well. Could probably improve 3PT shooting.

I'd also like a look at: Justin Harper, Malcolm Lee, maybe Nolan Smith, and possibly Jon Leuer (as bubble 1st Rounders) but those 3 (already brought in) have big time upside if they can overcome 1 or 2 area's.

Also, Kenneth Faried is a beast!! I like his motor and passion (and rebounding obviously) but Suns tend to look for shooters, so...

carey · Jun 15, 2011

I'm worried that we're trading down, and not looking to acquire a late first / early second.

The last time we acquired a pick was for Dragic and that was under Kerr. The front office has a history of trading out of the draft or attaching picks to trades unnecessarily. If we look at the type of players being brought in it's been a handful for the #13 pick and another handful (or two) that are consider later picks.

Griffin · Jun 15, 2011

International prospects

There was a mention in one of Coro's articles that the Suns worked out Bismack Biyombo in Spain earlier this month:

Biyombo, a 6-foot-9, 243-pound pro in Spain, has drawn a lot of doubts after a dismal performance in a one-on-none workout for scouts, which included Suns international scout Kornel David. The workout focused on offense, where Biyombo's range does not extend far beyond a dunk. With a 7-foot-6 wingspan, Biyombo is an outstanding lane protector, and the Suns saw more of what they liked in a workout they controlled in Spain on June 3.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2011/06/14/20110614phoenix-suns-draft-drama-rise.html

This seems to be the only international player the Suns have seriously looked at, at least as far as we know. Jonas Valanciunas (who did not withdraw after all) and Jan Vasely will likely both be gone when the Suns pick, but Donatas Motiejunas may very well still be available. I wonder where the Suns would rank him on their board.

Mainstreet · Jun 16, 2011

Griffin said:
This seems to be the only international player the Suns have seriously looked at, at least as far as we know. Jonas Valanciunas (who did not withdraw after all) and Jan Vasely will likely both be gone when the Suns pick, but Donatas Motiejunas may very well still be available. I wonder where the Suns would rank him on their board.

Do the Suns have a board? If they do I wouldn't trust it. :sarcasm:

Covert Rain · Jun 16, 2011

Mainstreet said:
Do the Suns have a board? If they do I wouldn't trust it.

They do by the way...it's called a DART board.

Superbone · Jun 18, 2011

DarenG said:
They do by the way...it's called a DART board.

But they keep losing all the darts.

Griffin · Jun 19, 2011

It's being reported that Kings are unlikely to draft Fredette at #7, likely leaving Jazz as the only team that might take Fredette off the board before the Suns pick, unless they go with a PG (Knight) at #3.

Also, Donatas Motiejunas is in US working out for teams, but no report of the Suns working him out, so it's likely the Suns aren't interested.

It's really starting to look like it will be either Fredette or Biyombo, with Markieff Morris another strong possibility especially if Biyombo is gone.

Irish · Jun 19, 2011

Since we have no history on Babee (sic?) and blanks; does failure to give a public workout mean no interest? It has always been doubtful that teams make up their mind mostly due to how he does at a workout. A case could be made that including someone in a workout might induce other teams to take a closer look. Do they?

Griffin · Jun 19, 2011

Irish said:
Since we have no history on Babee (sic?) and blanks; does failure to give a public workout mean no interest? It has always been doubtful that teams make up their mind mostly due to how he does at a workout. A case could be made that including someone in a workout might induce other teams to take a closer look. Do they?

I am not sure. Generally in the past the Suns drafted players that they have personally worked out, so it was always a good indicator. Not sure what to expect with the new management.

But in the case of Motiejunas, I'm also basing my assumption on the fact that his name has never been mentioned in any Suns-related draft rumors. The Suns are also looking to get a defensive big, and while Motiejunas is certainly big (or at least tall) he is not known for his defense. But it's also possible the Suns have already looked at him extensively in Europe.

2011 Suns Draft Workouts

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