With so many trade proposals including moving up, it seems likely that the Suns will not be taking that pick. But until something happens, that's where they are drafting.
There are several issues involved with this pick.
1. Will the Suns also use the #29?
2. What else do they plan such as free agent signings?
3. What type of player are they targeting?
1. My guess is that the Suns will try to take a point guard prospect for development at #29. If they trade the #29, then the chances of taking a PG type at #24 are much higher, but otherwise it seems unlikely they'd take a PG there.
2. If the Suns seriously think they can get Grant Hill, then I'd view their priorities different than if they don't. Upwards of 20 teams have expressed interest in Hill, so it is only the chance to win it all that would attract him, but if he goes elsewhere it changes the priorities.
3. If the Suns doubt they can get Hill, I would think their first priority would be to get someone who could replace Jones in the starting lineup.
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BIGS
Ideally, I'd think the Suns would go for a big man. I don't like any of the big guys rated in the late teens.
Julian Wright - Long shot to fall that low. Has lottery talent, but has not been doing all that well in the workouts according to DX. Suns have not worked him out.
Jason Smith - Probably would be gone anyway, but he's very raw and would not get playing time.
Tiago Splitter - Has major buyout issues. Verdict is mixed on how good he is anyway, but not worth losing a year and posibly more.
Josh McRoberts - Seems too soft and not athletic enough to be much help
Sean Williams - Head case with huge motivational problems No, No. No
Nick Fazekas - Seems like a long shot. Very good shooter, but lacks the ahtleticism and physical nature to be a very good fit.
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Of the bigs, all but the last two seem likely to be gone before the Suns pick and only Julian Wright would be worth moving up for. Overall, there does not appear to be any immediate help from this category. So unless the Suns see something everyone else have missed, it seems unlikely they'll take a big.
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WINGS
None of the pure PG's look like they are going to be able to contribute immediately. Koponen and Pruitt appear to be long range projects. Crittenton is getting interest in the late lottery range and is not thought to be able to help immediately either. Taurean Green has not (to my knowledge) even been worked out.
There are some wings with talent and at least one or two should be available tat #24
Rodney Stuckey - He's more of a combo guard than a wing, but at 6'5" 205 he is about the size of Raja. He's getting great reviews and has been invited to the Green Room (15 guys), so he's likely to be long gone.
Thaddeus Young - Very athletic guy with a lot of skills. No one expect him to drop to #24. He has not been worked out with the Suns.
Rudy Fernández - He has a huge buyout and is almost certain not to be available this year. He's a serious buy and stash player, but not good enough to use the #24 on.
Morris Almond - Great shooter with good fundimentals. He's generally expected to earlier than #24. Questions about his quickness and defense are somewhat offset by an amazing shooting stroke and intelliigence.
Daequan Cook - Super athlete who should have stayed in school where he'd be a possible lottery pick next year. Seems like he's too raw to take at #24, but a real possibility.
Marco Belinelli - Italian star who can shoot. His stock is down following a weak year, but is more polished than Cook with similar upside.
Derrick Byars - May be the best defender of the wings but lacks the upside to be viewed as future star. A good but not great shooter, he is versaile enough to be be a player in the Suns system, but gets taken more for defense than anything else.
Jared Dudley - Simialr size and attributes as Byars. Viewed as a role player who can contribute but not likely to star.
Marcus Williams - U of A player who was widely viewed as an under achiever. Has the talent to be a very good pro, but perhaps not the dedication.
nbadraft.net has a bunch of other guys int he 20's but I don't think they deserive to be there.
Wilson Chandler - Very raw
Alando Tucker - Has the skills of a power forward in the body of an SG
Arron Afflalo - Not althletic enough to make up for an inconsistent shot.
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Bottom line is that the Suns can hope to get a serviceable player at #24 and might luck into an exceptional one if he drops. It's not clear that there is much to be gained by trading up into the late teens, but it remains a possibility if somebody drops or the Suns are really excited about someone like Almond.
There are several issues involved with this pick.
1. Will the Suns also use the #29?
2. What else do they plan such as free agent signings?
3. What type of player are they targeting?
1. My guess is that the Suns will try to take a point guard prospect for development at #29. If they trade the #29, then the chances of taking a PG type at #24 are much higher, but otherwise it seems unlikely they'd take a PG there.
2. If the Suns seriously think they can get Grant Hill, then I'd view their priorities different than if they don't. Upwards of 20 teams have expressed interest in Hill, so it is only the chance to win it all that would attract him, but if he goes elsewhere it changes the priorities.
3. If the Suns doubt they can get Hill, I would think their first priority would be to get someone who could replace Jones in the starting lineup.
-------------------------------------------------------------
BIGS
Ideally, I'd think the Suns would go for a big man. I don't like any of the big guys rated in the late teens.
Julian Wright - Long shot to fall that low. Has lottery talent, but has not been doing all that well in the workouts according to DX. Suns have not worked him out.
Jason Smith - Probably would be gone anyway, but he's very raw and would not get playing time.
Tiago Splitter - Has major buyout issues. Verdict is mixed on how good he is anyway, but not worth losing a year and posibly more.
Josh McRoberts - Seems too soft and not athletic enough to be much help
Sean Williams - Head case with huge motivational problems No, No. No
Nick Fazekas - Seems like a long shot. Very good shooter, but lacks the ahtleticism and physical nature to be a very good fit.
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Of the bigs, all but the last two seem likely to be gone before the Suns pick and only Julian Wright would be worth moving up for. Overall, there does not appear to be any immediate help from this category. So unless the Suns see something everyone else have missed, it seems unlikely they'll take a big.
------------------------------------------------------------------
WINGS
None of the pure PG's look like they are going to be able to contribute immediately. Koponen and Pruitt appear to be long range projects. Crittenton is getting interest in the late lottery range and is not thought to be able to help immediately either. Taurean Green has not (to my knowledge) even been worked out.
There are some wings with talent and at least one or two should be available tat #24
Rodney Stuckey - He's more of a combo guard than a wing, but at 6'5" 205 he is about the size of Raja. He's getting great reviews and has been invited to the Green Room (15 guys), so he's likely to be long gone.
Thaddeus Young - Very athletic guy with a lot of skills. No one expect him to drop to #24. He has not been worked out with the Suns.
Rudy Fernández - He has a huge buyout and is almost certain not to be available this year. He's a serious buy and stash player, but not good enough to use the #24 on.
Morris Almond - Great shooter with good fundimentals. He's generally expected to earlier than #24. Questions about his quickness and defense are somewhat offset by an amazing shooting stroke and intelliigence.
Daequan Cook - Super athlete who should have stayed in school where he'd be a possible lottery pick next year. Seems like he's too raw to take at #24, but a real possibility.
Marco Belinelli - Italian star who can shoot. His stock is down following a weak year, but is more polished than Cook with similar upside.
Derrick Byars - May be the best defender of the wings but lacks the upside to be viewed as future star. A good but not great shooter, he is versaile enough to be be a player in the Suns system, but gets taken more for defense than anything else.
Jared Dudley - Simialr size and attributes as Byars. Viewed as a role player who can contribute but not likely to star.
Marcus Williams - U of A player who was widely viewed as an under achiever. Has the talent to be a very good pro, but perhaps not the dedication.
nbadraft.net has a bunch of other guys int he 20's but I don't think they deserive to be there.
Wilson Chandler - Very raw
Alando Tucker - Has the skills of a power forward in the body of an SG
Arron Afflalo - Not althletic enough to make up for an inconsistent shot.
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Bottom line is that the Suns can hope to get a serviceable player at #24 and might luck into an exceptional one if he drops. It's not clear that there is much to be gained by trading up into the late teens, but it remains a possibility if somebody drops or the Suns are really excited about someone like Almond.
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