One of the problems the Suns have had is that they generally were in the playoffs. That meant that they never had a chance at an early lottery pick. Sometimes there are centers that slip down into the middle of the first round, but it is something of a crap shoot.
In 2000 when the Suns took big Jake, there were a number of big men taken ahead of Jake. A few at the top did pretty well, but probably the best of the centers lasted until the #19th pick (Magolore), but he was long gone when the Suns picked.
In 2000, the top two picks were K-Mart and Stromile Swift. Swift is pretty good, but hardly a super star. Other big men taken include:
4. Marcus Fizer (pretty much a bust)
7. Chris Mihm (still pretty mediocre)
9. Joel Przybilla (injured most of the time, but still considered a bust)
12. Etan Thomas (showing some development lately, but not a top level player)
15. Jason Collier (apparently out of basketball)
19. Jamaal Magloire
Magloire is already putting up pretty impressive numbers 11.5 ppg, 45.7% shooting, 9.3 rpg, and 70% shooting from the foul line. At 6'11" 260, he is a physical defensive presence. He supposedly signed a contract extension, but I think his agent really screwed up. He could get a $10 million contract in free agency this summer without any trouble at all.
How did Magoloire slip? His first three years at Kentucky were not terribly impressive. He put up good numbers his senior year, but he may have suffered from the bane of American seniors - over scouting. After four years, the scouts are very aware of the player's faults. Besides college seniors are older and thus don't have as much "upside".
Would the Suns have taken Magloire if they had the chance? It is hard to say. Melvin Ely that went to Clips had good numbers in college and has done nothing the NBA.
) but it could mean they think that Dice might come back on a one year veteran minimum contract. 
