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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Doug Haller discuss Lonzo Ball skipping a Celtics workout and a dark-horse pick for the Suns at No. 4.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and JJ Hensley discuss the Suns draft as well as ‘The Bartender,’ the key reliever for the Diamondbacks.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Doug Haller discuss the NBA lottery and the ASU football quarterback situation.
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azcentral sports’ Doug Haller and Dan Bickley discuss Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery, in which the Suns fell to the No. 4 overall pick, at Talking Stick Resort Arena. David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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Suns General Manager Ryan McDonough discusses the Suns earning the No. 4 overall selection in next month’s draft at the team’s NBA draft lottery party at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday. David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley talk NBA lottery picks and a team that might be eyeing the Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke.
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With a top-five pick and five players with star potential, the Suns are in a good place. But how has each selection shown success?
Wochit
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Suns star guard Devin Booker went to Navarrete Elementary School to surprise student Noah Smith with a trip to the NBA draft lottery in New York City on Friday. Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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LaVar Ball won’t affect whether the Lakers select his son Lonzo in the upcoming NBA draft, Lakers president Magic Johnson told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman.
Time_Sports
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Lonzo Ball’s signature shoes garnered a lot of attention when they were first released. But the sales numbers suggest the sneakers aren’t selling as well as the Big Baller Brand would like.
USA TODAY Sports
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As the Suns look to rebuild through the NBA draft, they are looking to Golden State and Oklahoma City as examples of how to do it right.
Wochit
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Doug Haller discuss how Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas has become one of the best players in the NBA and who the Suns want in the NBA draft.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley talk about the possibility of the NBA draft lottery is rigged and an updated on Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington on Friday. Diana Payan/azcentral
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss the Rockets’ explosion against the Spurs and a possible pitching implosion for the Diamondbacks.
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The Suns are guaranteed to have a Top 5 NBA draft pick. Here are some players they could take.
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azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss Kevin Durant and the Warriors as well as Zack Greinke’s start against the Padres.
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Several former Phoenix Suns players are in the NBA playoffs.
Wochit
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Take a look at the Suns players that have guaranteed contracts for next season.
Wochit
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Suns coach Earl Watson takes questions from the press at an end-of-season gathering at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Suns guard Devin Booker discusses the 2016-17 season and how his team can improve throughout the offseason on Wednesday at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Video by Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Doug Haller sums up interviews with Phoenix Suns management and players at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. || Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
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Breaking down the top five moments in Suns guard Devin Booker’s season.
Wochit
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Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley disagree on the NBA MVP and share their thoughts on the D-Backs’ hot start.
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Suns guard Devin Booker discusses his 70-point game against the Boston Celtics.
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Shot Clock: Lonzo Ball can’t blame dad for this one
Shot Clock: Suns, don’t worry, take Josh Jackson
Shot Clock: Lottery therapy; ASU’s starting QB?
Doug Haller and Dan Bickley recap Suns’ misfortune in NBA draft lottery
Suns GM McDonough: ‘A little bit of disappointment’ but odds favored No. 4
Shot Clock: Suns fight AZ’s bad lottery luck
What can Suns expect with top-five pick?
Devin Booker surprises young fan with trip to NBA draft lottery
Lakers say LaVar Ball won’t influence decision on Lonzo
LaVar Ball’s shoe line has poor first week of sales
Suns look to emulate Warriors, Thunder in rebuild
Shot Clock: Ex-Suns player Isaiah Thomas shines
Shot Clock: Is the NBA draft lottery rigged?
Shot Clock: Rockets sizzle, D-Backs fizzle?
NBA mock drafts: Popular picks for Phoenix Suns
Shot Clock: Kevin Durant closer to a ring
Familiar faces: Notable former Suns in NBA playoffs
Notable Suns player salaries for 2017-18
Suns coach Watson wraps up season at press conference
Devin Booker: ‘I want to be a winner’
Doug Haller wraps up Suns’ 2016-17 season
Top 5 Devin Booker moments of 2016-17 season
Shot Clock: NBA MVP and surprising D-Backs
Devin Booker on his 70-point night
The Suns will pick fourth in the June 22 NBA Draft. Their selection could alter the franchise or add to a young core already in place.
Azcentral sports has highlighted eight players within the Suns’ range. This is the second profile in that series:
Jayson Tatum
Position: Small forward.
School: Duke.
Year: Freshman.
Size: 6-8/204 pounds.
Age: 19.
Last season: After missing the season’s first eight games with a foot injury, Tatum averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.3 steals. He shot 50.4 percent from inside the arc, 34.2 from outside and 84.9 from the foul line. At season’s end, Tatum was named third-team All-ACC and first-team ACC All-Freshman.
Why he makes sense for the Suns: Despite all the love for Washington’s Markelle Fultz and UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, some think Tatum will adjust quickest to the NBA. He’s a polished and gifted scorer, someone who can operate both in the post and on the perimeter. It’s not unreasonable to conclude he has a higher pro ceiling than current Suns small forward T.J. Warren.
Why he doesn’t: The Suns this season ranked near the bottom of most major defensive categories, and although Tatum has potential on that end (his 6-11 wingspan would provide perimeter length) he won’t offer immediate help. If the Suns decide to draft a small forward for defensive purposes, Kansas’ Josh Jackson might be the better option.
Concerns: Projecting a teenager’s defensive potential is tricky, but some scouts wonder how Tatum fits at the pro level. Small forwards often switch to smaller, quicker players on the perimeter and that could be a challenge for Tatum. In small lineups, he could shift to power forward and cause mismatches on offense but then he’d have to defend NBA power forwards, also a tough task.
Best comparison: Tatum has drawn comparisons to Allan Houston, Jabari Parker and Paul Pierce, which is high praise. One more to chew on: “This is a very, very generous comparison,” an NBA scout said, “but he reminds me of Kevin Durant with just the way he looks on the floor. With the lean-back, fade-away, one-leg shots. I’m not saying he’s KD good, I’m just saying style-wise.”
Bust factor: Slim. Even with the defensive uncertainty, Tatum is skilled enough to have a long NBA career.
Quote: “He’ll go into the NBA and he’ll score buckets. He’s an isolation player. He can shoot it with range, but maybe not to the NBA 3-point line. He’s a good 1-on-1 player. He’s got versatility. He can post guys up. He can finish. His skill set offensively really translates to the NBA.” – ESPN college analyst Seth Greenberg.
More NBA draft: Haller’s Mock Draft 2.0
More NBA draft: What can Suns expect with top-5 pick?
NBA draft profile: Kansas forward Josh Jackson
Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.
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