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The Suns have the fourth pick in the June 22 NBA Draft. Their selection could alter the franchise or add to a youthful core already in place.

Azcentral sports has highlighted eight players within the Suns’ range. This is the fourth profile in that series:

LAURI MARKKANEN

Position: Power forward.

School: Arizona.

Year: Freshman.

Size: 7-0/225 pounds.

Age: 20.

NBA MOCK DRAFTS: Where will Lauri Markkanen go?

Last season: In his first college season, Markkanen averaged 15.6 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds. He was among the Pac-12’s most efficient players, shooting 54.5 percent from inside the arc, 42.3 from outside and 83.5 from the foul line. In addition to earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors, Markkanen was a third-team AP All-American.

Why he makes sense for the Suns: The Suns need shooters — they ranked 27th this season in 3-point shooting — and Markkanen is among the best in the draft. He shot over 50 percent from 3-point range for most of his freshman season. Throw in his size, and he’s an attractive option for all NBA Lottery teams.

Why he doesn’t: Although Markkanen could play forward or center, this is not exactly a position of need. The Suns last year took Dragan Bender with the fourth overall pick and Marquese Chriss with the eighth. Both have yet to turn 20, and both are considered organizational building blocks.

Concerns: Like most young players, it comes on defense. “I don’t like his ability to defend away from the basket much, or inside, for that matter, against a bigger, stronger player,’’ Pac-12 Networks analyst and former NBA coach Mike Montgomery said.

Best comparison: Dirk Nowitzki and Kristaps Porzingis are popular answers, but that might be a bit lofty. Houston’s Ryan Anderson? At 6-10, Anderson has thrived as a stretch four in coach Mike D’Antoni’s system this season, averaging 13.6 points and shooting 40.3 from 3-point range. “Some people say Porzingis, some people say Nowitzki,” ESPN college analyst Seth Greenberg said. “Look, any of of those 6-10, 6-11, skilled frontcourt players he’s going to potentially develop into in time. But his skill level is so ridiculous and the maturity in which he carries himself is certainly unique. He’s going to be a really good NBA player.”

Bust factor: Depends on your expectations. At minimum, Markannen should be a solid role player with the potential to develop into an effective long-term starter. “When you can shoot the basketball,” one Western Conference scout said, “you’ll always have some sort of job, especially at that size.”

Quote: “A lot of guys when they go to the NBA Combine their physical measurements shrink. It’s like, ‘I thought he was supposed to be 6-10, but he’s 6-8.’ With Lauri, I think you’ll see it go the opposite way. He’s really physically big and gifted. He’s a true 7-footer. He really is. And then with his size, just how easy he moves. He moves like a 6-8 forward. To me, that separates him from a lot of others. And then his skill level, when he gets into the testing part (of NBA workouts), the shooting and all that, he’s really like a guard.”– Arizona coach Sean Miller

More Wildcats: Ayton next in line as Arizona looks to replace Markkanen

More Wildcats: Will Kobi Simmons get picked?

More WIldcats: Arizona’s rich history in the NBA draft

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Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller.