We learned during Tuesday's NBA Draft Lottery that the Phoenix Suns will have the No. 4 overall pick in the June 23 NBA Draft.
Here's a look, in no particular order, at four players experts believe the Suns might end up taking with that pick.
1. Jaylen Brown (small forward, Cal)
Heading into the lottery, most draft experts projected the Suns taking the 6-foot-7 Brown with the No. 4 pick -- and he’s largely regarded as a high-risk, high-reward selection.
Experts seem to be split on Brown's star potential, “with some seeing an incredible athlete who has a future as a high-volume slasher, and others questioning whether his perimeter skill set and understanding of the game will ever allow him to reach that potential,” wrote USA TODAY’s Derek Bodner.
2. Dragan Bender (center, Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Most experts have Bender, who played professionally in Israel last season, going one pick before the Suns’ selection at No. 4. But if he falls that far, taking the versatile 18-year-old 7-footer seems to be a no-brainer.
“In Phoenix, his perimeter game could be a nice long-term fit next to Alex Len,” Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Sharp wrote last month, “and with Devin Booker’s emergence along with a healthy backcourt returning next year, there’s a chance that grabbing Bender at the top could make this whole miserable year worth it.”
3. Buddy Hield (shooting guard, Oklahoma)
Most experts have Hield, who averaged 25 points per game in his senior season at Oklahoma, going at least a couple picks later in the draft. But the 6-foot-5, 215-pounder could be a good fit in Phoenix.
“I feel Hield has real potential in the NBA to score the basketball, and very early in his career,” NBADraft.net’s Dave Ray wrote. “His ceiling will be dictated on if and when he feels comfortable running an NBA offense.”
4. Kris Dunn (point guard, Providence)
As hard as it might be to believe the Suns may be in the market for another point guard, draftexpress.net projects the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder going to Phoenix at pick No. 4.
Along with being one of the best passers in the draft, NBADraft.net notes Dunn is an “excellent defender” who averaged 2.8 steals per game in his final collegiate season, as well as 5.3 rebounds per game, an especially high mark for a guard.
