NBA Draft 2012: 5 Steve Nash Replacements Phoenix Suns Should Target

Let me start by saying this: Nobody can replace Steve Nash in Phoenix.

But after indecision by management, waffling over whether or not to trade Nash before the deadline and ultimately stating that Nash would have to request a trade for the team to make that decision, the Phoenix Suns may be forced to replace the face of the franchise.

Nash recently said on "The Dan Patrick Show" that he would not return to Phoenix unless there was significant improvement to the roster. And rightly so.

The players under contract for next season include Sebastian Telfair, Markieff Morris, Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick, Josh Childress and Marcin Gortat.

The Suns could amnesty Childress and his ugly contract to free up more cap space, but unless the Suns bring in two or more big-name free agents this offseason, Nash may take his talents elsewhere.

After refusing to start the rebuilding process by trading Nash and getting value in return, the Suns may have shot themselves in the proverbial foot. At this point, the best the Suns can do is re-sign Nash by enticing him with big-name free agent additions. If they fail to do so, it will be time to replace the two-time MVP.

Here are five players the Suns should target in the 2012 NBA Draft to replace Nash if he decides not to return to the valley of the sun.

5. Tony Wroten, Washington

At 6'5", 205 pounds, Tony Wroten is the biggest guard on this list and more of a tweener, between a point guard and a shooting guard. Nevertheless, Wroten is a first-round talent who could develop into an NBA star.

On the positive side, Wroten is very athletic and has a nose for getting into the paint. The fact that he's left-handed makes him difficult to defend because opponents often forget he's stronger driving to his left.

He has a stocky, NBA-ready body that won't require too much time in the weight room early on.

Wroten is also a gifted defender. He averaged nearly two steals per game last season for the Huskies and proved that he can be a lockdown defender when motivated.

However, as is the case with nearly all draft prospects, Wroten has his negatives.

For starters, he's a terrible free throw shooter—not a quality you want in a potential starting point guard. He shot just over 58 percent from the charity stripe last season, and although that's usually an easy skill to improve, it should definitely be seen as a concern.

Another red flag with Wroten is his limited range. Wroten shot a pitiful 16.1 percent from three-point range last season. If he's able to get to the rim and finish on a consistent basis, it's not a deal breaker, but Wroten will have to improve this part of his game in the NBA. Otherwise, teams will take advantage of his lackluster outside shooting by playing off of him, preventing his drives to the bucket.

To be honest, I think that Wroten would have benefited from staying in school for another year to polish his game. Nevertheless, Wroten has a high ceiling and will likely be a solid NBA talent.

4. Marquis Teague, Kentucky

Marquis Teague, the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, has the NBA pedigree.

Teague has a lot of the intangibles you look for in a point guard. He knows when to push the pace and when to set up the offense. And he's comfortable playing the pick-and-roll and two-man game, which should really help him transition to the NBA.

Teague is the kind of prospect who does everything well, but won't exactly "wow" you in any category. He's a better outside shooter than Wroten (32.5 percent from three last season) and a better free throw shooter (71.4 percent), but neither of those numbers jump out at you.

Also, there's always the possibility that Teague's numbers got inflated by playing on a very talented Kentucky team, but his leadership and maturity should not be overlooked.

3. Austin Rivers, Duke

Austin Rivers is perhaps best known for being Boston Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers' son. Or perhaps for this clutch shot.

Regardless of how you associate the name Austin Rivers, know that this kid has a ton of confidence.

Rivers is not a player who is going to shy away from big moments, which is precisely the trait you want in an NBA prospect. Although Rivers is seen more as an undersized shooting guard, I could see him making the transition to point guard if he needed to do so.

Overall, Rivers is a score-first guard with an advanced array of moves he can score with. He can shoot right in the faces of defenders, he has great range, he has a good mid-range game, he can get to the basket and finish and he's clutch.

Although Rivers needs to improve his free throw shooting (65.8 percent), his confidence and uncanny ability to seize big moments of games are the key takeaway points. He still has a lot of potential and room to improve.

2. Damian Lillard, Weber St.

Finally, we get to a guard on the list who isn't coming into the league after his freshmen year.

Damian Lillard put up gaudy numbers during his collegiate career at Weber St. He's easily the best shooter on the list, putting up a line of 46.7 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three-point range and 88.7 percent from the free throw line last season.

Lillard averaged 24.5 points, five rebounds and four assists per game last season as well.

He has a scary-quick first step and explodes to the bucket, where he rarely fails to put the ball in the hoop.

What separates Lillard from other players on this list is his ability to penetrate and score in the paint coupled with his great range.

The biggest question at this point may be whether or not Lillard will even fall down low enough for the Suns to have the opportunity to draft him. But if he does, and Nash has left town, the Suns should take a long hard look at drafting him.

1. Kendall Marshall, North Carolina

What sets Kendall Marshall apart from everyone on this list is his ability as a pure point guard.

Marshall is in his element when he's dishing out assists for teammates rather than scoring, and it showed in his stats.

Marshall averaged 9.7 assists per game last year (second in the nation behind only Scott Machado of Iona, who averaged 9.9 assists per game). Averaging nearly 10 assists per game is almost unheard of for a collegiate basketball player. More often than not, college basketball players only have to average seven or eight assists per game to lead the nation.

Where Marshall really impressed however, was his assist/turnover ratio, which finished the year at 3.5. Meaning that for every turnover Marshall had, he made up for it with three-and-a-half assists.

In this way, Marshall is much like Steve Nash. When he's in the game, he makes his teammates better and elevates them to a level they wouldn't be at without him in the game. Case in point with this box score against Kansas, a game that Marshall missed due to injury.

Marshall needs to improve his free throw shooting and range, but his knowledge of the position and the way he elevates his team's performance with his ball-handling and passing is impressive.

If Nash parts ways with the Suns this offseason, Marshall should be the point guard Phoenix targets in the draft.