5 Draft Picks That Could Help the Phoenix Suns Immediately

The Phoenix Suns are a very hard team to place as of now.

On one hand, it would seem rebuilding is a must considering that their star of the past decade (Steve Nash) is turning 39 next season and could very possibly leave the team to pursue a title.

However, the Suns have done little to assure their fans that the future is secure as they failed to trade Nash for draft picks or younger players at the deadline.

They have also kept Grant Hill, who is the second-oldest player in the NBA, and have him starting.

Not all has been lost as Markieff Morris was drafted this year and so far has shown some talent when receiving minutes.

Jared Dudley and Shannon Brown are also relatively young players that have shown some promise and could be kept on the roster as role players.

The Suns clearly need to make sure that they get the best player on the board and one that is able to make a strong impact and keep the team just a step above the gutter.

That being said, these are the five rookies that will be able to contribute from day one.

Perry Jones

This guy is a terrific talent and the Suns will definitely have to take him if he is available.

His athletic ability is incredible even for an NBA player, and if he gets his act together he could turn into a star.

The Suns could give him a shot and try to straighten him out with the veteran presence of Grant Hill and Steve Nash (if he returns) as well as the supportive, but strong coaching of Alvin Gentry.

While he is still a relatively raw prospect, he could develop if he puts his mind to it and really spends some time on technique and raising his basketball IQ.

Another aspect of his game that is attractive is his potential to be an electric player on the defensive end, which is an area that the Suns have long struggled in.

This guy is a risk, but the upside on him is ridiculous.

Austin Rivers

Another solid offensive prospect that has a probability of being a star at the next level is Austin Rivers.

His offensive game is well-rounded, and if Steve Nash returns he would find a great way to exploit all the talents that Rivers has to offer.

He is very quick and has good ball-handling skills combined with a great range.

His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but it's nothing he can't improve given his athletic abilities. He does need to add some bulk and gain strength in order to continue being a strong slasher.

Overall, he is probably the least likely player to still be on the board when the Suns come up, but if he slips a few spots the Suns should not hesitate to pick him.

Meyers Leonard

The Suns are not a franchise that is known for having dominant centers and have often had to use a small lineup on the floor.

Gortat is a solid center, but Leonard could give us another very strong big-man presence if he lives up to his potential.

He would immediately become the sixth man off the bench and could see some very strong minutes if his production is solid.

His jumper is improving and he is definitely a threat from mid-range.

Gortat is not one of the top centers in the league and will not develop into one. Leonard, on the other hand, has the ability to be a top center given his athleticism and jumper.

When he first enters he should provide a spark for the Suns with his alley-oops as well as his shot-blocking ability.

He's a solid pick who would see minutes from game one.

Terrence Jones

Terrence Jones is a very interesting player and there are many opinions out there on just how good he will be at the next level.

In order to maximize his potential, the Suns might choose to take somewhat of a risk and pick him up.

He is an above-average athlete who has shown some range and ability to score in multiple ways on the court.

Jones possesses a good burst and should be a threat in the passing lanes. He could also provide for some exciting moments when on the fast break.

The Suns could use a small forward. When Jones comes in, he will see very good minutes at first, and if he contributes the way I think he can he will only see his minutes go up.

His ball-handling ability is also something which has to be acknowledged as he is no doubt a great ball-handler for his size, and that could provide some serious problems to his defenders.

The defense will also have trouble adjusting to a quick 6'8" player with improving range while he is surrounded by good three-point shooters and Gortat down low. 

Kendall Marshall

Hopefully Marshall will not be wearing a suit to too many games after he is drafted, and I would rather not see him in anything but a jersey after draft night.

If Steve Nash does leave, the Suns will find a great void at their point guard position and will need a solid passer to fill that hole.

Marshall is as good a passer as anyone in the draft, and you have to think the Suns are seriously studying him as a potential Nash replacement.

He might not be as good as Nash, but he is one of the few true NBA point guards that has come out of college recently.

The majority of point guards now are athletic specimens who focus more on scoring than making their teammates better.

Marshall has great size for a point guard at 6'4" and has shown some good defensive ability. Ultimately, he should help the Suns recover nicely from the loss of Nash.

However, if Nash does stay and Marshall is drafted, he could become an extremely dangerous player while learning from arguably the best floor general the NBA has ever seen.

This draft is pivotal for the future of the Suns' organization, and if it drafts wrong, it could see a high lottery pick next year and very possibly for a few years after that.

Hopefully Phoenix drafts well and doesn't become another bottom-feeder in this league.

Thank you for reading and please leave a comment with your thoughts!