Alex Len Selected 5th-Overall in 2013 NBA Draft by Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have just nabbed their center of the future with the fifth pick in the 2013 NBA draft.  

Alex Len is widely regarded as one of the best prospects in this class and brings plenty to the table, including a lot of upside.

At 7’1”, the Maryland product certainly has the height to play the 5 in the modern NBA. His 255-pound frame will allow him to guard most opponents at his position in one-on-one situations and present a fearsome obstacle for penetrating guards to deal with when trying to score at the rim.

However, it’s his contributions on the other end of the floor that likely intrigued Suns general manager Ryan McDonough the most.

Len is an extremely adept finisher at the rim and should immediately improve the Suns' ability to get two points on the pick and roll, one of the most important and utilized play in the modern NBA.

Because the Ukrainian native is a surprisingly talented athlete that can move well and understands positioning, he's oozing upside as a scorer and could eventually develop into a bona fide beast on the block.

Before that happens, he has to improve his scoring touch outside the paint and work on his aggressiveness. Len has a tendency to get passive at times, which made it tough for his guards to feed the big man with an entry pass.

That sort of complacent attitude is what could hold him back from becoming the next superstar center in Phoenix but it’s not something you should bet against.

Due to his combination of athleticism, size and skill, there’s a decent chance that Len ends up becoming one of the top players out of this class in a few years.