2012 NBA Draft Grades: Suns Select Kendall Marshall

Pick 13: Phoenix Suns
Selection: Kendall Marshall

Bryan Wendland-Roberto Gato

I LOVE THIS PICK! Steve Nash might not be around much longer, and I think Kendall Marshall is the best point guard available in the draft. He might be the best passer in the draft, he’s very good in transition and he doesn’t turn the ball over as much as people think he does. He’s also a better scorer than you think; He has a very high shooting percentage and he knows when he needs to score and when he needs to get his teammates involved… Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this pick already?

Grade: A+

Bryan Rosa – A Royal Pain

A fantastic pass first guard who sees the floor wonderfully, but lacks some of the physical gifts of NBA points. Not much of a scorer, but, a smart player who can run a team and be effective without putting the ball in the basket. With Nash potentially leaving the Suns, a point was needed and few have better true point skills then Marshall.

Grade: B-

Quixem Ramirez- Air Alamo

Kendall Marshall assisted on an otherworldly 45.1% of North Carolina’s possessions last season. He has tendency to be overzealous with his passes hence his abnormally high turnover rate. His scoring ability isn’t up to par though it’s strong enough to not take away from his passing ability. Marshall will make the lives of everyone much easier.

Grade: B+

Jack Winter-Saving the Skyhook

Marshall is a nice prospect, a point guard in the Rajon Rondo and Jason Kidd mold of pass first, pass second, and pass third. He’s got good size and looks like he could develop into a reliable jumpshooter, too, but there are major question marks about how well he will defend at this level. It’s tough to argue getting a lead guard with Marshall’s instincts, court sense, and passing ability, but it might not matter if he’s not surrounded by talented scorers. Phoenix, clearly in rebuilding mode, perhaps should have swung for the fences on a player with major upside like Perry Jones III or Royce White. Great player, but a confounding choice by Phoenix.

Grade: C