2017 NBA Draft: 5 best fits for De’Aaron Fox

2. Phoenix Suns

Though most of the attention toward the Suns in the draft has been paid to the wing prospects and their fit in Phoenix, Ball and Fultz are not the only guard prospects the team should consider as replacements for Eric Bledsoe long-term. Fox brings much of the same upside as a two-way player, and will have more years of cheap team control.

The Suns need defense next to Devin Booker if they expect him to be part of a playoff team from the shooting guard spot. Fox’s ability to defend point guards and create turnovers will be valuable next to Booker, who is not a versatile defender. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if the Suns choose to continue to ramp up the tempo, as they did during their successful run in the early 2000s under Mike D’Antoni. With so many versatile young pieces on offense, the Suns would be able to create advantages by playing quickly. Fox could be the leader of that attack.

The question of Bledsoe’s future is one that will face the Suns until they provide definitive evidence of their organizational direction. Yet even if they want to keep Bledsoe for a little longer, Fox makes sense as a backup. The real priority is trading current backup and albatross, Brandon Knight. He offered no value for Phoenix last year, and is making starting-level money for each of the next two seasons. With him on their roster at his current level of performance, it makes no sense to add another guard.

However, if the Suns can move one of Knight or Bledsoe, they will have the minutes to bring Fox along. In Phoenix, he could develop into a perfect partner for Booker on both sides of the ball.