2019 NBA Mock Draft: The lottery order is officially official
3. player. 66. . PG. Murray State. Ja Morant
Time for a game of “Hold on, that guy really started at point guard for the Phoenix Suns in NBA games?” Get ready to lose.
A quick list of the guys the Suns have rolled out since Eric Bledsoe was exiled from the team: Mike James, Tyler Ulis, Devin Booker, Isaiah Canaan, Elfrid Payton, Shaquille Harrison, Elie Okobo, De’Anthony Melton and Tyler Johnson. How many of those would be starting on playoff teams? Is the answer really just Booker? Yikes.
Looking through this list, it’s clear that what the Suns need is a point guard. Morant is the best point guard prospect in this draft and after missing out on De’Aaron Fox to select Josh Jackson in 2017, they may allow buyer’s remorse to dictate their interest in Morant. During the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, Suns managing partner Robert Sarver brought best pal and shadow owner Larry Fitzgerald with him to Evansville, Ind., to scout Morant in person.
For years, the Suns have passed up playmakers in the draft. Just last year, they skipped out not only on Luka Doncic but also Trae Young, the two of whom are likely to both finish ahead of the Suns’ pick, Deandre Ayton, in Rookie of the Year voting.
The Suns are lucky to have another crack at it. They also have some cap space to go out and spend on free agents this summer to fill the hole at point guard if they choose. However, after the show Morant put on in March and the Suns’ need bordering on starvation at this point, they will pick him up.