NBA Draft 2019: Winners and losers

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 20: Ja Morant looks on after being selected second overall by the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20, 2019 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Melanie Fidler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

11 of 11

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – January 6: Ty Jerome #11 of the Virginia Cavaliers drives past Cameron Johnson #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels in the second half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on January 6, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia defeated North Carolina 61-49. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Loser No. 5: Oh Phoenix, honey, what did you do

A quick breakdown of the Suns’ night:

1. Traded T.J. Warren, a competent bench scoring wing, WITH a pick, to Indiana for cash to shed Warren’s salary

2. Traded down from No. 6 to No. 11 with Minnesota, picking up Dario Saric to fill Warren’s spot

3. Drafted Cam Johnson, a 23-year old one-dimensional shooter that had just been medically red-flagged earlier in the week, with the 11th pick. He was ranked 21st on our board and projected to go in the late 20s.

4. Traded back into the first round to pick 24, acquiring Aron Baynes and the pick from Boston in exchange for a 2020 first round pick in order to take Ty Jerome with Nassir Little on the board

Each of these moves is incredibly boggling. The Warren move was a pure cost-cutting measure that is straight out of the Robert Sarver playbook, giving up assets to save a couple million. The Minnesota trade was fine when it happened, but then they overdrafted Johnson by about 15 spots, making by far the most head-scratching move of the night. And then at 24, they took on salary in the form of Baynes, who is at best a backup 5 for them given they, you know, have Deandre Ayton, and gave up what should be a very valuable first in a much better draft in 2020 to do so. None of these moves individually made sense — together, this was an abject disaster of a night.

It seems the names on the doors have changed in the Phoenix front office, but the dysfunction and poor planning that has plagued this team since the 2010 Western Conference Finals run remains, and appears to never be leaving. At least Phoenix fans have Kyler Murray now. Because this draft was about as poorly as you could manage things as a front office.

Home/NBA