NBA Draft 2020: Building a big board for the Phoenix Suns

If the Phoenix Suns keep their 10th overall pick, these 10 prospects could be in play.

Trade buzz is heating up as the 2020 NBA Draft approaches, and the Phoenix Suns have already been linked to Chris Paul. Knowing the Oklahoma City Thunder, general manager Sam Presti will be prying for draft compensation of some kind, which means Phoenix’s No. 10 overall pick could be on the move soon.

However, if the Suns are smart, they’ll A) Keep Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson off limits in any CP3 trade and B) Ask for OKC’s 25th overall pick in return if they ship out No. 10. That means Suns GM James Jones could be picking 10th, 25th or even somewhere else. He could decide to move up for one of the class’ top prospects, or he could trade down like he did just last year.

Given the breadth of options in play here, any Suns Big Board has to include a variety of options. Phoenix needs depth at the 4 and still lacks a long-term option at the point guard spot, so whether it’s Paul or Ricky Rubio at the helm in 2020-21, finding a high-upside floor general who can be mentored by either one is a high priority.

Bearing all that in mind, here’s a look at 10 prospects headlining Phoenix’s 2020 draft board.

Who should the Phoenix Suns target in this year’s NBA Draft?

1. LaMelo Ball, guard, Illawara Hawks, Big Board Rank: 1

Spoiler alert: LaMelo Ball isn’t falling to No. 10. Not unless something goes very, very, very wrong between now and Nov. 18. But if the Suns somehow trade up, Ball is the no-brainer reason why it’d happen as 6-foot-7 pass-first guard who would make Devin Booker’s life easier for the next decade with his incredible playmaking ability.

Unfortunately that scenario feels highly unlikely given the Suns’ trade talks over CP3, so we won’t waste our time here.

2. Devin Vassell, wing, Florida State, Big Board Rank: 6

If The Athletic’s John Hollinger is to be believed, the recent footage of Devin Vassell’s wonky shot was just him goofing around — a massive relief, considering the pure and efficient stroke he displayed at Florida State, where he shot 49 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from 3 as a sophomore.

The 19-year-old only took 3.5 3s a night, but he’s the most elite wing defender in this class, and the progress he displayed shooting off the dribble last season is enough to project him as solid 3-and-D wing at the next level. At 6-foot-7, with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he can defend multiple positions and would be absolutely nightmarish alongside Mikal Bridges on that end of the floor.

The Suns wouldn’t need Vassell to be a star; they’d only need him to continue being an efficient spot-up shooter, lockdown defender and fledgling secondary playmaker. He lacks burst as an athlete and needs to get stronger to handle bigger wings, but the two-way upside is apparent.

3. Killian Hayes, guard, Ulm, Big Board Rank: 2

There’s a good chance Killian Hayes is off the board by the time Phoenix is on the clock, but if he drops to No. 10, James Jones should think very seriously about nabbing a potential draft gem. This 18-year-old lefty from France possesses many of the traits the Suns should want to put next to Booker for the long-term: playmaking, pick-and-roll facilitating, size (6-foot-5), length (6-foot-8 wingspan) and the ability to create his own shot.

Because he’s a crafty, international lefty, the Manu Ginobili comparisons are never far behind, but his step-backs have a James Harden-esque feel to them. He’s not much of a catch-and-shoot threat right now, but his stroke is solid and his efficient percentages from the foul line suggest he’ll improve.

He’s a little too reliant on his left hand, is limited athletically and would be more of a long-term project, but if he’s still on the board at No. 10, the Suns could wind up snagging their ultimate solution at the 1 — and whether it’s Paul or Rubio who’d be mentoring him, he’d be in great hands.

4. Tyrese Haliburton, guard, Iowa State, Big Board Rank: 11

Even without high-end defensive skills, explosive athleticism or conventional shooting mechanics, Tyrese Haliburton checks a lot of the boxes Phoenix is looking for. He’s got an elite basketball I.Q. and incredible passing ability, he’s only 20 years old and he’s got the physical measurements (6-foot-5, 6-foot-8 wingspan) to be a solid fit next to either Booker or Rubio in the backcourt.

Haliburton was a reliable spot-up shooter despite his unorthodox form, he’s a smart off-ball defender and despite the scoring concerns, he’s the type of player good teams love to have on their roster. If he’s still on the board at No. 10, Jones may have a hard time passing up this kind of rookie.

5. Kira Lewis Jr., guard, Alabama, Big Board Rank: 7

Speed is a valuable commodity in the NBA, and Kira Lewis Jr. has plenty of it. Though he can be a tad reckless as a driver, he’s got an impressive combination of agility and body control with that lightning-quick first step to attack the rim, create for himself on the perimeter, or zip passes back out to shooters on his forays to the basket.

He was a bit of a streaky shooter in college at times, but he shot a respectable 36.2 percent from downtown over his two seasons at Alabama, and his technique and solid shot selection suggest he’ll figure it out. While he’s not the best playmaker, he’s still good enough to work alongside a great distributor like Booker.

The biggest thing holding the 19-year-old Lewis back is his size. Though he’s got a respectable 6-foot-6 wingspan, he’s only 6-foot-3 and is a lightweight at 165 pounds. Stronger guards will abuse him, and the Suns would have a hard time switching defensively with him on the floor.

6. Desmond Bane, wing, TCU, Big Board Rank: 13

No. 10 is a reach for Bane, who will probably go somewhere in the late-teens or 20s, but the 22-year-old out of TCU would be in the Suns’ range if they pull off a CP3 trade and get OKC’s 25th overall pick in return. Because of that possibility, and because any trade down would move Bane higher up the Suns’ board, we can’t overlook what he’d bring to the table.

Despite his unconventional shot mechanics, they worked; the 6-foot-6 wing knocked down 43.3 percent of his 3-pointers over four years in college. Bane can shoot off the dribble despite a lack of go-to isolation moves, and he’s exceptional in the pick-and-roll.

Though he’s one of older prospects in the draft approaching his 22nd birthday, he’s a good finisher and fundamentally sound defender. The biggest areas for concern are his T-Rex arms (6-foot-5 wingspan) and lack of athletic pop. That could limit his versatility on the defensive end, which is a potential concern if he were to share a backcourt with a below-average defender like Booker.

7. Grant Riller, guard, Charleston, Big Board Rank: 17

Though he played at a mid-major, the main takeaway from watching him work was undeniable: Grant Riller’s got game. Though he’ll turn 24 years old in February, Riller is an established, three-level scorer with quickness and vertical pop that made him one of the best finishing guards in all of college basketball.

The 6-foot-3 guard out of Charleston is a superb scorer in the pick-and-roll, capable spot-up shooter and underrated passer, but like many other high-usage players, his defensive focus and effort waned at times. Assuming he can pick up that slack with less of an offensive burden on his plate in the NBA, this superb offensive talent definitely deserves to be a Suns candidate in the event they trade down.

8. Aaron Nesmith, wing, Vanderbilt, Big Board Rank: 25

Aaron Nesmith is an absolute rainmaker, and given how much James Jones values shooting, this Vanderbilt product cannot be ruled out. Though he’s just a one-dimensional shooter at this point, he’s also the best sniper in the draft class, knocking down an unconscious 52.2 percent of his 8.2 3-point attempts per game last season. That’s Cam Johnson-on-steroids territory.

Nesmith is comfortable shooting off the dribble, including crisp step-backs, and he can attack frantic closeouts from defenders, even if it’s usually just straight-line drives. The 20-year-old wing knows his job and keeps the ball moving when he’s not open, which would be a perfect fit for Monty Williams’ “.5” offense and its floor-spacing.

Though he lacks athleticism and bounce, that actually fits the bill of the kinds of players Jones usually targets. His lack of lateral quickness would be a minus defensively, but at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Nesmith could grow to at least be passable on that end of the floor.

9. Saddiq Bey, wing, Villanova, Big Board Rank: 21

Perhaps this is a tad low for a promising 3-and-D prospect, but make no mistake about it: Suns fans shouldn’t feel disappointed if their team exits the 2020 NBA Draft with Saddiq Bey. At 6-foot-8, this 21-year-old coming out of Villanova has a rapid-fire shot release and does a little bit of everything.

Though he’s not an elite athlete, Bey shot 41.8 percent from deep in his two collegiate seasons, has secondary playmaking skills in the pick-and-roll, makes smart decisions and can defend multiple positions capably. His awareness when it comes to defensive rotations and throwing on-target passes reveals a high basketball I.Q. that will help make up for his lack of bounce or quick first step.

Because of his size, he could be a good inside-out mismatch capable of bullying guards down low on one end and defending bigs as a small-ball 4 on the other. He doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he’s the kind of reliable rotation player all good teams need coming off the bench.

10. Isaac Okoro, forward, Auburn, Big Board Rank: 10

Isaac Okoro probably won’t slide this far, but if he does, the Suns should at least consider the best defender in the draft outside of Vassell and Onyeka Okongwu. The biggest reason he isn’t higher? He needs to tweak that jumper of his.

The attraction of this 19-year-old power forward is obvious. At 6-foot-6, with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Okoro possesses the strength, quickness and intelligence to defend positions 1-5, and he rotates well on that end. He’s not useless offensively either; he’s actually a great finisher through contact with either hand, can run some pick-and-roll and is a smart all-around player who knows his role.

The glaring issue is he shot 28.6 percent from 3 and only made 67.2 percent of his attempts from the free-throw line at Auburn. That doesn’t sound like the type of player James Jones usually targets, even if he is still available.