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Next year the Phoenix Suns clearly need to move in the direction of becoming more athletic overall and add more versatility to the roster. That is on full display in the workouts as the team has now had in 34 total participants, most in the range of their second first round pick.
The No. 30 pick is showing its value as Ricky Ledo (No. 24 on the Big Board), Tony Snell (27), Ray McCallum (45), James Ennis (76), Will Clyburn (NA), and Dwayne Davis (NA) all worked out for the team today.
Of that group the three big talents were Ledo, Snell, and McCallum. Last year Ledo did not play at Providence, but he came in as a Top 20 recruit according to Rivals and ESPN. He can flat out shoot the ball and was compared favorably to Kevin Durant in high school. Not playing as a freshman and then declaring for the draft is a risk, but new GM Ryan McDonough feels this team can take a risk with their late first round pick.
It depends on the player, I am not opposed to it. During my career we have had good success with guys like that in Boston. My first three years with the Celtics we drafted high school guys in Kendrick Perkins, Al Jefferson, and Gerald Green who were obviously younger than these guys here. I am not opposed to it if I feel like the guy has special ability. -- Ryan McDonough on drafting projects or high risk players
Ledo, as talented as he is, does fall into that range as a project or high risk talent, but he is talented indeed. That is not the case with Snell and McCallum.
As the season progressed last year Snell became one of the better, more versatile, players in the country. He shoots the ball very well and has the athletic potential to defend both perimeter positions. Then there is the coaches son McCallum who is expected to be smart and run a team, but is capable of getting above the rim for explosive plays.
This draft gives the team a lot of options and new head coach Jeff Hornacek is starting to see the value of this pick. "The guys we have had through here and Ryan says are in that range, you can begin to envision them playing a role on the team."
Here is a scouting take on the prospects:
- Ricky Ledo -- Providence -- Freshman shooting guard: Full Scouting Report
- Tony Snell -- New Mexico -- Junior wing: Full Scouting Report
- Ray McCallum -- Detroit Mercy -- Junior point guard: Full Scouting Report
- James Ennis -- Long Beach State -- Senior forward: Full Scouting Report
- Will Clyburn -- Iowa State -- Senior forward: An effective inside-outside scorer from the forward position with his ability to shoot the ball and take on the physicality down low. He is a tweener, but more suited for the three at the next level.
- Dwayne Davis -- Southern Mississippi -- Senior wing: He can shoot the ball from deep and score in bunches. In college that was his primary role, but he also did a good job of filling up the stat-sheet nightly rebounding, distributing, and shooting a high percentage.
***McCallum said he got in at least three big dunks in practice and the team said Ledo shot the ball very, very well.
***Clyburn hurt his ankle playing 3-on-3 and had to sit out the rest of the workout
***The Suns are starting to get a reputation around the league with the prospects. According to Snell he received a few texts from other prospects about a specific running drill that is tough. He was prepared and said finished ahead of the pack.
***The team will hold another workout tomorrow.