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Nobody knows anything.
- William Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade
Mr. Goldman's bold proclamation about the film industry is just as true for the NBA draft industry. Andrew Wiggins was a surefire number one pick until he wasn't. Then Joel Embiid was a stone cold lead pipe lock at number one... until he wasn't. Now it's Wiggins again. Except the Cleveland Cavaliers have that pick and as they proved last year with Anthony Bennett... nobody knows anything.
What I do know is that in almost all the mock drafts, the top 8 prospects are still the top 8 prospects, but in slightly different orders. That said, there have been a few shake-ups as far as mid-first round projections go since the last time we checked in with the experts. Sprinkled in with the usual suspects for the Phoenix Suns are such exotic names as Doug McDermott (some one get Jacob some smelling salts!), Dario Saric, Jusuf Nurkic, and Elfrid Payton!
14 different players are wildly speculated judiciously considered for the Suns' 3 first round picks. I give my baseless opinion thoroughly researched notes underneath the round-up.
Chad Ford - ESPN.com
14th pick: James Young - G/F, 6-7, 213lbs, Kentucky, Freshman, 18 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 40.7 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'0" wingspan, 5.1% body fat, 35.5-inch max vertical
18th pick: Zach LaVine - PG, 6-6, 181lbs, UCLA, Freshman, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 44.1 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'8.25" wingspan, 4.7% body fat, 41.5-inch max vertical
27th pick: Clint Capela - PF, 6-11, 222lbs, Switzerland, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 63.2 FG%
50th pick: James McAdoo - PF, 6-9, 228lbs, North Carolina, Junior, 21 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 45.8 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'2.25" wingspan, 6.2% body fat, 34-inch max vertical
Marc J. Spears - Yahoo.com
2013-14 stats: 16.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 42.0 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'8.5" wingspan, 7.5% body fat, 36.0-inch max vertical
27th pick: Clint Capela - PF, 6-11, 222lbs, Switzerland, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 63.2 FG%
Chris Mannix - SI.com
14th pick: Dario Saric - PF, 6'10", 223lbs, Croatia, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 16.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 49.7 FG%
18th pick: Zach LaVine - PG, 6-6, 181lbs, UCLA, Freshman, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 44.1 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'8.25" wingspan, 4.7% body fat, 41.5-inch max vertical
27th pick: Kyle Anderson - G, 6-9, 230lbs, UCLA, , Sophomore, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 48.3 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'2.75" wingspan, 13.4% body fat
Sam Amico - FoxSports.com
14th pick: Adreian Payne - F, 6-9, 239lbs, Michigan State, Senior, 23 years old
2013-14 stats: 16.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 42.3 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'4" wingspan, 7.6% body fat
18th pick: Elfrid Payton - PG, 6-4, 185lbs, UL-Lafayette, Junior, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 19.3 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.3 spg, 50.0 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'8" wingspan, 5.7% body fat, 35.5-inch max vertical leap
27th pick: K.J. McDaniels - SF, 6-6, 196 lbs, Clemson, Junior, 21 years old
2013-14 stats: 17.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.8 bpg, 45.9 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6' 11.25" wingspan, 4.5% body fat, 37-inch max vertical leap
50th pick: Isaiah Austin :(
Tim Keeney - BleacherReport.com
14th pick: Zach LaVine - PG, 6-6, 181lbs, UCLA, Freshman, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 44.1 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'8.25" wingspan, 4.7% body fat, 41.5-inch max vertical
18th pick: James Young - G/F, 6-7, 213lbs, Kentucky, Freshman, 18 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 40.7 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'0" wingspan, 5.1% body fat, 35.5-inch max vertical
27th pick: Kyle Anderson - G, 6-9, 230lbs, UCLA, , Sophomore, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 48.3 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'2.75" wingspan, 13.4% body fat
DraftExpress.com
14th pick: Jusuf Nurkic - C, 6-11, 280lbs, Bosnia, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 54.5 FG%
Pre-Draft Measurements: 7'2" wingspan, 23-inch max vertical
18th pick: James Young - G/F, 6-7, 213lbs, Kentucky, Freshman, 18 years old
2013-14 stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 40.7 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'0" wingspan, 5.1% body fat, 35.5-inch max vertical
2013-14 stats: 12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 49.6 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'3" wingspan, 3.8% body fat
50th pick: Dwight Powell - PF, 6-11, 234lbs, Stanford, Senior, 22 years old
2013-14 stats: 14 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 46.2 FG% 25.6 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'.05" wingspan, 6.2% body fat, 35-inch max vertical
Scott Howard-Cooper - NBA.com
14th pick: Gary Harris - SG, 6'4" 205lbs, Michigan State, Sophomore, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 16.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.8 spg, 35.2 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'7" wingspan, 4.6% body fat
18th pick: Clint Capela - PF, 6-11, 222lbs, Switzerland, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 9.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 63.2 FG%
2013-14 stats: 12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 49.6 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'3" wingspan, 3.8% body fat
50th pick: Cameron Bairstow - PF/C, 6-10, 252 lbs, New Mexico, Senior, 23 years old
2013-14 stats: 20.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 55.6 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7' 0.75" wingspan, 8.7% body fat, 33.5-inch max vertical
Kris Habbas - NBADraftInsider.com
14th pick: Adreian Payne - F, 6-9, 239lbs, Michigan State, Senior, 23 years old
2013-14 stats: 16.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 42.3 3FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 7'4" wingspan, 7.6% body fat
18th pick: T.J. Warren - SF, 6-8, 220lbs, NC State, Sophomore, 20 years old
2013-14 stats: 24.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.8 spg, 52.5 FG%
Draft Combine Measurements: 6'10.25" wingspan, 8.0% body fat, 35.5-inch vertical leap
27th pick: Jusuf Nurkic - C, 6-11, 280lbs, Bosnia, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.8 bpg, 54.5 FG%
Pre-Draft Measurements: 7'2" wingspan, 23-inch max vertical
50th pick: Damien Inglis - SF, 6-8, 240lbs, French Guyana, 19 years old
2013-14 stats: 4.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 49.5 FG%
Pre-Draft Measurements: 7'3" wingspan
Most Common Picks
14th pick: Adreian Payne (2)
18th pick: Tie - James Young, Zach LaVine (2)
27th pick: Tie - Jerami Grant, Kyle Anderson, Clint Capela (2)
50th pick: Tie - Damien Inglis, Cameron Bairstow, Dwight Powell, Josh Huestis, James McAdoo (1)
Overall: Tie - Zach LaVine, James Young, Clint Capela (3)
Summary
Nik Stauskas seems to have worked his way into the top 13 of everyone's mock drafts since the last round-up as he didn't appear once in the 14 slot after doing so twice last time. James Young has seen his stock slip a bit, showing up twice at 18 instead of 14 previously, while Zach LaVine holds steady. And after seeing his value climb in recent weeks, Clint Capela has been joined at the tail end of the first round by Jerami Grant and Kyle Anderson. I'm sure all of this movement is based on unfounded rumors and misdirection forthright assessments and objective workout results.
While we all have our calcified prejudices pet ideas of who the Suns should draft, I don't think any of us would be disappointed with a projected haul of LaVine, Young and Capela if they ended up being the best players available at 14, 18 and 27. Missing out on Adreian Payne could leave the Suns with a Channing Frye-sized hole at power forward depending on how Frye's free agency plays out. What Ryan McDonough does with the 50th pick is anyone's guess anyone's guess, but I think Phoenix should swing for the fences with an international project like Damien Inglis if he's still there.
All of these mocks assume everyone picks at their designate slot. If you like the free-for-all of a trade-happy mock draft, then please, please, please visit the Bright Side of the Sun Community Mock Draft in which 2/3 of all active NBA players changed hands and Minnesota struck draft gold with Julius Randle falling to the 9th pick and Tyler Ennis sliding all the way to 22. Seriously, it's a fun and completely bonkers read and probably just as likely to happen in that order as it is Chad Ford's. If you want a more "realistic" mock draft that includes trades, look no further than the 2014 SBNation Mock Draft which is also a fun, if slightly less bonkers, read.
And feel free to share your mock draft thoughts in the comments below. We're all experts here on the internet!