NBA Draft

Suns Pre-Draft Workouts Day 4: Suns coaching staff changes, Jerian Grant works out with others

Day four of the Suns pre-draft workouts included first and second round talent.

By Austin Elmer@MrAustinElmer May 29, 2015, 2:08pm MST

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The Phoenix Suns fourth day of pre-draft workouts included six players all from the DX Top 100.

But first, let's get this out of the way:

"It would be an honor, and it'd be fun, to coach your alma mater, but [we] came here with a purpose and the purpose is to get the Phoenix Suns back on track," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said on Friday at US Airways Center, where the Suns are holding pre-draft workouts.

So enough of that Iowa State talk. For now.

Other changes

First seen on the web from Shams Charania of RealGM, the Suns are making moves:

assistant coach Kenny Gattison is leaving the team
NBA D-League coach Nate Bjorkgren is joining the Suns in a player development role

Paul Coro recently added that Bjorkgren will take over handling player development, which leaves Irv Roland's status in question. Coro also said that John Treloar - a Blanks holdover - is leaving. Mark West is being reassigned, while Corey Gaines will move from player development to a full time assistant coach next year.

Per Coro:

West will continue to work with the Suns' big men on the floor, particularly when they are in Phoenix. He has a successful, strong relationship with Alex Len and Markieff Morris. His new role as a director of player relations will focus on mentoring a young Suns team that had behavioral issues on and off the court last season.

Per Coro, Sichting and Longabardi will remain on the staff. They have been involved in the pre-draft workouts along with Gaines.

Jerian Grant

Norte Dame point guard Jerian Grant is the biggest name the Suns have had participate in the pre-draft workouts so far. Grant is projected to be drafted anywhere from late lottery to the end of the first round.

Some mock drafts have Grant going near the Suns, but not many have him slotted there. Grant is a seasoned (four-year career) player who plays... wait for it... combo guard with a bent toward the point.

Others

Both Ryan McDonough and Jeff Hornacek said it was the most talented group of guys they have worked out so far this offseason.

Joining Grant in the workouts was PF Darion Atkins from Virginia, PG/SG Olivier Hanlan from Boston College, SF/SG Darrun Hilliard from Villanova, PF Richaun Holmes from Bowling Green, and SG J.P. Tokoto from North Carolina.

Olivier Hanlan won the infamous three minute run this morning with twenty-eight court lengths.

Darion Atkins talks about where he fits in the NBA and his favorite player Draymond Green:

Darrun Hilliard talks about his pre-draft workout experience:

Name	Position	DX-100 Rank	Height	Weight	Age	PPG	RPG	APG	FG%
Darion Atkins	PF	86	6'8	240	22	7.6	6	0.7	51.4
Jerian Grant	PG	15	6'4	198	22	16.5	3	6.7	47.8
Olivier Hanlan	PG/SG	53	6'4	185	22	19.5	4.2	4.2	45.4
Darrun Hilliard	SF/SG	71	6'6	220	22	14.3	3.6	2.6	44
Richaun Holmes	PF	41	6'9	242	21	14.7	8	0.8	56.3
J.P. Tokoto	SG	49	6'6	195	21	8.3	5.6	4.3	42.8