Sports Illustrated’s NBA Mock Draft has the Suns picking up their point guard of the future

Mock drafts before the NBA Draft Lottery are absurd. Blogs advising you, the reader, of the results of said mock drafts bring that absurdity to new heights.

So here’s what Sports Illustrated thinks your Phoenix Suns will do at the 2019 NBA Draft in Brooklyn.

2. Suns: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State

Height: 6’3” | Weight: 175 | Sophomore

Morant’s NCAA tournament showing should have solidified him as a top-three talent in this class for anyone who was still on the fence. While there will be some debate between him and Barrett here depending on who picks second, it’ll be tough to pass on his upside. Morant has begun to figure out just how good he can be, and while he will take his rookie lumps, as most young point guards do, he has a chance to be a legitimate star as he matures and gets stronger. For Phoenix, who are starved for talent at the point, this remains the home-run pick. And from an optics standpoint, it might be better for the roster if they end up picking second than first, which would the eliminate Morant-or-Williamson debate that seems likely to ensue, noting the Suns’ circumstances.

This author finds it curious that the writer, SI’s Jeremy Woo, references the potential for debate should the Suns land the top pick. Such a discussion has never occurred in franchise history, and likely never will.

Here’s what Woo thinks the first round will look like after Williamson and Morant:

• 3. Cavaliers: R.J. Barrett, G/F, Duke
• 4. Bulls: Jarrett Culver, SG, Texas Tech
• 5. Hawks: Cam Reddish, SF, Duke
• 6. Wizards: Coby White, G, North Carolina
• 7. Hawks: Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas
• 8. Grizzlies: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt
• 9. Pelicans: Kevin Porter Jr., SG, USC
• 10. Timberwolves: De’Andre Hunter, F, Virginia
• 11. Lakers: PJ Washington, PF, Kentucky
• 12. Hornets: Nassir Little, F, North Carolina
• 13. Heat: Sekou Doumbouya, PF, Limoges
• 14. Celtics (via Kings): Rui Hachimura, PF, Gonzaga
• 15. Pistons: Romeo Langford, SG, Indiana
• 16. Magic: Tyler Herro, SG, Kentucky
• 17. Nets: Goga Bitadze, C, KK Buducnost
• 18. Celtics (via Clippers): Keldon Johnson, G/F, Kentucky
• 19. Pacers: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, Virginia Tech
• 20. Spurs: Cam Johnson, SF, North Carolina
• 21. Thunder: Bruno Fernando, C, Maryland
• 22. Celtics: KZ Okpala, SF, Stanford
• 23. Jazz: Brandon Clarke, PF, Gonzaga
• 24. Sixers: Carsen Edwards, PG, Purdue
• 25. Blazers: Talen Horton-Tucker, G/F, Iowa State
• 26. Cavs (via Rockets): Bol Bol, C, Oregon
• 27. Nets (via Nuggets): Luguentz Dort, G, Arizona State
• 28. Warriors: Mfiondu Kabengele, PF, Florida State
• 29. Spurs (via Raptors): Neemias Queta, C, Utah State
• 30. Bucks: Matisse Thybulle, SG, Washington

He also has the Suns taking Ty Jerome, the guard from Virginia with the 33rd overall pick.

At 14% your Suns share the best odds to land the top pick along with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. They’ll pick no lower than 7th.

We’re going to be doing this mock draft thing for awhile, so get comfortable. Figuring out what the Suns will do at the top of the draft has been a Phoenix tradition for many years. We’ll know where they’ll pick on May 14th, we’ll know who they will pick on June 20th.