Report: Suns have not done much work on Darius Garland, appear to prefer Coby White

According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Phoenix Suns seem to be zeroing in on their preferred point guard target. Coby White, whose name has been buzzing with Suns-related rumors for the past week connecting both sides, is Phoenix’s second-ranked ball handler in the draft behind Ja Morant.

Following the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade on Saturday that finally sent him to the Lakers, many believed Garland would slip to No. 6 and the Suns would capitalize. Instead, they are leaning more towards the true “combo” guard skills White provides with his 6’5” frame along with immediately translatable outside shooting ability. This point is hammered home even further when Givony relayed the latest intel suggesting Phoenix has barely done any scouting work on Garland.

The former Vanderbilt Commodore is viewed by many draft pundits as the No. 2 point guard in the 2019 draft class. It appears the Suns feel very strongly in the opposite direction with White.

Rolling the dice on White continues to feel like a formality the more we hear rumors connecting both sides. The North Carolina product might’ve even been in Phoenix recently for a private workout that wasn’t leaked, as referenced by his Instagram story.

From the Suns’ point of view, talking themselves into White isn’t hard when you envision how he would be used early on. White’s effectiveness in the pick-and-roll (1.405 points per possession according to Synergy) along with well above-average spot-up shooting could serve him well as a secondary option who can play on-and-off ball whenever Devin Booker pleases.

Are the Suns on a collision course towards selecting White at No. 6, or are we set up for a big surprise come Thursday evening? Whatever direction Phoenix goes in will tell us plenty of how they view the rest of their offseason, especially White.