Pick No. 22: Phoenix Suns select Tyler Kolek
The Phoenix Suns find themselves in a precarious position after going all-in with their big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, only to ultimately get swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite the early playoff exit, the Suns are clearly in a win-now position and could benefit from selecting an immediate impact prospect.
They are also heavily rumored to be a team that could move around in the draft. According to Yahoo! Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer, NBA execs expect the Suns to trade down in the draft, especially since they are low on draft capital. Fischer writes, “The Suns are famously low on additional draft capital and future assets after splurging to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.”
If they stay put, Marquette guard Tyler Kolek, an experienced senior at 23 years old, would make sense for the win-now Suns. Kolek recently worked out with the Suns and would fill a significant void as a two-way point guard. This season with Marquette, Kolek averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals on 50/39/85 shooting splits. He would be an ideal fit with a team like Phoenix as someone with a high floor who is ready to contribute immediately but has a limited upside due to his age and athleticism.