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The Phoenix Suns ended up having a very disappointing 2014-15 season after it looked like they were going to be legitimate playoff contenders. Heading into the upcoming offseason, the Suns have quite a few holes that they will need to fill in order to get back to playoff contention. One of their biggest holes is at the center position, and there is one player who could be exactly what the doctor ordered for them with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Texas Longhorns center Myles Turner would be a very intriguing fit for the Suns, and has a good chance to be available when they are on the clock.
At 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, Turner was a dominant presence for the Longhorns last year as a freshman. He ended up averaging 10.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, and proved that he had a much better offensive game than many were anticipating to see from him. Turner has a mid-range game, and has some range to step out and knock down 3-pointers at times as well.
Phoenix has a very up-tempo style of offense, which would fit into Turner’s game as well. He isn’t the most athletic big man in the draft, but he has enough that he will fit into their system. His ability to knock down the mid-range and perimeter shot will make him dangerous in their system as well.
It will likely take a couple of seasons for Turner to develop into a legitimate starter for the Suns. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take on a large role right off the bat for them.
Needless to say, the Suns have the talent to make a run at the playoffs in the next year or two. Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight are a deadly backcourt duo, assuming the Suns are able to bring Knight back. He will hit restricted free agency this coming offseason.
Adding in a talent like Turner in the frontcourt would round out their offensive attack. Alex Len was supposed to be that guy for them, but he has yet to make the type of improvements that they were hoping to see. Outside of him, they only have Brandan Wright at the center position, and he isn’t an offensive threat either.
While Turner definitely seems like a perfect fit, he won’t be the only player in consideration to be the Suns’ pick.
Ryan McDonough has a tough decision to make, but if Turner is indeed on the board at No. 13 the Suns are going to have a hard time turning him down. Frank Kaminsky is another name that could come up in draft discussion surrounding the Suns, but Turner has much more long-term potential than Kaminsky does.
No matter what ends up happening with the Suns’ first round pick, Turner is going to have a very successful NBA career. He has worked hard on his game and has developed the all-around game that teams are looking for in centers. Expect to see him be a lottery pick, with the Suns being one of the best fits for him.
Evan Massey is a featured writer for www.RantSports.com, and contributes across the NFL, MLB, NCAA and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.
