Patrick Williams goes up, the Suns talk with Lewis

It’s the most wonderful time of year, the week before NBA Draft week, when reports start to solidify on the best prospects: who they talk to, who they work with and where they need to be. drafted.

Here is the last scuttlebutt regarding the selection of the Phoenix Suns No. 10 overall.

The two upper levels become cemented

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony started this week by reporting that it looks like there may be a consensus among the Top 9, and that he includes a surprising ninth name.

Florida State forward Patrick Williams became one of the winners of the pre-draft process, according to Givony, being discussed up to fourth place overall. Givony writes that he expects LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards to make the top 3, and that it is “likely” that Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton, Onyeka Okongwu, Isaac Okoro, Obi Toppin and Williams are after that in a certain order.

It’s a slight surprise considering how the boards have formed in recent months, with the most notable name missing being French guard Killian Hayes.

Givony on ESPN’s Lowe Post said he currently has Hayes ranked 12th in his latest simulation project and wouldn’t even be surprised if he drops out of the lottery entirely. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said there has been a surge of interest in Williams over the past few days.

Hayes has his fans and detractors, so his fluid lineup comes as no shock. But as I have written in the past and why I have him third on a Suns table, his advantage as a main initiator is rare in this class, and he is the best ball defenseman among ball managers. of the lottery.

Hayes has always seemed the most likely to fall to the Suns at No.10, and the emergence of Williams could help seal that.

The question is whether a player with raw elements to his game interests Suns general manager James Jones. The short-term downside is that he might not be ready to contribute positively to the second unit, but the long-term appeal could be one of the best theoretical adjustments to put in a backcourt alongside. by Devin Booker.

Contenders want to progress

Lowe’s off-season mega preview on ESPN is still a must-read, with several fun little nuggets inside. One of them was part of his analysis and reporting on Washington Wizards All-Star goalie Bradley Beal who may be treated.

Several strong playoff teams have called up teams in the top 10 of the draft, investigating what it would take to acquire those picks, sources said. Do these teams like a certain perspective? Or are they looking for ammunition for a big business?

This sets off alarm bells from Phoenix’s perspective.

If I had to guess the five perspectives that best match what Jones said he’s targeting in a player and has indeed aimed, I’d say Haliburton, Desmond Bane, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Joe and Grant Riller.

Those last four would be considered a reach to 10, and while that hasn’t stopped Jones in the past, he could get more value on the downside, which he did last year.

And if the Suns want to trade completely in the first round to save more money for free agency, names like Joe and Riller could still be there. Maybe there’s a twisted player in there that Phoenix could use in the rotation as well, like Aron Baynes and Dario Saric.

Kira Lewis Jr. reunion?

Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. has had at least two Zoom meetings with the Suns, by Ian Begley of SNY.

In some funny social media, Suns head coach Monty Williams was at Alabama A&M University visiting his daughter who plays volleyball there. Williams responded to a comment on his Instagram post saying it was actually a travel plan, which begs the question of who he is going to see.

Tuscaloosa is a two hour drive away, so Lewis gets there, but it turns out Lewis is also from Meridianville, Ala., Which is less than 10 minutes from the Alabama A&M. His basketball schedule was tagged in Williams’ post, and it’s a story Lewis follows, a good point in ending our millennial Sherlock Holmes adventure. Like all teams, the Suns are allowed a maximum of 10 in-person practices, so let’s take an educated guess that Lewis was one of them.

Lewis is one of the few guys in the Suns lineup that they have to do homework on. He could very well be the best playmaker available when they choose. This level of activity with him is not unusual or some type of indicator that they are all-in on him.

But the wealth of his skills at this point in his career and the elite attribute of speed have some qualities that the Suns appreciate, even if it is a bit underdeveloped for them. He’s definitely on the shortlist of who could be the pick at # 10.

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