The Phoenix Suns were one of the worst teams in basketball last season and after getting the number five pick in the draft, the franchise opted to go for Maryland center Alex Len, a player that was rumored to be an option for the number one pick.
According to AZ Central, the team loved Len with the No. 5 pick, but since he is dealing with an injury to his ankle, some are comparing him to past players with injury issues like Greg Oden, Robin Lopez and Kurt Thomas. The team said that they checked out Len extensively and that they are not worried about him getting healthy and Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said they expect him to be ready for training camp in October.
The 20-year-old center from Maryland was considered one of the best big men in the draft and now he will have the chance to show what he can do once he is fully healthy and back in action. The Suns were proactive this offseason and pulled off one of the biggest trades in a the move for Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler from the Clippers, which was part of a three-team deal that send JJ Redick to the Clippers from the Bucks. The Suns have been doing this for a couple years and after trading away Steve Nash, they feel that now they have pieces for the future.
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said that Bledsoe is the future of the team and after drafting Len and getting Kentucky guard Archie Goodwin and Missouri power forward Alex Oriakhi, the team is ready to improve. They also sent Jared Dudley to the Clippers in that three-team deal and now Butler will get the chance to start and give significant minutes to the team on offense.
The Suns also could possibly move center Marcin Gortat after taking Len, but talk on that has cooled in recent weeks. The center was solid last season and averaged 11 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Suns and rumors said that the Spurs were interested at one point in a deal.
