NBA Mock Draft 2016: Pre-Combine Edition

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the start of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the start of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 18, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Jaylen Brown (0) and California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin talk during the 2nd against the Washington Huskies half at Alaska Airlines Arena. California Golden Bears defeated the Washington Huskies 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; California Golden Bears forward Jaylen Brown (0) and California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin talk during the 2nd against the Washington Huskies half at Alaska Airlines Arena. California Golden Bears defeated the Washington Huskies 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

While I maintain that the Suns would be better off completely tearing everything down and trying to start anew after failed experiments, I highly doubt that’s going to be the route that they end up going. In the end, Brown seems like the more obvious option for them and, if you’re high on his potential in the NBA, then it’s definitely a nice fit in Phoenix.

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4

Jaylen Brown

SF, California

Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns

In our initial NBA Mock Draft, I had Jaylen Brown slipping a bit for a couple of reasons. For starters, I thought that the Phoenix Suns might be so inclined to really try and blow things up with their roster—including with Eric Bledsoe—and might take a point guard. However, that seems far less likely now. As such, even a player whose upside I question a bit in relation to others like Brown becomes much more intriguing for the Suns.

As far as the Suns roster goes, they really don’t have anyone whose skill set really falls into the mold that Brown does. He’s a versatile player that is antoher guy in need of work on his jump shot. However, he has tremendous ball handling at the position and is going to impress people with his agility and athleticism, even if all of the measurable aren’t as good as they could be.

While I maintain that the Suns would be better off completely tearing everything down and trying to start anew after failed experiments, I highly doubt that’s going to be the route that they end up going. In the end, Brown seems like the more obvious option for them and, if you’re high on his potential in the NBA, then it’s definitely a nice fit in Phoenix.

Next: No. 5, Timberwolves