The Smoking Cuban
FanSided

2019 NBA Draft: Winners and losers of the draft

By Kohl Rast

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JUNE 21: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans poses for a portrait on June 21, 2019 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 22: T.J. Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 22: T.J. Warren #12 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on December 22, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Loser: Phoenix Suns

If the 76ers made some unique decisions in the draft, they at least have a hard time comparing to the moves the Phoenix Suns made around the draft. The first and most egregious move made by the Suns front office was trading T.J. Warren. Warren was the team’s second leading scorer last year behind Devin Booker.

Warren is set to make about $12 million a year for the next three years. That is a reasonable contract, but he is also coming off a season where he averaged over 18 points per game. He doesn’t do a whole lot past strictly scoring, but there are a lot of guys getting paid a lot more per year doing jut that.

When the Suns traded Warren essentially for cap space, people were confused. When they then took on Aron Baynes $5 million contract, it was even a little more confusing. The Suns are also shopping the fourth overall pick from the 2017 draft, Josh Jackson.

In the actual draft, the Suns traded the 6th overall pick for the 11th pick and Dario Saric. Saric is a nice wing that will help the team, but the biggest glaring need for Phoenix is a hole at point guard. They had a chance at a very talented, very highly rated point guard in Coby White who was available at pick 6, but elected to trade down to 11.

With the 11th pick, the Suns selected Cameron Johnson from North Carolina. Johnson was not projected to go nearly this high by basically anyone. This was the second big reach in the draft, with the first going to the Wizards.

The only other player who was drafted that will be joining the Suns is Ty Jerome from Virginia. I have no problem with this pick whatsoever.