With the first overall pick, the Phoenix Suns select Zion Williamson, F, Duke University.
With the first pick in the draft, the Suns land an athletic freak in Zion Williamson. The 6-foo-7, and 285 pound power forward is as good of an athlete as we have seen since LeBron James. As far as pure basketball skills go, no, he is not close to the level James was on coming into the NBA. However, Williamson’s physical attributes will have general managers scurrying to find a way to trade up for the first pick.
Although I had many doubts about Williamson coming into college, and still have some coming into the NBA, he has managed to put on a phenomenal freshman season at Duke. He averaged 21.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 2.2 steals in 28 minutes per game, while putting up an incredible 68.3 percent field goal percentage.
His height may be a problem at the power forward position in the NBA, but his weight and athleticism can likely compensate for it. His shooting and ball handling also need some work, and the team could also look to go with a much needed point guard here. But, Williamson is too talented of a player to pass up.
Zion will fit nicely into a lineup of (insert point guard here), Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Williamson, and Deandre Ayton. With this addition, maybe Phoenix can attract a good point guard (Kemba?) and start to get out of their long rebuild.
As for the Chicago Bulls Williamson, the team does not need a power forward. With the emergence of Otto Porter Jr., they may not even need a small forward. If Chicago landed the first pick had a shot at Williamson. One would think that GarPax would have no choice but to take the best overall player, rather than going for a positional need.