He's a player that has NBA size, length, athleticism and shooting. He's a guy who is projected to be able to come in and contribute right away. He's a player who fits a need for us. Small forward or even two guard. So why is he continuing to be dogged in mock drafts? Injury history, lack of eye popping stats?
Everything says to me this kid could jump 7 or 8 spots on draft night and I don't think we would be called fools if we drafted him.
Here's recent reports from the multi-player workout
The Suns don't have any more draft workouts scheduled yet, but Phoenix is not done evaluating with 10 more days available for workouts and callbacks before the NBA draft.
Fast-rising UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook canceled a visit today, but the Suns just might need some time to take in what they saw this weekend, when they attended a 24-player, multiteam workout in Oakland.
Kansas swingman Brandon Rush entered as clearly the best prospect in the weekend's group, which featured players who could go anywhere from the middle of the first round to the second round. Rush enhanced that standing, showing off his shooting and defense that comes with a long 6-foot-6 frame.
Rush played in a group that had him competing with swingmen Gary Forbes of Massachusetts, Courtney Lee of Western Kentucky and Bill Walker of Kansas State.
Of those who worked out in Oakland, Rush headlined a quartet of possible picks for Phoenix to consider at No. 15 along with Rider power forward Jason Thompson, Florida power forward Marreese Speights and French swingman Nicolas Batum.
Speights, a fluid 6-10 big man who can face up and shoot; and Batum, a skilled 19-year-old who may need more French pro-league seasoning, already had worked out for the Suns in Phoenix.
Thompson is a late bloomer who grew 4 inches in college. He became an intriguing open-court player with skills but has not been tested by top competition.
If the Suns get a chance to work out Kansas' Darrell Arthur, that would make for an impressive list of June big-man evaluations after having seen Speights, Thompson, Nevada's JaVale McGee, Stanford's Robin Lopez and North Carolina's J.J. Hickson.
Thompson solidified his standing with his showing in Oakland, while three shooting guards - Arkansas' Sonny Weems, Washington State's Kyle Weaver and New Mexico's J.R. Giddens - all helped themselves there.
Memphis' Joey Dorsey was the most productive in a group including Speights and versatile wings. Dorsey's particulars were unique - 6-7, 273 pounds, 8.6 percent body fat and a wingspan of 7-1 3/8.
The Suns also will spend this week on assembling the rest of the coaching staff with new coach Terry Porter.