NBA

2017 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: How Should the First Round Play Out?

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4. Phoenix Suns: Jayson Tatum, SF

Team needs: Defending without fouling, power forward production, three-point shooting.

Like the Celtics, there's a possibility the Phoenix Suns will move this pick in some type of exchange for an established veteran like Jimmy Butler, or maybe even Kevin Love, in what would have to be a three-way trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Unfortunately for them, the numbers liked Isaac as the best fit-for-need here, too. For that reason, among others, Jayson Tatum -- the smaller of the two versatile forwards -- is the pick here. But what about T.J. Warren?

While it's true that Warren has shown flashes of brilliance in his three years in the league, he's never played more than 66 games and, at that, has a contract that will expire after the 2017-18 season. Tatum's injury history might not be an improvement (he missed 8 games last year at Duke), but at 19-years-old, and playing on a rookie contract, how could you fault the Suns for adding a small forward/stretch-four option like Tatum.

The youngster even knows how to defend (4.1 defensive box plus-minus) without fouling (3.0 in 33.3 minutes per game) -- something the Suns, who averaged the most fouls in the league (24.8), sorely need.

Previous mock: Jonathan Isaac