Believe it or not, the Phoenix Suns are expected to have a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and they could end up selecting one of the stars in the NCAA Tournament that begins this week.
As it stands, Phoenix still owns four first-rounders between the 2024 and 2030 drafts, despite not being the sole owners.
For 2024, the Suns will choose the least favorable first round between the choice of the Memphis Grizzlies, that of the Washington Wizards and theirs. Right now, the least favorable of the three is theirs, sitting in 19th place after Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here are some players who could make a big impact in March Madness before being in play at No. 19 — or wherever the Suns’ pick ends up.
Dalton Knecht, Tennessee, No. 13 on ESPN Top 100
Knecht has the best chance to beat Purdue big man Zach Edey for national player of the year because of the way he has led Tennessee this season.
The 6-foot-6, 213-pound wing worked his way up through the college ranks to Northern Colorado and now Tennessee where he led the Volunteers to the SEC regular season title.
The fifth-year senior enters the tournament averaging 21.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists on a career-best 39.7 percent on 6.2 3s per game.
First March Madness Match: No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 15 Saint Peter’s Thursday at 6:20 p.m. on TNT.
Ryan Dunn, Virginia, No. 20 on The Athletic Mock Draft (in Phoenix at the time)
The 6-foot-8, 216-pound sophomore doesn’t offer much offensively, but he may be the best defender in the country, with the difficulty of hanging on to bigger players as well.
Dunn is a career 24% shooter from 3, but he’s much better at 61.9% from 2. He’s also blocking nearly 2.5 shots per game in just 27.6 minutes, including five against Duke ago a few weeks.
March First Madness Game: No. 10 Virginia vs. No. 10 Colorado State Tuesday at 6:10 p.m. on truTV.
DaRon Holmes II, Dayton, No. 25 on The Athletic’s Mock Draft
After playing at Millennium High in Goodyear and AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Holmes has dominated the A-10 for three seasons now, showing a fluid, versatile game that few bigs have.
This season, Holmes added 3-point shooting and shot 38.5 percent on 2.5 attempts at 6-foot-10. He only attempted 26 in his first two seasons combined. Averaging over 20 points and two blocks per game, he is ready to take the Flyers on a run.
First March Madness Game: No. 7 Dayton vs. No. 10 Nevada Thursday at 1:30 p.m. on TBS.
Phoenix does not have a second-round pick in this draft because it was voided after the league found the Suns tampered with the acquisition of Drew Eubanks last summer.
They do need to fill out a G League roster for next season, though, so general manager James Jones could end up bringing in undrafted rookies, something he hasn’t really done during his tenure.
Here are some players Jones and the Suns could watch in the tournament.
Alex Karaban, UConn, No. 50 in ESPN Top 100
Shooting is the big draw for the 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore who shot 39.8 percent on nearly 350 attempts in the two seasons he played for the Huskies, with a chance to win championship rings every season.
UConn’s offense is probably the closest to an NBA offense in any area, and Karaban’s ability to connect within that offense — 3.1 career assists per 100 possessions — should endearing himself to NBA front offices.
March First Madness Game: No. 1 UConn vs. No. 16 Stetson Friday at 11:45 a.m. on CBS.
Tyon Grant-Foster, Grand Canyon, unclassified
One of the best stories in college basketball because of the medical difficulties he’s endured, the 6-foot-7 winger is versatile on offense and obsessive on defense.
Grant-Foster is one of the best in the country at getting to the line and creating his own mid-range shot, averaging three plays (steals and blocks) on the other end.
He would make a great headliner for the Suns’ G League team as he becomes a potential difference maker for the Suns, where his cousin Ish Wainright is on a two-way contract.
March First Madness Game: No. 12 Grand Canyon vs. No. 5 St. Mary’s Friday at 7:05 p.m. on truTV.
