Suns select T.J. Warren with the No. 14 pick in 2014 NBA Draft
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The Phoenix Suns selected North Carolina State forward T.J. Warren with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Buckets. Teams may not be in love with the why or the how of it, but Warren can score, better than almost anyone else in the draft. After averaging a ridiculous 24.9 points as a sophomore this past season, doubt was cast as to whether that could translate to the NBA, because he doesn't get to the line a great deal and doesn't shoot threes.
That's a concern from a projection standpoint, but the Suns are getting a capable offensive weapon, just not a top option. Defensively, he has length and strength working in his favor and plays the kind of tough defense coaches appreciate.
The selection of Warren isn't a surprise, as a report leaked earlier on Thursday that the Suns had promised to select Warren. It makes sense from a fit perspective, as Warren has a shot-creation ability from the small forward spot that the other Suns forwards currently lack. If Warren were able to develop a decent three-point shot, the Suns could find themselves holding an explosive scorer.
Selecting Warren could potentially spell the end for small forward P.J. Tucker's time in Phoenix. The defense-first wing is a free-agent this offseason, and Warren would represent an offensive upgrade. Of course, the Suns have plenty of cap room, so a reunion is still quite possible.