18. Phoenix Suns – Adriean Payne, Michigan State
Picked by Eric Saar, Valley of the Suns
If the Suns are able to trade for a superstar and don’t use all their draft picks they will need to recover some depth. Payne would be key. A scorer is always useful. He has the toughness and scoring to replace Channing Frye eventually, who he is on the wrong side of 30. Payne will be able to contribute right away. Since they still have Frye and Markieff Morris they don’t NEED someone. But people get hurt and in the event of a trade, they could need some depth here. Payne has everything they want. Someone who can score all over the floor, play some defense and get some rebounds. Rebounding was a pretty sore spot last year.