PHOENIX — After previously working out Arizona State’s Tra Holder, Kodi Justice and Shannon Evans II, the Suns on Friday took a look at a pair of Wildcats.
UA guards Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier worked out for the team in Phoenix.
The Suns hold four picks in this month’s draft: Nos. 1 and 16 in the first round and the 31st and 59th picks overall. Based on projections, Alkins and/or Trier would likely be available with one of the two second-round selections.
Of the two, Alkins has the best chance to be drafted. ESPN.com has him going No. 53 to Oklahoma City. The 6-foot-4-inch, 217-pound Alkins averaged 13.1 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Wildcats last season but shot just 35.9 percent from 3-point range. His value in the NBA, at least initially, will be as a defender who can guard three positions.
“Rawle is kind of a big bulldozer,” Suns assistant general manager Pat Connelly said. “Really strong but skilled. Kind of has that New York-style wing power game.”
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Alkins is embracing the notion that his defense is what will get him onto an NBA roster and earn him playing time.
“Just proving I can be a defender and guard the top guys in the NBA,” he said. “As a rookie it’s hard to come into the game thinking you’re going to take 20 shots a night, so I’m coming in with that defensive mentality.”
The 6-5, 198-pound Trier averaged 18.1 points on 50 percent shooting, but hasn’t shown up on many draft boards in part because scouts wonder about his ability to run a team and defend.
Trier believes the concerns are unjustified.
“I can make plays for my teammates,” said Trier, who averaged a career-high 3.2 assists per game as a junior. “I think I did a good job showing that last year at Arizona. There’s a lot of film on me and they’ve seen I’ve improved in those areas.”
And his defense?
“I think it’s absolutely underrated,” he said. “Sometimes it can be hard to change a perception, especially when you do something very, very well. It’s easy to nitpick and say, ‘Well, there are other things you don’t do well.’ I probably do a lot of things better than people give me credit for.”
The Suns are already considering the pair’s UA teammate, Deandre Ayton, as their choice at No. 1 overall. UA coach Sean Miller said Thursday that he thinks “the No. 1 pick’s in.”
“I look at the NBA as trying to figure out who they’re going to pick from No. 2 to 60,” he said.
