What to do at Pick 22: Trade down and pick Jaylin Williams from Auburn

[Suns Cards]

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images Because there aren’t enough Jaylin Williams’s in the NBA yet, right? The countdown to the 2024 NBA Draft continues, and so too does our look at potential moves, prospects, and options for the Phoenix Suns. The team possesses pick number 22, which gives them an opportunity to make an addition to the team that doesn’t involve veteran minimum deals for over-the-hill players. Youth. It’s something Phoenix lacks. They had it when they went to the 2021 NBA Finals, but then there was a shift in organizational direction. The Suns punted on the youth movement, opting for proven players with contracts larger rather than developmental projects. Now they are a team without much opportunity to be young, and every team needs some youth. Yet we know that James Jones isn’t necessarily a fan of the youth movement. Cameron Johnson was 23 years old when selected in 2019. Last year’s selection, Toumai Camara, was 23 as well. He doesn’t pick often, but when he does, he prefers elder prospects. Allow me to present to you an older player with plenty of experience. Jaylin Williams

• Height: 6’8”
• Weight: 230 pounds
• Age: 23 years old
• Experience: Five years at Auburn (141 games)
• 2023-24 Statistics: 12.4 points (57.4 FG%, 39.5 3PT%, 77.6 FT%), 4.4 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 1.9 assists

Jaylin Williams is a fringe player who can help you win. He played many different roles over his five years with the Auburn Tigers. A starter for his two first seasons, he understood the value as a pertains to the team's success by becoming a bench player. In his junior year, the team had Jabari Smith, Jr., who would lead her go on to be the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, slotted at his position. Rather than transfer or become a distraction, Williams played all 33 games coming off the bench that season. Selflessness. It’s an admirable trait, especially for somebody who will certainly enter the league with the expectation that they can fill a selfless role. For a quality summation of Jaylin Williams’ abilities, I recommend reading the linked exposé by Rowan Kent from No Ceilings. Here are some of the highlights: You won’t confuse Williams for some sort of defensive anchor, nor as a designated weakside windshield wiper, but he’s a great auxiliary shot-blocker for his future NBA team. He’s had at least a 2.9% block percentage in each of his five seasons. While the number has trickled down from its initial high watermark of 5.4% as a freshman and sophomore, the talent hasn’t disappeared. On offense, the rim was where Jaylin Williams made a marked impact for an offense. When you combine his rim attempts and hook shots, per Synergy, Williams took 156 of his 266 shots, or 58.6%, right at the cup. He earned an “Excellent” ranking for both types of shots, although only one came conventionally. Jaylin Williams is one of this draft class’s best in-game vertical athletes. He has trampolines wedged in his sneakers that quickly deploy in the event of an open lane. Williams can even rise and detonate when a defender is in his way, leading to an important safety announcement: if you see Williams coming your way with any head of steam, it’s best to get out of the way or suffer the consequences.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s292wXuaii0?rel=0
The Suns have worked Williams out, who is currently sitting 92nd on ESPN’s Best Available board. When you have the 22nd pick, why would you do that? Because they are most certainly exploring what options exist if they trade back. Games can be won on the fringes, and when you’re drafting as low as the Suns are, the fringes are where you need to focus. You are not seeking out the next franchise star. Odds are you not even going to get an All-Star so late in the draft. If the Suns choose to trade back from pick number 22, not only can they take a player with a later pick, but they could get another asset out of the transaction. Is it a first-rounder next year? A second-rounder this year? That remains to be seen, but there’s still quality and talent later in the draft.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2024 ... ams-auburn