Phoenix has the 23rd pick in the first round.  Their net GM is:

   Curtis Hill


and he selects:

   Aaron McKie, SG, 6-7.  Temple

======================================================================
Phoenix Suns
------------

What happens when, in order to try and win a NBA championship, you
trade for a superstar, get some seasoned veterans via free agency, but
don't get the job done?  Well, Phoenix is looking at that right now.

The Suns were hurt by Dumas' quick demise back into the world of drugs
and NBA suspension.  However, trading Negele Knight and Hornacek have
left the Suns woefully thin at the guard sport.  Center never has
really been a strength, and certainly Joe Kleine isn't the answer.
Mark West can't be expected to play 40+ minutes a night at center, but
he does do a good job while he's in there.  Miller would be a more
than adequate backup, but he just can't keep his weight down to a
level that would make him a contributor for the Suns.

The Suns are solid at forward, even without Barkley, with Ceballos and
Green providing a solid foundation for the next few seasons.

However, without a center, Phoenix will not win a NBA championship.
And without Barkley, the Suns will struggle, period.


Quick Positional Summary
------------------------

Center - The Suns have several centers who are good players, but would
be better on a team that doesn't need this much inside help.  Miller
still has weight fluctuations, Joe Kliene is Joe Kliene, Mustaf might
end up in jail (and may never become a player if he stays out), and
Mark West does a nice job, but he's undersized.  The Suns have been
trying to fill this position for a couple of years (OK, longer, but
I'm thinking during Barkley).  However, the Jerrod Mustaf's and
Malcolm Mackey's of the world just haven't worked out.  And the Suns
have had real trouble with teams that have strong centers.

Forward - The Suns are very solid here.  Barkley, Ceballos, and AC
Green are quality players.  Richard Dumas, should he ever get his act
together, is also a quality NBA forward.  All of the Suns' centers but
Kliene can play big forward, too.  Given the Suns' strength here, the
Suns should draft at another position unless someone they would kill
for is still left.

Guards - A strength rapidly becoming a weakness.  KJ is still great
and Majerle is still good.  However, Ainge is rapidly approaching the
end of his career.  I wouldn't expect Frank Johnson back, and Westphal
really haven't shown much faith in anyone else on the bench (Perry and
Henry).  The Suns could really use some help here, too.  The lack of
consistent shooting from this position has really hurt the Suns at
times, since without inside strength, they depend on the shooting.


What do the Suns need?
---------------------

Help at the 2 guard, certainly.  Ainge is getting up in years and no
one on the team is a consistent, accurate, outside shooter.  The Suns
could use some bulk inside, too.  A presence that would rebound and
score some would be nice.  A young shot blocker prospect would be
another possibility, too.


The pick
--------

Aaron McKie,  6'4" combination guard, Temple University

Aaron's ability to shoot, ability to score, ballhandling skills, and
excellent defensive mechanics make him an easy selection at this
position.


Others considered
-----------------

There are a host of center "reaches" out there.  Eric Mobley, Jevon
Crudup, and Shawnelle Scott come to mind. However, the Suns have
several of these types of guys on the bench, why draft another?  So
all of these guys are right out.

The two best centers left are Kevin Salvadori and Charles Claxton.

Salvadori is raw offensively, but is a legitimate shot blocker and
could give the Suns a bit of a presence in the middle.  Given the
troubles some teams have had in the playoffs without centers this
season, don't be surprised to see Sal go in the first round, maybe to
Phoenix.

Claxton is a real project as far as skills go.  He's got great
potential, but he probably won't start contributing until at least the
96-97 season.  I think the Suns would only consider him if Barkley
retires.

There are a number of excellent guards left right now -- far more than
I would expect to see in the real draft.

Eddie Jones has the size to play both the shooting guard and small
forward positions.  Outstanding defender and he is no offensive
slouch.  Not as consistent of a shooter as McKie, but not far behind.

Both McKie and Jones may profit from not being part of a 3 man gang in
the NBA.

Billy McCaffrey may not contribute right away, but he's able to play
point and shooting guard.  An excellent, excellent shooter, Billy's
only liability may be defensive quickness.  However, I think he is not
as slow as people like to make him out to be.  I think Hubert Davis
when I think of Billy in the NBA.

Dwayne Morton is a deadly three point shooter who could put some much
needed punch into the Suns' outside attack.  However, Dwayne may need
some work on the defensive end.  I think Dwayne will have a productive
NBA career.

Monty Williams is a big player with a great offensive game.  Projects
to SF in the NBA, but could easily end up playing the 2 guard as well.
A lot of teams are going to be concerned with his previous heart
condition, but if everything goes well for Monty, he could be one of
the steals of this draft.


Who will the Suns take?
-----------------------

That's really hard to say.  So much depends on what they feel about
Barkley playing next season.  I think they'll end up picking a combo
guard they like in the first round, and grabbing a big man in the
second round.  That's mainly because it's harder to find a big man who
can contribute right away.


What else will the Suns try to do?
-----------------------------

It depends.  If Barkley stays around, the Suns should get a guard or
center who could make an impact of some sort -- not a project.  If
Barkley retires, retooling the team through trades and drafting the
best available player would be the wisest course.

The good news for the Suns is that this is the deepest draft in a
while, so getting a quality player, be it a contributor or a project,
at their spot is possible.

However, I think given the depth and makeup of this draft, the Suns
will try and grab a guard who can shoot in the first round.  Then
pickup some inside help via trades or free agency (such as Scott
Williams) if Charles plays one more season.

Don't be too surprised if the Suns dump off one or more of their
"centers" to move up into the draft and pickup Montross or McIlvaine.

========================================================================
Draft Summary:

1.  Milwaukee Bucks
    GM:   Bobby Davis 
    Pick: Glenn Robinson, PF, 6-8.  Purdue University.
2.  Dallas Mavericks
    GM:   Theo Wendt 
    Pick: Jason Kidd, PG, 6-4.  Cal.
3.  Detroit Pistons
    GM:   Eric Iverson 
    Pick: Grant Hill, SF, 6-8. Duke.
4.  Minnesota Timberwolves
    GM's: Kevin Hansen 
          Toni Morgan 
    Pick: Donyell Marshall, SF, 6-9. Connecticut
5.  Washington Bullets
    GM's: Jim Nagle 
          The Crossjammer 
    Pick: Juwan Howard, PF, 6-10. Michigan
6.  Philadelphia 76ers
    GM's: Brent Halliburton 
    Pick: Yinka Dare, C, 7-0. George Washington
7.  Los Angeles Clippers
    GM:   Paul Osmond 
    Pick: Carlos Rogers, PF, 6-11. Tennessee State
8.  Sacramento Kings
    GM's: Don Hearth 
          Daniel W. Huang 
    Pick: Clifford Rozier, PF, 6-9.  Louisville
9.  Boston Celtics
    GM:   Ellie Cutler 
    Pick: Lamond Murray, SF, 6-7.  Cal
10. Los Angeles Lakers
    GM:   Kosh 
    Pick: Jalen Rose, SG, 6-8. Michigan
11. Seattle Sonics
    GM:   Aaron Gill 
    Pick: Wesley Person, SG, 6-6.  Auburn
12. Miami Heat              
    GM:   Rob Clough 
    Pick: Sharone Wright, C, 6-11. Clemson
13. Denver Nuggets
    GM's: Rick Grubin 
          John Exby 
    Pick: B.J. Tyler, PG, 6-1. Texas
14. New Jersey Nets
    GM:   Matthew Mitchell 
    Pick: Dontonio Wingfield, PF, 6-9. Cincinnati
15. Indiana Pacers          
    GM:   Richard Burton 
    Pick: Charlie Ward, PG, 6-0. FSU
16. Golden State Warriors 
    GM:   Mike Moore 
    Pick: Eric Montross, C, 7-0. UNC
17. Portland Trail Blazers  
    GM:   Mike Northam 
    Pick: Jim McIlvane, C, 7-1. Marquette
18. Milwaukee Bucks 
    GM:   Bobby Davis 
    Pick: Brian Grant, PF, 6-8.  Xavier
19. Dallas Mavericks 
    GM:   Theo Wendt 
    Pick: Kendrick Warren, SF, 6-8.  Virginia Commonwealth
20. Philadelphia 76ers
    GM:   Brent Halliburton 
    Pick: Voshon Lenard, SG, 6-4.  Minnesota
21. Chicago Bulls
    GM:   Andy Knipp 
    Pick: Eric Piatkowski, SG, 6-7.  Nebraska
22. San Antonio Spurs
    GM:   Varun Singh 
    Pick: Khalid Reeves, PG, 6-1.  Arizona
23. Phoenix Suns
    GM:   Curtis Hill 
    Pick: Aaron McKie, SG, 6-7.  Temple
24. New York Knicks
    GM:   Alan Sepinwall