Kris Dunn is the top prospect outside of Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram in the 2016 NBA Draft. While he is an interesting combo guard Dunn does appear to have some baggage coming along with him to the NBA.
Dunn is the top true guard in this draft and his services could be sought after by many NBA teams at the top of the draft. With the 2016 NBA Draft lottery being selected last night, the order is set and the top five teams will be the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves. While just about all of these teams have an interesting need for a guy like Dunn it appears that he’s not quite interested in a number of teams.
Following from ‘The Vertical’ on Yahoo! Sports. (The part on Dunn starts around the 7:20 mark.)
If Kris Dunn does not want to play for a team with an established point guard, like Boston or Phoenix as Wojnarowski pointed out, then his stock might take a pretty decent hit.
Philadelphia has been rumored to be enamored with him but now that Philly holds that top spot in the draft, Dunn might be all but a forgotten prospect. The same can be said with the Lakers at the second pick. They will get either Simmons or Ingram and they are also a team with a young point guard in D’Angelo Russell and hopes to re-sign combo guard Jordan Clarkson this offseason.
The Suns with Eric Bledsoe, Devin Booker and Brandon Knight already on the roster are seemingly eliminated from the Dunn sweepstakes, along with Boston having Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley and a developing Terry Rozier on the roster. That’s when it gets dicey.
Would Minnesota risk the development of Zach LaVine as a two guard to select Dunn or would they consider trading Ricky Rubio after years of rumors swirling involving his name? It seems unlikely at this point. New Orleans sits at the sixth spot and with Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans under contract, Dunn might not be the direction they go. Denver has Emmanuel Mudiay and Gary Harris Jr so him going to the ‘Mile High’ city would seem improbable as well.
The next team with no established young point guard on the roster is the Sacramento Kings at the eighth spot. Is Kris Dunn really wagering some extra money and his draft position just because he doesn’t want to play on a team with some guards on it? It makes sense but it could also be a play from one side, agent or team, to get some inquiries for a pick. For example, if Sacramento hears this, could they make a play to move up to the third pick? Things could get interesting come draft day.
