2. Jalen Smith, Phoenix Suns
When the Phoenix Suns selected Jalen Smith with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, no one could have predicted what would be coming next. The Suns turned into one of the powerhouses in the Western Conference with Chris Paul joining Devin Booker in the backcourt.
Clearly in win-now mode with Paul at the helm, the Suns are in a pickle when it comes to Jalen Smith. The Maryland product has tantalizing potential, given his ability to stretch the floor on offense and block shots on defense.
But, he needs a lot of work and Phoenix cannot afford to hope it happens on the fly. The Suns have a major need in their frontcourt with Dario Saric going down with a torn ACL in the NBA Finals and likely being sidelined for the upcoming season. Can Phoenix count on Jalen Smith to fill that hole?
The answer would seem to be no, as they re-signed Frank Kaminsky and added JaVale McGee in free agency as well. The Suns would likely be better off trading Jalen Smith for a player that is better suited to help them win now on their quest for an NBA title.
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Phoenix would love to develop Jalen Smith, but he won’t receive the reps necessary to do so. Getting traded to a team that can focus more on his development than winning right away would do him well.