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Suns nab Earl Clark, and Taylor Griffin might surprise you
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(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
To very little surprise, the Phoenix Suns selected 6 foot 9 forward Earl Clark from the University of Louisville with the 14th overall pick in Thursday night's NBA Draft.
Many consider Clark to be top five talent, but concerns with his lack of consistent motivation and performance were enough to push him to the latter part of the lottery.
If you ask the Suns, that is just fine with them, and they're extremely happy with Clark as their pick.
"He’s a very versatile player both offensively and defensively, said Suns General Manager Steve Kerr on Suns.com. He can play multiple positions and he can do a lot of things well. We look at him like a hybrid – he can play at the three or four. He can switch out and guard perimeter guys or battle bigger guys on the inside. He gives us a lot of flexibility and versatility, and he’s somebody who we feel strongly about as a person as we continue to add good players to our roster.”
During his junior season, his most recent at Louisville, Clark averaged 14.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 34 minutes a game. Unfortunately, he only shot 65 percent from the free throw line, a part of his game that will need to improve in the NBA.
"He’s somebody who we feel strongly about as a person as we continue to add good players to our roster.” -Steve Kerr on 14th overall selection Earl Clark.
Clark is 21 years old, listed at 226 pounds, and is originally from Rahway, New Jersey. Before the draft, he had to cancel his initial workout in Phoenix because of the birth of his daughter, but made a big impression on the Suns' brass when he finally did make it. Clark worked out with a strong group that included other highly touted forwards such as Austin Daye and James Johnson, and made the impressions with his defense.
In Thursday's second round, the Suns also selected Taylor Griffin with the 48th overall pick in the draft. Griffin, out of the University of Oklahoma, is the older brother of his Oklahoma teammate, Blake Griffin, the first overall selection of the draft by the Clippers.
Taylor, also nicknamed "Bam-Bam," was largely overshadowed by his younger brother, but still averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 30 minutes a game this past season as a Senior for OU. He's known for his gritty, energetic play, and for having a tirelessly positive work ethic.
I'll be the first to admit I was a little bummed with the selection of Griffin at first, seeing that St. Mary's College point guard Patrick Mills was still on the board. Mills could be an electric little guard in the NBA, and has shown an ability to take over a game in the past.
But after getting over Mills and listening to Griffin, it's extremely hard not to be encouraged by the guy, and think positively about the prospect of someone that has his head on as straight as he does.
Beyond his ability to play the game, Taylor Griffin has been praised for his abundant "basketbal IQ."
"The thing that distinguishes Taylor from a lot of people is that he has tremendous feel for the game," said Kerr.
Not only that, but he just sounds like a guy that gets it. During his first interview with Suns.com, this is what Griffin had to say about his new team.
"I’ve already had the chance to speak with Alvin Gentry, Steve Kerr and David Griffin," said Griffin. "They told me they were very excited to have me and very excited about the opportunity I would have. They believe I’ll do well in this situation and I’ll thrive and have the chance at showing off my strengths. I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with any of my new teammates but definitely want them to know that I’m going to work extremely hard to make this work and am very thankful for getting this opportunity."
We're thankful you get the opportunity too Taylor, especially in Phoenix. Call me an optimist, but I think he has a chance to surprise a few people. Maybe not right away, but he has the potential to stick, and the fortitude to do it.
