This is a highly unorthodox position, but one that makes a lot of sense when you really analyze the situation. Marquese Chriss is going to be one of the primary bigs on a Suns team that is likely looking to build around some of their younger talent, meaning minutes for Tyson Chandler could legitimately be moved aside in favor of Chriss, especially in the team fails to compete at a high level in the West.
Chriss played legitimate minutes at both four and the five during the preseason, and has all the athletic tools indiciative of somebody who can make the immediate jump to quality production at the NBA level. He’s a freakishly explosive athlete off the perimeter. He has the speed needed to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket with ease. He can even dominate in transition–something that could work well alongside a talented Suns’ back-court.
I projected Chriss as my fourth ranked prospect coming into the draft, behind Ben Simmons, Murray and Ingram. That ranking was solely due to concerns over his rebounding deficiency. He also was out of position on the defensive side of the ball far too frequently. Throughout the off-season, Chriss has improved in both aspects. His incredible leaping ability and height should lead to plenty of blocked shots, regardless of how his physicality plays out early on.
Offensively, Chriss is known as a perimeter shooter coming into the league. He’ll be an excellent fit for a Suns team that likes to spread out the offense. He’s an exceptional talent to throw into pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop scenarios, and has the mobility to carve out space and create his own shot from time to time as well.
Chriss’ caliber is unique among the near-7 footer NBA players. He exhibits all the tools to slide directly into the Suns’ primary rotation once he acclimates to the NBA. He’s explosive enough to create mismatches at either front-court position, and spaces the floor in a manner that meshes well with Phoenix’s current rotation. Defensively, if he’s able to avoid excessive fouling, he should be a sizable contributor from day one.
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The Suns loved Chriss throughout the draft process, and almost selected him fourth. Circumstances played out to give them the opportunity to trade up with Sacramento. He fits the vibe of the up-tempo attack, and will earn his minutes as he proves his worth.
In what is really a neck and neck tie with Embiid, Chriss garners the slighted of advantages for this very moment.