Suns Draft Notebook: Top Big Men to Target at No. 10

Here are the top center options who are more realistically projected to land in Phoenix’s range. 

Derik Queen, C, Maryland 

• 20 years old, 6'9", 248 lbs

NBA insider Marc Stein mentioned Queen as a name to monitor for the Suns.

Queen is a score-first center and has really impressive offensive skills and versatility, but lacks some of the rim protection and athleticism Phoenix would value. 

The Suns have chosen two bigs from Maryland in the lottery in the past in Jalen Smith (No. 10 in 2020) and Alex Len (No. 5 in 2013), both of whom did not pan out.

Queen's skillset is very unique, but it's hard to see how he would fit in on the Suns especially with two scorers in Devin Booker and Jalen Green.

Phoenix could still like his upside and overall potential to use the 10th pick on him.

Noa Essengue, PF, France

• 18 years old, 6'10", 204 lbs

Essengue has a lot of room to grow at 18 years old and only 204 pounds at 6-foot-10, but has a versatile skillset, especially defensively.

He is not much of a shooter, which Phoenix would like, and has a pretty long way to go from fully developing.

Essengue would be a flyer of a pick, and there are better options available who could play right away for the Suns.

Joan Beringer, C, France

• 18 years old, 6'11", 235 lbs

Beringer is known to be a rim-protecting center, but had a really low usage rate, so his offensive game isn't as developed.

It's hard to see Beringer slotting in immediately as a starting center for Phoenix, and he does have a similar skillset to Richards, so the two would compete for minutes.

Like Queen and Essengue, Beringer's age makes him more of a raw prospect who flashed some great ability at times but is not close to fully developing.

Beringer has a lot of upside, especially given that he has played basketball for only four years, which the Suns might like.

Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown

• 19 years old, 6'9", 263 lbs

Sorber is yet another young center with room to grow into, especially given his physical tools that include a 7-foot-6 wingspan.

He also has a bigger frame than the other prospects, and he showed a lot more consistency all around in his game throughout the year.

For the Suns, he would provide a good pick-and-roll threat, but does have room to grow athletically in terms of his shot blocking and finishing.

Sorber is also not a shooter, but did show the capability of being a playmaker, giving him some areas to improve on offensively.

Potential Trade-Down Candidate: Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia

• 19 years old, 6'9", 224 lbs

Gambadoro said Newell had a pre-draft workout with Phoenix, and the Suns like him on the Burns and Gambo Show Tuesday.

Like the rest of the big men mentioned before, Newell is another young player with room to grow. He is a little bit of a tweener between a power forward and center.

Newell plays with a lot of energy on offense and is adept at driving and drawing fouls, but his shooting and defense are areas he needs to grow in. He might be limited defensively if he plays the 5 as he only has a 6-foot-11 wingspan.

The Suns would really have to like Newell and feel like he could play right away if they wanted to move down from 10 or up from 29 for him.

Potential Trade-Down Candidate: Danny Wolf, F/C, Michigan

21 years old, 6'11", 252 lbs

Wolf reportedly worked out for the Suns and was another player mentioned by Stein as a name to monitor for Phoenix.

The big man has a very unique game with a guard-like playstyle, especially in terms of playmaking, but his shooting and defensive mobility are some areas of concern.

He could end up falling to Phoenix at 29, but is projected to be in the early-mid 20s, so the Suns would most likely either have to trade up or down if they want him.

The Verdict on Centers

The Suns want a center, but the draft might not be the place to address the need.

With Richards and Ighodaro already on the roster, Phoenix would have to be ultra-confident that it is making a pick for someone who can come in and play right away if not start.

All of the centers projected to be around the late-lottery range are younger with room to grow, which Phoenix could afford on some other positions they need depth at, but not center since they have a couple backups.

With that said, the Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelicans took younger centers with high upside last summer later in the first round in Kel'el Ware and Yves Missi, who both turned in good rookie seasons.

If the Suns are to go center, the two best fits at the position seem to be Beringer and Sorber, while Queen has the highest upside.