Toronto Raptors: Where would Pascal Siakam go in 2016 NBA re-draft?

4. Phoenix Suns – Pascal Siakam

Original pick: Dragan Bender

If you need convincing that Pascal Siakam is a safer pick than Dragan Bender then maybe this article isn’t for you. Bender just hasn’t worked out in the NBA so far. As a result, the Phoenix Suns elected not to pick up his fourth-year option and he departed from the team having averaged 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in 171 career games.

Instead, the Phoenix Suns take Pascal Siakam with the number four overall pick. In fairness, Siakam could have easily gone to the Lakers at two but Murray and Brown both have two years over Siakam and a few more years of basketball experience on top of that.

Assuming Siakam develops into the player he is now, the Suns have a great prospect that they can pair with Devin Booker, who was taken one year earlier. Siakam’s recent strides as a ball-handler would give Booker an opportunity to play more off the ball and as a spot-up shooter.

If the Suns end up picking Deandre Ayton, look out. That trio would be one of the most fun to watch in the NBA.

Siakam has molded his game and become one of the most versatile power forwards in the league in the process. Last season, Siakam was the best defender on a Raptors team that featured two former Defensive Players of the Year and was the second leading scoring on the team during the playoffs.

And the Suns, finally get to re-do their 2016 draft and forget about Dragan Bender.