NBA Mock Draft: Phoenix Suns Select Jamaal Franklin from San Diego State

NBA Mock Draft Pick #20 -- Jamaal Franklin, Guard, San Diego State

We have a trade to announce:

The Phoenix Suns have acquired the #20 pick and Rip Hamilton ($1 million guaranteed) from the Chicago Bulls, in exchange for Jared Dudley.

The Suns will use that pick on Jamaal Franklin.

SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun explains the pick and trade:

It's been time to go young for a long, long time in the desert. Starting the draft day with the worst collection of talent in the NBA - I mean seriously, the worst - and yet boasting a median age of 26 years old, it's clear that the Suns won't be making the playoffs again any time soon with the current roster.

After trading 29-year old Marcin Gortat to Portland for the #10 pick (Rudy Gobert), the Suns now trade 28-year old Jared Dudley for the #20 pick (SG Jamaal Franklin). Gortat and Dudley were two of the three best players on the Suns roster, but neither was going to carry the Suns to the playoffs in the prime of their careers.

Add Jamaal Franklin to Victor Oladipo (#5 pick) and incumbent PG Goran Dragic, and the Suns can run and gun again on the perimeter with a very young pair of shooting guards.

SB Nation's Bulls blog Blog a Bull explains the trade:

With ownership's financial concerns not playing a role in our virtual decision-making, the opportunity to acquire Jared Dudley from the Suns was too much to pass up. The Bulls desperately need wing depth, and Dudley fits that bill perfectly. He also acts as insurance if Luol Deng bolts in free agency following the upcoming season. The Bulls are good enough to compete for a championship next year, so while there were a number of players we liked in the draft, the chance to add a ready-made contributor like Dudley who fills a very real need was a no-brainer.

SB Nation Scouting Report: Jamaal Franklin

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Updated 2013 NBA Mock Draft Board: