SB Nation Mock Draft: Phoenix Suns Select Gary Payton Jr After Trade With Clippers

Mock Draft Pick #25 -- Gary Payton Jr, Point Guard, Oregon State

The Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a trade. The Clippers will trade the 25th pick and Paul Pierce. The Suns trade PJ Tucker.

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

With all the youth on the Suns roster, and the trade of Brandon Knight earlier in the draft, the Suns really need a backup PG who can bring the defense when Bledsoe needs a breather. The free agent point guard list isn't very talented, so the Suns would rather groom Ronnie Price's replacement on a cheap contract, and Gary Payton II really fits that bill. Payton was first team All-PAC 12 and first-team All-Defense as a point guard the last two years at Oregon State.

Ridiculous Upside analysis: Phoenix's solid draft continues with the selection of Gary Payton Jr. As mentioned in a recent Ridiculous Upside piece, Payton stood as one of the best defenders in college hoops during his time with Oregon State. Standing at 6'3 with a 6'8 wingspan, he was able to use that frame to a great defender, while also showing great flashes as an on-ball cutter.

1) Philadelphia 76ers: BEN SIMMONS

2) Los Angeles Lakers: BRANDON INGRAM

3) Phoenix Suns (From Boston): DRAGAN BENDER

4) Utah Jazz (From Phoenix): JAMAL MURRAY

5) Denver Nuggets (from Minnesota) : BUDDY HIELD

6) New Orleans Pelicans: KRIS DUNN

7) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver): DENZEL VALENTINE

8) Sacramento Kings: JAYLEN BROWN

9) Toronto Raptors: MARQUESE CHRISS

10) Milwaukee Bucks: DEYONTA DAVIS

11) Sacramento Kings (From Orlando): TIMOTHE LUWAWU

12) Utah Jazz: JAKOB POELTL

13) Denver Nuggets (from Phoenix): SKAL LABISSIERE

14) Chicago Bulls: WADE BALDWIN

15) Minnesota Timberwolves (from Denver): HENRY ELLENSON

16) Boston Celtics: DOMANTAS SABONIS

17)  Utah Jazz  (from Memphis) : FURKAN KORKMAZ

18) New Orleans Pelicans (from Detroit) : TAUREAN PRINCE

19) Phoenix Suns (from Denver): CHEICK DIALLO

20) Indiana Pacers: JUAN HERNANGOMEZ

21) Atlanta Hawks: DEMETRIUS JACKSON

22) Charlotte Hornets: ANTE ZIZIC

23) Detroit Pistons (from Utah): TYLER ULIS

24) Philadelphia 76ers: DEANDRE BEMBRY

25) Phoenix Suns (from Clippers): GARY PAYTON JR

26) Philadelphia 76ers:

27) Toronto Raptors:

28)  Memphis Grizzlies (from Utah Jazz) :

29) San Antonio Spurs:

30) Golden State Warriors: