Going in with three first round picks, the Phoenix Suns ended up drafting 7 foot 1 inch Dragan Bender fourth overall, athletic combo-forward Marquese Chriss eighth overall and diminutive point guard Tyler Ulis 34th overall.
The haul of Bender, Chriss and Ulis was widely lauded by draft pundits, with Sports Illustrated grading the Bender and Chriss picks at an ‘A’ and ‘B-’, respectively. Basketball Insiders graded the Suns’ draft class at an ‘A’ for the group, and Bleacher Report gave the class a ‘B+’ rating.
Each rookie will be counted on to produce this season, with Bender and Chriss seemingly having big roles on the 2016-17 Suns.