The Phoenix Suns had the 13th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and with that pick they selected Kendall Marshall, a sophomore point guard out of North Carolina. SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side Of The Sun has detailed coverage on the pick, and their initial reaction was a positive one:
Kendall Marshall is the best passing point guard to come out in a long time. The Suns needed a young point guard to groom whether Steve Nash returns or not, and in Marshall they get the second best point in the draft. He didn't show much of an ability to score at North Carolina, and his jumper still needs some work. He's also a sub-par athlete compared to a lot of the lottery point guards to come out in recent years, which will give him trouble on the defensive end.
However, Marshall improved as a shooter and scorer as his sophomore season went on an absolutely torched Creighton in his final game in college. Marshall is far from a complete prospect, but he can run a team better than anyone else in this draft and could be a solid player if the Suns surround him with the right players.
There's a poll at the blog where fans can vote on the pick, and judging by the results most Suns fans approve. The Suns were thinking long term with this draft, looking for someone to move into the slot that Steve Nash will eventually vacate. It's obviously too early to tell, but Suns fans certainly hope the team found what they were looking for in Marshall.
For more on the Phoenix Suns and the 2012 NBA Draft, stick with this storystream. For full time Suns coverage, check out Bright Side of the Sun. And don't miss these NBA Draft prospect videos from SB Nation Studios: