<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns took a look at two draft prospects from the Big Ten on Thursday. Each is athletic and well built. Both could be late first-round picks. The similarities seem to end there for Ohio State's Daequan Cook and Wisconsin's Alando Tucker. Cook is a freshman who averaged 10 minutes from the Sweet 16 to the NCAA title game. Tucker is a fifth-year senior and Big Ten Player of the Year. Cook can score in bunches and is raw defensively. Tucker played in a slo-mo offense and is a savvy defender. There is more common ground found when Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said, "If you look at our playoff series against San Antonio, we have an obvious need for physical and mental toughness." Cook oozes confidence, repeating the word in many answers although he stumbled to 25.5 percent shooting in the final 11 games. He was the top prospect playing games at last week's predraft camp in Orlando and closed with a dominant game . "He gets hot in a way that's hard to defend," Griffin said. Cook has not hired an agent but his upside and family needs likely will keep him in the draft. "I feel a lot more confident, a better feel that I really want to stay," Cook said. " . . . What I'm really needing to hear right now is a guarantee." Tucker is the type of versatile character player the Suns value. Griffin said the 6-foot-6 wing shoots better than people think and can create matchup problems with post-up skills. "Consistency on the perimeter," Tucker said of what he needs to show. "Show them I can handle the ball. I didn't get to show too many teams that in the Wisconsin offense because it was pass, move, pass, move. But I'm a player. I can adjust to any kind of style and I love this type of play."</div> Source: AZ Central
Kind of a strange idea to think we can get a mental toughness from a couple of rookies. They might provide a spark off the bench, but if we want real physical and mental toughness inside I think we should chase Marcus Camby.
I think Tucker is the biggest sleeper in this draft, he will likely go late first/early second, but will end up making one of the two all rookie teams. He is a NBA ready player having played so long in college. People are doubting him because he lacks a true NBA position, but I think he is one of those guys who you can through out there at any spot and he will thrive (i.e. Williamson, Barnes, etc.). He would fit the Suns well.
