Suns draft Georgios Papagiannis, reportedly trade rights to Kings
Your teams. Your favorite writers. Wherever you want them. Personalize SI with our new App. Install on iOS (iOS or Android)
The Phoenix Suns have selected Greek center Georgios Papagiannis with the No. 13 pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
The Suns will reportedly trade Papagiannis’s rights to the Kings following an earlier trade. The Kings dealt the No. 8 pick in the draft, used to select Washington’s Marquese Chriss, for Bogdan Bogdanovic, the No. 13 pick and the No. 28 pick.
Papagiannis briefly played high school basektball in the United States. He was courted by several college programs, including Kentucky, N.C. State and Oregon. He made his professional debut at age 14.
• Grading every 2016 NBA draft pick
Strengths: Papagiannis brings great size and solid athletic tools as a true center who turns 19 in July. He’s a decent jump shooter and has shown shot-blocking ability playing against his age groups. He also has a post hook and a pretty good feel. At his age and with a solid pedigree, he makes for a good second-round hedge.
Weaknesses: His conditioning has come into question already, and sculpting a great frame into an NBA-quality one will be paramount. He didn’t play much at all for Panathinaikos, although at his age it’s excusable. His competitive makeup (toughness, motor) and his fitness on the defensive end could determine whether his long-term future is in the league or overseas. Papagiannis requires lots of projection.
Grade: D
Explanation: WOW! The Kings are still the Kings, and they have kinged themselves. Papagiannis is an 18-year-old center with some upside — perhaps a justifiable pick in the first round — but this was a guy nobody had pegged in the lottery. This is confusing. Henry Ellenson and several other bigs were on the board. We get to do this TWO MORE TIMES in the first round! - Jeremy Woo
