Phoenix Suns turn to C Alex Len for luck in NBA Draft Lottery

PHOENIX — His marching orders were both clear and simple.

“Pay no attention to the odds and bring us home a top-three pick,” GM Ryan McDonough said he told center Alex Len.

Again, clear and simple, yet complicated by the process.

The NBA Draft Lottery is designed to give the teams with the worst regular-season records more chances at landing one of the first three picks in the draft. This year, those teams are Minnesota (16-66), New York (17-65) and Philadelphia (18-64).

The Suns, by virtue of their 39-43 record, have a 2.18 percent probability of moving up to a top-three selection and improve upon their current position of the 13th overall pick.

Only Oklahoma City has worse odds.

In other words, good luck to Len, who will represent the Suns at the made-for-TV event in New York on Tuesday.

“I would be honored to do it,” he said he told the team when he was asked during his exit interview the day after the season ended. “I’m happy that they chose me.”

Mark West (twice), Lon Babby and Markieff Morris had been chosen previously the past four years. Each one failed to deliver a higher draft pick.

Len, while up for the task, is unsure what awaits him.

“I’ve actually only watched one or two of them,” he said. “I watched the one when I was — my year, 2013. I don’t really know exactly the structure, like what I’m supposed to do. But I’m excited. I’m definitely going to bring some luck, that’s what I’m hoping for.”

Admittedly, Len is not a superstitious person. He doesn’t drive to the arena a certain way and he doesn’t put on his uniform a certain way, so he will not be bringing any good luck charms with him.

Len, though, did go out and buy himself a new suit for the occasion.

“I’m just going there with a positive attitude, try to bring some luck and hopefully we’re going to get a high pick,” he said.

Since the NBA adopted a lottery system in 1985, the Suns have twice moved up as a result of the bouncing ping-pong balls, though they have not done so since moving from No. 5 to No. 2 in 1987 when the team selected Armon Gilliam. The Suns also moved up from No. 7 to No. 6 in 1986, the year in which they drafted William Bedford.

The Suns have a 0.6 percent chance of winning the top pick, 0.71 percent for the second pick and 0.87 percent for the third pick. There is a 1.8 percent chance that the Suns’ selection could drop to 14th overall.

“Obviously, hopefully this is the last time for us,” said Len, referring to the draft lottery. “Hopefully we’re going to make the playoffs next season and we won’t have to deal with this stuff no more.”

In his second season with the Suns, Len averaged 6.3 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while playing 22 minutes per game in 69 contests, including 44 starts.

“Alex, obviously, had a good year,” McDonough said. “He was, I think, one of the more improved players, certainly on our team and probably across the league. It’s a good honor for him, we’re happy for him and I’m sure he’ll represent us well.”

Injuries once again cost Len playing time. A broken nose sidelined him the final seven games.

“Everything is fine. It’s already healed up. It doesn’t bother me at all,” he said. “I still got to wear the mask every time I do the contact drills on the court, every time I play or have contact. I’ve got to wear it until June, I think June 1st I won’t have to wear it anymore.”

Len turns 22 in June.

The former fifth overall pick said he took two-to-three weeks off after the season ended. One of those weeks was spent in the Dominican Republic.

“I didn’t do nothing at all, just relaxed, swim; didn’t do much,” he said. “When I got back I started lifting a little bit. Right now, I’m full speed doing workouts and lifting.

“I’m already preparing for next season.”

And should the Suns get a boost for next season with a top-three pick in the June 25 NBA Draft, does Len have a player in mind for the team to select?

“I’m going to leave that up to Ryan (and) the front office,” he said. “I trust in them and I believe in them, so they’re going to make the right decision.”