The Pulse: Phoenix Suns fans prefer Frank Kaminsky over Bobby Portis
Jun 21, 2015, 3:15 PM | Updated: 3:17 pm
The results are in and the fans have spoken! Friday’s Sanderson Ford Poll Question of the Day asked the voting public who they would select with the Suns’ no. 13 overall pick in the first round of the upcoming NBA draft.
Of the 591 votes cast, an overwhelming 67 percent of voters said they would take Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky over Arkansas’ Bobby Portis or another player. Portis garnered 19 percent of the vote, while 14 percent said they would select someone other than Kaminsky or Portis.
On Friday, Ryan Blake — a senior scouting consultant to the NBA — joined Doug & Wolf on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM to discuss the very question of what the Suns should do with the 13th pick.
According to Blake, and contrary to our poll results, the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Portis could be an ideal fit for Phoenix due to his unique skill-set and the Suns’ need for big physical players in the frontcourt.
“He’s a coach’s dream. He can play in any system,” Blake said. “He’s versatile and he plays to win. When you have someone like that at that size, it’s hard to overlook. And there’s not a lot of people talking about him — at least that’s what the guys in my office are saying.”
Portis, who averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore for the Razorbacks last season in en route to winning SEC Player of the Year honors, worked out for the Suns on June 2 and reportedly impressed head coach Jeff Hornacek with his rebounding and defense.
While not the physical specimen compared to Portis, Blake says Kaminsky possesses a unique skill of his own for a 7-footer who is perhaps just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
“I don’t think he’s at his ceiling — he didn’t play much his first two years and he keeps getting better and better,” Blake said. “I want to see him get stronger, but here’s a guy that coaches drool over. He can stretch defenses, he’s a rebounder, he’s a passer. He does all those things.”
Earning recognition as the Naismith and Wooden National Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the floor, Kaminsky enjoyed a senior season laden with just about every accolade except a national championship, as the Badgers fell to Duke 68-63 in the national championship game.
Kaminsky worked out for the Suns on June 4, but was forced to leave the session after an accidental headbutt led to him needing five stitches over his left eye.
