With forward Amar'e Stoudemire probably on his way out of town, the Suns made their choices clear by bulking up with two big men.
Gani Lawal out of Georgia Tech was selected with the 46th overall pick while Dwayne Collins, a former Miami Hurricane, was tabbed at pick number 60.
Lawal, who is 6-foot-9 and 234 pounds, averaged 13.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He played three seasons as a Yellow Jacket and finished with 27 career double-doubles.
Collins was a four-year started for Miami and averaged 12 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. He is also a monster inside as he is 6-foot-8 and 243 ponds.
Combined, Lawal and Collins weigh 477 pounds. This is exactly what the Suns need with Stoudemire practically out of the door.
If the Suns re-sign Channing Frye and Lou Amundson (which they should), then the combination of Robin Lopez, Amundson, Frye, Lawal and Collins should be pretty good.
Lopez is a star in the making while Frye and Amundson are solid contributors. If Lawal and Collins, both athletic big men, can pick up Alvin Gentry's up-tempo offense fairly quickly, this team should be set as far as big men go.
Give credit to President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr for continuing to build a strong basketball team despite the fact that he won't be back next season.
That must have been kind of awkward for Kerr to be helping out knowing his job as GM in now over.
Still, the Suns brass had a great draft even without a first-round pick. Collins and Lawal will hopefully be mainstays in the paint for years to come.
