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Phoenix Suns: Signing undrafted rookie Jalen Lecque adds to point guard dilemma?

Young man’s explosive now. Insane hops. Good handles. Can pass a little bit. Aggressive. Jump shot should only get better. 

Jalen Lecque may prove to be a great NBA player, but no one was willing to draft him Thursday night. So Phoenix decided to sign him to a four-year deal with two years guaranteed, a league source confirmed. While he is very talented and the comparisons to Russell Westbrook have some validity, the move adds to the mystery of what are the Suns doing at point guard. They already have De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo, whose contracts are guaranteed through this upcoming season. Rookie Ty Jerome will come as a first rounder with a contract of two years guaranteed, minimum. Then there’s Tyler Johnson, who has opted into the final year of his contract from Miami that will pay him $19 million. He can’t make that kind of money in free agency. Smart move by Johnson, but just adds to the dilemma Phoenix has at point guard. However, the Suns traded for him. So this is on them, not Johnson.

Now Phoenix is adding another point guard with two years guaranteed and is expected to look for a proven one in free agency.

Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) goes to the basket against Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 30, 2019, in New York. (

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Mary Altaffer, AP

D’Angelo Russell appears to be a top target largely because of his friendship with Devin Booker, but he’s going to ask for max money – or somewhere in that price range. Then because he’s a restricted free agent, Brooklyn can match it. Either way, someone has to go. Period. Thought Phoenix had too many point guards going into last season’s training camp. They’ll have more come September if they don’t part ways with one, if not two. Okobo and Melton were very fortunate to be on a team that didn’t have a proven point guard. They started several games and played way more than they would’ve on most NBA teams. Now one of them may be one way out.

Rookie point guards Elie Okobo (Black Suns jersey) and De'Anthony Melton looking to get up shots at Saturday's shootaround before Phoenix played against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Duane Rankin/Arizona Republic

 Lecque’s story was unique before Phoenix signed him. From New York, the five-star talent was an N.C. State signee, but he could declare for the draft coming out of high school because he reclassified after his junior year. That led to Lecque becoming a year removed from his original high school class, which is required to enter the draft. The now 19-year-old completed a fifth year at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He went to the NBA combine last month in Chicago and measured out to 6-2½ without shoes (6-4 ¼ with shoes) and 185.2 pounds.

Jalen Lecque posted the highest vertical at the NBA combine at 43 inches.

Associated Press

Lecque showed his explosive leaping ability in posting the highest max vertical there at 43 inches. He also made some good passes on pick-and-roll and out to perimeter shooters off the bounce. Remember, Suns General Manager James Jones was in Chicago. He saw Lecque. Dude is a talent. Probably could’ve used a year of college, particularly in the ACC. He would’ve improved and probably become a first-round pick in 2020. However, Lecque has made his way to the league by way of the Phoenix Suns. Only time will tell if he becomes a great NBA player, but his addition leaves Phoenix with more point guards than necessary. 

Someone has to go. Period. 

NBA Comparison: Trevon Duval/Kris Dunn

Strengths: 

• 6’3 athletic point guard ...
• Good length with a 6’7 wingspan ...
• Highly explosive athlete with great body control and hang time ...
• Fearless when attacking the basket and challenges big men at the rim ...
• Demonstrates his athleticism in the half court and in transition ...
• Quick first step and in the open floor ...
• Shifts gears and changes speed to break down and beat the defense with his dribble ...
• Drives going either left or right ...
• Averaged 17 points per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 14.2 points per game in 2018 ...
• Averaged 11.3 points per game while shooting 51.9% FG% at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 ...
• Draws fouls at a high rate ...
• Shot 7.1 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 6.3 per game in 2018 ...
• Shot 5.1 free throws per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 ...
• Developing court vision. Knows how to bait the help defense to find the open man ...
• Averaged 3.8 assists per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018 ...
• Averaged 3.3 assists per game at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018 ...
• Good tools, athleticism, and anticipation as a defender. Averaged 1.4 steals per game at adidas Nations in 2017. Shows some ability to block shots as a guard ...

Weaknesses: 

• Has an extremely impressive highlight tape, but every game it appears his focus is to make 2-3 spectacular plays, and not play a complete and disciplined game in order to help his team win ...
• An inefficient player right now ...
• Still has a considerable ways to go, to even be an effective college player, much less NBA ...
• Really could use a year in college, more than anyone ...
• As raw point guards have a much tougher time developing at the NBA level than other positions ...
• Has a way to go as a shooter ...
• Shoots from the side of his head and it doesn’t produce ideal rotation, it also has a bit too much arc and most of his misses fall short ... Shot breaks down from distance ... Settles for contested jump shots and overall efficiency can improve ...
• Can improve finishing in the paint and in traffic ...
• Shot 43.3% FG% over the Nike EYBL in 2018. Only shot 42.1% FG% at adidas Nations in 2017 ...
• Shot 30.6% 3P% over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 10.5% 3P% (4-38) in 2018. Shot 14.3% 3P% (2-14) at the NBPA Top 100 in 2018. Shot 25% 3P% at adidas Nations in 2017. Shot 68.4% FT% over the Nike EYBL in 2017 and 68% FT% in 2018. Shot 52.2% FT% at adidas Nations in 2017 … Developing as a point guard and has made positive strides but still a work in progress ... Relies on athletic ability at this stage and can be reckless as a driver, attacking without a plan ... Spends a lot of plays bringing the ball up, passing, then getting out of the way without the offense running through him in the half court ... Only averaged 1.2 assists to 1.7 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2017. Averaged 2.8 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2018. Finished second at the NBPA Top 100 in turnovers with 2.8 per game in 2018. Only averaged one assist to 1.2 turnovers per game at adidas Nations in 2017 … Can improve as a leader and bringing out the best in his teammates. Has a way to go as an NBA point guard and is a bit of a project at this stage as he’s not a surefire one and done even after a year of college … For some bizarre reason opted not to compete in the Jordan Brand Classic, despite being chosen for the event ... 
  
  Outlook: Due to his age and status as a 5th year senior, is eligible for this year's NBA draft ... Scouts view Lecque as a mid-second to undrafted player for the 2019 NBA draft ... Has first round talent, but not without a season or two of college ... NC State commit but has decided to put his name in the NBA Draft. The hope will be that he gets good advice and ultimately decides to pull his name out and go to college … Named to the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic … From unranked as a sophomore to a four-star as a junior after breaking out over the summer in 2017 … Transferred from Christ School to Brewster Academy for his final year of high school ... 
  
  Evan Tomes 4/26/19

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