Evaluating Each Suns Frontcourt Player After 21 Games

Alex Len

Oct 9, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard (11) at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: 7.8 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 0.3 APG, .429 FG%, .000 3p%

Because of the fact that Alex Len has only played in four games this season, and hasn’t been particularly impressive in them, there’s certainly an argument that picking him so highly was a mistake and that he’s a bust. I certainly don’t think it is time to give up on him yet. That said, if Alex Len is ultimately a bust, it isn’t because he doesn’t have NBA caliber talent. It’s more likely because he isn’t durable enough to play  through a season, much like Greg Oden or Jermaine O’Neal later in his career.

He’s certainly got a good skill set. He knows how to use sheer size to grab rebounds and score inside. As he grows into an NBA role, he will be able to be more confident and aggressive in the paint on both ends of the floor. The more he sits with ankle soreness, however, the longer it will be until his ceiling can be identified. The question is how patient will the Suns new front office be with underperforming rookies. They didn’t hesitate to move Kendall Marshal after just one year.

Who knows? Maybe Alex Len will be the next triumph of the Suns famed medical staff. It is simply too early to judge the Maryland prospect

Grade: Incomplete