With the 57th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected University of Missouri big man Alex Oriakhi in the second round.
NBA Draft 2013: Phoenix Suns select Alex Oriakhi with 57th pick
Oriakhi joins fellow draftee Alex Len in the Phoenix deserts as the Suns begin to rebuild.
At 6'9 and 255 pounds, Oriakhi joins fifth overall pick Alex Len in Phoenix as the Suns continue their rebuilding efforts. He spent three years with the Connecticut Huskies and won a national championship in 2011 before heading for Columbia amidst academic progress rate issues at UConn. He will never be much of a scorer as his range is limited to 10 feet from the rim, but his size and strength allows him to hold his own in the paint.
Oriakhi averaged 1.6 blocks per game this past season at Mizzou and has the potential to be a defensive presence in the NBA.
The Suns already have Marcin Gortat on the roster, as well as the afore mentioned Len. Oriakhi won't have a guaranteed roster spot in the fall, but if he comes in and impresses new head coach Jeff Hornacek in camp, there's a chance he could see some early minutes.
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