With the 34th-overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Tyler Ulis, a sophomore point guard out of Kentucky. Ulis will join a Kentucky-heavy backcourt of Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, Devin Booker and Archie Goodwin.
Tyler Ulis selected by Suns with No. 34 pick in 2016 NBA Draft
Ulis joins a long list of Kentucky guards in Phoenix.
Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
If Ulis was a few inches taller, there’s a good chance he would be a top-10 pick in this year’s draft. Instead, as is the case for nearly every small guard, Ulis fell through the lottery and settled here. There’s a lot to like about the 20-year-old Wildcats youngster, but there’s also an acknowledgement that his ceiling only be so high.
Ulis is a pure point guard, averaging a fantastic seven assists last year at Kentucky while committing only two turnovers a game. Couple that with his great ball-handling, and Ulis is in complete control when you put him in charge of an offense. He tends to push the ball aggressively, but can slow it back and make the proper reads out of a pick-and-roll and on drive-and-kicks. His vision is exceptional.
Behind the three-point arc, Ulis is a threat. Although he shot a shade under 35 percent last season, he managed to hit 43 percent his freshman year as a pivotal backup, indicating that his percentage should rise once again when he’s able to be more selective with his shots. Ulis is also good from mid-range and had one of the best floaters in college basketball last season. When all his skills come together in the same game, it’s incredible to watch.
Still, Ulis' 5'10 height is a real concern. The first problem is UIis' defense, which was decent in college but could drop off dramatically playing constantly against guards that are 6'3 or 6'4. There's also valid concerns that facing taller defenses will cut off passing lanes he's used to taking advantage of, and limit his effectiveness. The NBA has seen this happen with smaller guards before: Shane Larkin, the No. 18 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, was a lightning-quick guard out of Miami, but hasn't really seen his skills translate in large part due to his 5'11 frame.
Standing below six feet isn't an automatic death sentence, though, especially considering Ulis really can run an offense masterfully. Chris Paul is much too rich a comparison to make for Ulis, but the primary reason the shorter Paul has been a superstar in the NBA is because of his point guard skills. Ulis must improve and perfect some of his current skills to turn into a quality player, but the basics are already in place for him.
Nabbing Ulis in the early part of the second round isn’t out of hope he’ll turn into a superstar, but because there’s a good chance he’ll turn into a solid, respectable lead guard, perhaps as a starter but certainly as a reliable bench contributor. He could be a solid backup to Bledsoe and Knight.
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