2017 NBA Draft: How Valparaiso’s Alec Peters will fit with the Phoenix Suns
By Doug Winkey
With the 54th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Phoenix Suns selected Valparaiso’s Alec Peters. How will he fit with his new team?
It will take time for the chatter surrounding the 2017 NBA Draft to die down. Until then, we should just bask in the fun that is analyzing roster building and team dynamics. Speculating on the second round is incredibly difficult, but we will continue our breakdown with Alec Peters going from Valparaiso to the Phoenix Suns.
Peters is listed at 6’8″, 235 lbs, which is perfectly fine for the modern power forward position. Everyone’s favorite Crusader averaged a team-best 23.0 points and 10.1 rebounds for Valpo this season. Peters was also chipping in 2.2 assists. Perhaps most impressive for his size was his 36% mark from three-point land (he is a 42% career three-point shooter). He was having his best season ever until a stress fracture in his foot derailed his college career in late February.
Peters joins Kansas’ Josh Jackson and Miami (FL) guard Davon Reed as draftees by the Suns. The former Valparaiso star probably has the second-best chance at making the rotation as a rookie behind Jackson. He’ll battle for time at the stretch four against aging Jared Dudley, former Washington star Marquese Chriss and 2016 Draft import Dragan Bender.
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Peters’ healing foot could still limit him through summer workouts, but I like his chances in that group. Chriss should eventually replace Dudley, so Peters’ long-term goal is to overcome Bender and maybe even former UC-Santa Barbara forward Alan Williams. Overall, Phoenix’s depth is exciting with guards Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker outside with a plethora of young prospects.
Next: Monte Morris going to Denver Nuggets
Keep an eye on Peters during the Suns’ summer league games. College basketball’s version of Dirk Nowitzki could be one of the biggest steals in this draft if things fall his way. His health will dictate things early, but Peters landed in a great spot for professional development. Let’s see how things play out.